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post #61 of 83
5/12/12 at 7:45pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Erok32 View Post


You're correct. It is a Gillette fusion power (I get so confused about the various names nowadays). As for finances, I make a solid living, but today I was tinkering around a local retailer and picked up a set of 10 Wilkinson DE blades for $1.59 US, where a comparable Gillette or Schick 3,4,or 5 blade cartridge set would've cost me $30-$50 and isn't as fun a shave. So not only is traditional wet shaving more economical, it's absolutely satisfying.

Interesting the price differences where we live. Any person contemplating DE shaving in Australia would be totally put off seeing the price of the 10 pack of Wilkinson Sword, at $13 in a supermarket and $16 in a shaving shop. While the price of a six pack of Fusion ProGlide cartridges is $40, roughly similar to where you live, for $16 he can buy two four packs of house brand 5-blade cartridges. Unless he knew to go on-line, any Australian shaver would conclude that Double Edge shaving is a pretty expensive way to go compared to the cheap house brand 5-blade cartridge option.
Regards,
Renato
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post #62 of 83
5/12/12 at 8:03pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by chili_willi View Post

And since the double edged blades are so much less expensive I don't think twice about changing to a fresh blade as opposed to trying to make a (2 , 3, 4 or 5 blade) cartridge stretch too far because they're so expensive. Again, resulting in a better shave.

It would be more economical if it wasn't so damn addictive. I dropped $80US at www.bullgooseshaving.com last night on soaps, blades and a new brush. Oh well, if it costs me a few bucks to actually enjoy shaving instead of considering it a chore then so be it. So far I'm loving it!

How often do you change your DE blade? Much to my astonishment, over at Blade and Badger the answer is anywhere after 1 to 4 shaves. To me, that's just when the blade is broken in and I have three weeks of pleasant shaving ahead of me - at least this was the case when I was a DE shaver decades ago. My current Wilkinsword blade, that I bought decades ago, has lasted me 7 or 8 shaves so far, and I can't see any reason to change it yet.

You are dead right about the chore suddenly becoming addictive. Every day I'm waiting for my whiskers to grow, just so that I can try some new variation to attack them.

Then there are the surprises. Yesterday I shaved with my Merkur 333C for the first time - all went very well - then I applied Witch Hazel, then I didn't quite wait for it to dry, and I appled Gillette Pacific Light balm.

My wife looks at me 15 minutes later and says "What's wrong with your face? You have white bits all over - you look like Norman Gunston". And she was right, some funny reaction had occurred with the Gillette aftershave balm and I looked silly. I'm glad I hadn't put it on and gone straight out shopping. I tried replicating that reaction by putting the balm on my arm, with and without the Witch Hazel, but couldn't do it.
Regards,
Renato

(Note: Norman Gunston was an Australian comedic character, whose trade mark was always having tissue bits stuck all over his face where he'd cut himself shaving - you can see him on Youtube)
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post #63 of 83
5/12/12 at 8:47pm
And of course, Norman used an electric razor!

http://youtu.be/cW2kSkurQFs
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post #64 of 83
5/12/12 at 11:40pm
Norman Gunston - now that takes me back!

Anyway, on topic (ish), I average around 3 shaves from a DE blade. More than that and things start to get a little uncomfortable: The blade tends to tug on hairs and feels scratchey against the skin.
I pay £9.00 for a pack of 100 blades on Amazon, which sees me through an entire year. A pretty economical way to go, I think.
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post #65 of 83
5/13/12 at 12:58am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr_Rudi View Post

And of course, Norman used an electric razor!

http://youtu.be/cW2kSkurQFs

How could I have forgotten that!

That was the year he asked everyone to vote for him to win the Gold Logie - and he did.
Cheers,
Renato
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post #66 of 83
5/13/12 at 9:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Renato View Post

How often do you change your DE blade? Much to my astonishment, over at Blade and Badger the answer is anywhere after 1 to 4 shaves.

I have read the same thing. Had I not read it there I probably would try to stretch them more but I think I'll be going with one per week. I have a blade sampler pack on the way and can't wait to test different blades (currently using the Merkur blades that came with my Progress).
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post #67 of 83
5/14/12 at 1:24am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gandhajala View Post

Norman Gunston - now that takes me back!

Anyway, on topic (ish), I average around 3 shaves from a DE blade. More than that and things start to get a little uncomfortable: The blade tends to tug on hairs and feels scratchey against the skin.
I pay £9.00 for a pack of 100 blades on Amazon, which sees me through an entire year. A pretty economical way to go, I think.

Fascinating, I didn't think anyone outside Australia would know of Norman.

Yes, that is extremely economical. I'm on my ninth shave with my blade and it is just starting to feel worn in to me. But I've put fresh blades in my other razors for comparison purposes.
Cheers,
Renato
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post #68 of 83
5/14/12 at 1:33am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by chili_willi View Post

I have read the same thing. Had I not read it there I probably would try to stretch them more but I think I'll be going with one per week. I have a blade sampler pack on the way and can't wait to test different blades (currently using the Merkur blades that came with my Progress).

How is the Merkur Progress going? What settings do you like?

My Merkur 33C I like, my Merker Bakelite I don't like (too aggressive for me), and my Merker 25C open tooth I can't make head nor tails of - it's meant to be aggressive for an extra close shave, but I can't make it act anything other than really lame.

I already have my sampler pack and have had one shave from a Gillette super thin. I'm going to try a few other before trying the Merkur ones that came with the razors.
Cheers,
Renato
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post #69 of 83
5/14/12 at 2:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Renato View Post

Fascinating, I didn't think anyone outside Australia would know of Norman.

Renato - not that I'm speaking for Gandhajala; just answering the question whilst I'm passing through; but he did his time in Oz; in Brisbane.
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post #70 of 83
5/14/12 at 3:09am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr_Rudi View Post

Renato - not that I'm speaking for Gandhajala; just answering the question whilst I'm passing through; but he did his time in Oz; in Brisbane.

Ah - I see, thanks.
He's doing better than me, I still haven't been to Queensland.
Cheers,
Renato
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post #71 of 83
5/14/12 at 5:47am
Thanks, Doc !
Did my time, indeed
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post #72 of 83
5/14/12 at 7:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by hednic View Post

Although when I was younger I used shaving soap with a brush, I now exclusively use foams which have worked fine for me. Will continue to do so.

To each his own but a quality gent like you I would have thought you would be into gent wetshaving - DE razors, ShaveCreams & soaps and a bunch of badger brushes from Plisson, Simpsons & Rooney

I also get fine shaves from my Gel and Fusion - but using my Feather AS1-DE chrome razor or my Mühle R41 Grande DE razor with one of my 30+ high quality shaving creams and one of my quality badger brushes just is an entirely better experience
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post #73 of 83
5/14/12 at 11:11am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by CHSeifert View Post

To each his own but a quality gent like you I would have thought you would be into gent wetshaving - DE razors, ShaveCreams & soaps and a bunch of badger brushes from Plisson, Simpsons & Rooney

I also get fine shaves from my Gel and Fusion - but using my Feather AS1-DE chrome razor or my Mühle R41 Grande DE razor with one of my 30+ high quality shaving creams and one of my quality badger brushes just is an entirely better experience

What made you pick a Muhle R41 and not say a R89? I may have missed it, but for the life of me I can't see where Merker and Muhle spell out the target markets for their razors - I seem to have to rely on what retailers' blurbs say, and they don't all say the same thing.

Oh - and which is better for you, the Feather or the Muhle?
Cheers,
Renato
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post #74 of 83
5/14/12 at 12:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Renato View Post

What made you pick a Muhle R41 and not say a R89? I may have missed it, but for the life of me I can't see where Merker and Muhle spell out the target markets for their razors - I seem to have to rely on what retailers' blurbs say, and they don't all say the same thing.

Oh - and which is better for you, the Feather or the Muhle?
Cheers,
Renato

The R41 is on of the most aggressive if not THE MOST AGGRESSIVE razor on the market.
The R89 is one of the most gentle razors heads on the market.

See the difference ?

I already own the R89, but in a Mühle Sophist DE head - in black resin.
I use them for different length of my beard.

When I shave daily I tend to use either my Mühle Sophist R89 - because it's gently and not too aggressive, yet it still provide a fine shave if used on no longer than 2-3 days stubbles or my very mild Feather AS1-DE.

If I have 2-3-4 days stubbles I need something quite a bit more aggressive - hence I need the R41 Grande.
I only do 1 or 2 passes with this razor WTG and XTG, then either stop and do touch ups or do a final pass with the milder Feather AS1-DE for an ATG shave.

WTG = With the grain
XTG = Across the grain
ATG = Against the grain

I also use different razor blades for my different razors, depending on how aggressive and sharp a blade in that particular razor I want.
For instance my Feather AS1-DE is a VERY mild razor, so here I use the most sharp blade on the market, made by the same Feather company.
My Mühle R41 Grande is extremely aggressive, so here I use a less sharp blade, but not a completely dull and soft blade either. I found that a moderate sharp blade give me the best result in this particular razor, so I use Gillette 7 O'Clock Blue SP blades in my R41 Grande.
My Mühle Sophist R89 is very mild - so I use use either e Feather or an Astra SP in this razor.

I buy my razor blades in bulk 100 packs, so get them for very cheap. Change blade very often, every 1-2 shaves. Some use the same blade for 6-8-10 shaves. All about preference.....I just like to feel the blade I use is new. other prefer for a blade to get settled before they feel it performs well.


If you want real knowledge, then visit and become a member at www.badgerandblade.com - the pendant to base notes for shave fanatics..........you will get all your answers there.
Looking at what the retailers tell you is like looking at what you can read on designer frags.........provide you with exactly ZERO worthy information.................
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post #75 of 83
5/14/12 at 5:56pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by CHSeifert View Post

The R41 is on of the most aggressive if not THE MOST AGGRESSIVE razor on the market.
The R89 is one of the most gentle razors heads on the market.

See the difference ?

I already own the R89, but in a Mühle Sophist DE head - in black resin.
I use them for different length of my beard.

When I shave daily I tend to use either my Mühle Sophist R89 - because it's gently and not too aggressive, yet it still provide a fine shave if used on no longer than 2-3 days stubbles or my very mild Feather AS1-DE.

If I have 2-3-4 days stubbles I need something quite a bit more aggressive - hence I need the R41 Grande.
I only do 1 or 2 passes with this razor WTG and XTG, then either stop and do touch ups or do a final pass with the milder Feather AS1-DE for an ATG shave.

WTG = With the grain
XTG = Across the grain
ATG = Against the grain

I also use different razor blades for my different razors, depending on how aggressive and sharp a blade in that particular razor I want.
For instance my Feather AS1-DE is a VERY mild razor, so here I use the most sharp blade on the market, made by the same Feather company.
My Mühle R41 Grande is extremely aggressive, so here I use a less sharp blade, but not a completely dull and soft blade either. I found that a moderate sharp blade give me the best result in this particular razor, so I use Gillette 7 O'Clock Blue SP blades in my R41 Grande.
My Mühle Sophist R89 is very mild - so I use use either e Feather or an Astra SP in this razor.

I buy my razor blades in bulk 100 packs, so get them for very cheap. Change blade very often, every 1-2 shaves. Some use the same blade for 6-8-10 shaves. All about preference.....I just like to feel the blade I use is new. other prefer for a blade to get settled before they feel it performs well.


If you want real knowledge, then visit and become a member at www.badgerandblade.com - the pendant to base notes for shave fanatics..........you will get all your answers there.
Looking at what the retailers tell you is like looking at what you can read on designer frags.........provide you with exactly ZERO worthy information.................

Thanks for that thorough explanation. Does that nomenclature mean that the Muhle 106 is even less aggressive than the R89?

It's very interesting the way you have the blade/razor combinations worked out - that must have taken some time to figure out.

I am a member at Blade&Badger but I try limit myself to questions that I think have some substance on the Newbie board, prefering instead to try get answers at the Reviews in the first instance. But a lot of the answers there don't quite fit me. For example, the reviews of the Merkur Bakelite had me believe it was fairly gentle smooth razor - but on me it wasn't like that, I didn't like it much at all. Same story with the Weishi 2003-M. Which is why I wanted to find something from the manufacturer - to at least see what his intent was.

I do have the open comb Merkur 25C which is supposedly aggressive, but which I find to be nearly a pacifist - though I haven't tried it with long whiskers yet. Hopefully that is where it will shine.

The blade gap of the R89 is 30 thousands of an inch by the B&B blade gap table - exactly the same as what I measured in my Merkur Bakelite - which makes me wonder exactly how gentle it would be for me? I know there are other factors in aggression, because the Weishi 2003-M which I hate, actually has a 26 thou blade gap, so that it should have some chance of being milder than the Bakelite model.

All tricky stuff - so I've won a few old Gillettes on Ebay which supposedly are really mild, and waiting for them to arrive.
Cheers,
Renato
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post #76 of 83
5/15/12 at 8:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Renato View Post

Thanks for that thorough explanation. Does that nomenclature mean that the Muhle 106 is even less aggressive than the R89?

It's very interesting the way you have the blade/razor combinations worked out - that must have taken some time to figure out.

I am a member at Blade&Badger but I try limit myself to questions that I think have some substance on the Newbie board, prefering instead to try get answers at the Reviews in the first instance. But a lot of the answers there don't quite fit me. For example, the reviews of the Merkur Bakelite had me believe it was fairly gentle smooth razor - but on me it wasn't like that, I didn't like it much at all. Same story with the Weishi 2003-M. Which is why I wanted to find something from the manufacturer - to at least see what his intent was.

I do have the open comb Merkur 25C which is supposedly aggressive, but which I find to be nearly a pacifist - though I haven't tried it with long whiskers yet. Hopefully that is where it will shine.

The blade gap of the R89 is 30 thousands of an inch by the B&B blade gap table - exactly the same as what I measured in my Merkur Bakelite - which makes me wonder exactly how gentle it would be for me? I know there are other factors in aggression, because the Weishi 2003-M which I hate, actually has a 26 thou blade gap, so that it should have some chance of being milder than the Bakelite model.

All tricky stuff - so I've won a few old Gillettes on Ebay which supposedly are really mild, and waiting for them to arrive.
Cheers,
Renato

R106 & R89 are the same heads - only the handle and maybe weight in the handle is different.

My Mühle Sophist with the R89 head has a pretty heavy and longer black resin shaft, so it feels a bit more aggressive than the lighter version - you just have to test it

My Feather AS1-DE in chrome is a work of art, but my most gentle and forgiving DE razor.
My Mühle Sophist R89 is a little less gentle.
My Mühle R41 Grande shaves as close as a straight razor and is NOT for beginners, unless you have a born natural talent for DE shaving of course

I've never owned a Merkur razor - I prefer Mühle, Feather and my next DE razor will be a Pils DE.
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post #77 of 83
5/15/12 at 11:23am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by CHSeifert View Post

R106 & R89 are the same heads - only the handle and maybe weight in the handle is different.

My Mühle Sophist with the R89 head has a pretty heavy and longer black resin shaft, so it feels a bit more aggressive than the lighter version - you just have to test it

My Feather AS1-DE in chrome is a work of art, but my most gentle and forgiving DE razor.
My Mühle Sophist R89 is a little less gentle.
My Mühle R41 Grande shaves as close as a straight razor and is NOT for beginners, unless you have a born natural talent for DE shaving of course

I've never owned a Merkur razor - I prefer Mühle, Feather and my next DE razor will be a Pils DE.

Thanks. I've just been reading about the Feather All Stainless steel (which I'd never heard of till you mentioned it) - very impressive. I finally found a Feather Popular going cheap in Singapore, so I ordered it.

Yesterday I received a $10 badger brush from China. It looks the same as my more expensive Edwin Jagger badger brush. I'll give it a whirl tomorrow and see how it feels.
Cheers,
Renato
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post #78 of 83
5/15/12 at 1:56pm
One advice for a high quality shaving soap on a budget:

The Palmolive shaving stick produces a creamy luxurious lather at least on par with the best stuff I tried - and at a ridiculously low price. It is especially suitable for face lathering, which is fast, but much more than a quick fix. The smell is neutral and doesn't interfere with whatever fragrance I want to wear afterwards.
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post #79 of 83
5/15/12 at 6:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Renato View Post

How is the Merkur Progress going? What settings do you like?

My Merkur 33C I like, my Merker Bakelite I don't like (too aggressive for me), and my Merker 25C open tooth I can't make head nor tails of - it's meant to be aggressive for an extra close shave, but I can't make it act anything other than really lame.

I already have my sampler pack and have had one shave from a Gillette super thin. I'm going to try a few other before trying the Merkur ones that came with the razors.
Cheers,
Renato

I tend to do all my passes at the 4 setting and so far it is working for me. Your conversation with CHSeifert has me thinking that I should experiment with less aggressive settings and sharper blades as well.
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post #80 of 83
5/15/12 at 6:36pm
Today I received the Razorock XXX shave cream soap and some Mitchell's Wool Fat soap and have just experienced my first DE shave using soap instead of cream. I'll need more soap shaves to give a reliable opinion but tonight's shave went really well with the XXX. I look forward to soap shaving becoming part of my rotation.

In a somewhat related matter, I could really use a larger bathroom counter.
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post #81 of 83
5/15/12 at 7:17pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kyujin View Post

One advice for a high quality shaving soap on a budget:

The Palmolive shaving stick produces a creamy luxurious lather at least on par with the best stuff I tried - and at a ridiculously low price. It is especially suitable for face lathering, which is fast, but much more than a quick fix. The smell is neutral and doesn't interfere with whatever fragrance I want to wear afterwards.

The European tallow based Palmolive shave stick has a great reputation. I've finally gotten one and intend to compare it to the non-tallow Australian one - which I think is pretty good too.
Cheers,
Renato
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post #82 of 83
5/15/12 at 7:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by chili_willi View Post

I tend to do all my passes at the 4 setting and so far it is working for me. Your conversation with CHSeifert has me thinking that I should experiment with less aggressive settings and sharper blades as well.

My guess is that you'll find them too mild if you've gotten used to the more aggressive setting. But the milder settings and blades may be just the thing if, for example, you are going out one night and want to do an extra shave and not want to risk unneccessary razor burn or nicks from shaving twice in a day.
Cheers,
Renato
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post #83 of 83
5/15/12 at 7:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by chili_willi View Post

Today I received the Razorock XXX shave cream soap and some Mitchell's Wool Fat soap and have just experienced my first DE shave using soap instead of cream. I'll need more soap shaves to give a reliable opinion but tonight's shave went really well with the XXX. I look forward to soap shaving becoming part of my rotation.

In a somewhat related matter, I could really use a larger bathroom counter.

I must admit that at the moment, while I don't mind hard soaps and hard cream soaps in a bowl, I still find it easier to get a thick pasty lather using creams or soap shave sticks.

I've bought some plastic drawers to put under my bathroom counter - soap sticks in one, soap bowls in another, creams in another, and a nice collection of cartridge razors in the other (with spare cartridges and sample DE blades turffed in among them). I'm having great fun, but the downside is that I can't really test out most combinations in less than six months, as I only shave every day at the minimum.

Today I just received in the mail a really neat little metal travel razor set that screws together, which cost me $6. It doesn't look used. It uses the old Schick double bladed cartridge that doesn't swivel. It'll be interesting comparing it to a DE.
Cheers,
Renato
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