Safety Razors

Amalgam · 10-03-2009 8:36am

DamoElDiablo, nice, what does the shaving cream smell like, any good?

Star Lord · 10-03-2009 12:20pm

It's a mild, pleasant scent, I really don't know what I could compare it to though!
It made a nice creamy lather almost effortlessly. I face-lather, and had no problem with the brush either, which confused me with the review of the brush on badger and blade, where they said it wasn't much good for face-latherers...

dbar · 10-03-2009 1:17pm

In case anyone is wondering how to dispose of the used blades safely...
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=54746

MediaTank · 10-03-2009 1:29pm

dbar wrote: »

In case anyone is wondering how to dispose of the used blades safely...
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=54746

Nice.

I just use an old jar. I've got 3 years worth of blades in it, with room for another 5, and it's not a big jar!

Star Lord · 10-03-2009 1:39pm

I suppose the added benifit with using a can is that you can just drop the thing into the recycling bin when you're done, as it should all be recyclable, whereas with the jar you'd have to seperate the blades and the jar

waraf · 10-03-2009 1:44pm

Just arrived in the post:

Gillette Super Speed
Pure badger brush
Taylor's Sandalwood shaving cream

Right so, I'm off for my frst DE shave. Will report back shortly. I wish the alum block I ordered had arrived before now....

dbar · 10-03-2009 1:52pm

MediaTank,
Im too lazy to dig through this loooooooong thread, you have a 1940's Gillette (blank), what is it again? and by the way is it time to split off a seperate thread for vintage stuff a 'show and tell', buy and sell jobbie as there seems to be a lot of interest.

You can start us off with pics of your vintage stuff:D

waraf · 10-03-2009 2:34pm

waraf wrote: »

Right so, I'm off for my frst DE shave. Will report back shortly. I wish the alum block I ordered had arrived before now....

Ok thoughts on my frst DE shave:

1. Wow I didn't decapitate myself
2. Arghhhh razor burn
3. Thank the lord for after shave balm.
4. I need practise.

Ok in all seriousness I am amazed. I don't think I've ever had a shave as close as this in my life. It did take 5 passes but the first two don't really count cause I kept mising my face with the blade due to the fact that I was holding the razor at the wrong angle. I thought that I was going to cut my face to bits but I only ended up with a couple of minor nicks on my neck (which I didn't even feel during the shave). The Gilllette Super Speed appears to be very easy to use (i.e. not aggressive) and very forgiving for the complete novice. Taylor's sandalwood cram whips up into a lather in no time. The smell wasn't really to my liking - very soap like which I wasn't expecting. All in all though I'm am very impressed with this DE shaving lark.

Gran Hermano · 10-03-2009 2:57pm

Congrats waraf, you're sounding converted.
If you're doing 5 passes you'll really need to lather well between passes.
From what I've read the Super speed is not aggressive and rather forgiving, sounds like a good one to learn on.

I remember too well how after my first DE shave I too was thinking,
"that's not as scary as I thought it'd be" as well as "great shave".

Quick edit to add: what blade did you use? (Apols if I missed you mentioning it)

MediaTank · 10-03-2009 3:00pm

waraf wrote: »

Ok in all seriousness I am amazed. I don't think I've ever had a shave as close as this in my life. It did take 5 passes but the first two don't really count cause I kept mising my face with the blade due to the fact that I was holding the razor at the wrong angle. I thought that I was going to cut my face to bits but I only ended up with a couple of minor nicks on my neck (which I didn't even feel during the shave). The Gilllette Super Speed appears to be very easy to use (i.e. not aggressive) and very forgiving for the complete novice. All in all though I'm am very impressed with this DE shaving lark.

Sounds good. Stick to 2 passes for now, until you get your technique down pat.

MediaTank · 10-03-2009 3:01pm

dbar wrote: »

MediaTank,
Im too lazy to dig through this loooooooong thread, you have a 1940's Gillette (blank), what is it again? and by the way is it time to split off a seperate thread for vintage stuff a 'show and tell', buy and sell jobbie as there seems to be a lot of interest.

You can start us off with pics of your vintage stuff:D

I'll fire up the digital SLR later

waraf · 10-03-2009 3:07pm

MediaTank wrote: »

Sounds good. Stick to 2 passes for now, until you get your technique down pat.

Yeah I remember Mantic saying that on one of his videos alright but I'm way too impatient for that. I went straight onto blade-buffing on my fifth pass

MediaTank · 10-03-2009 3:12pm

waraf wrote: »

Yeah I remember Mantic saying that on one of his videos alright but I'm way too impatient for that. I went straight onto blade-buffing on my fifth pass

Ouch!

waraf · 10-03-2009 3:16pm

MediaTank wrote: »

Ouch!

Funnily enough it wasn't sore at all. Apart from a tiny bit of tenderness on one spot on my neck I'm actually fine. The razor burn was gone in ten minutes too. My face must be dead hard (in contrast to the rest of me

)

kazzer · 10-03-2009 6:53pm

waraf wrote: »

While you're talking scents, I just wanted to ask the thread what shaving cream do you think smells the most old-timey? (i.e. like the smell of shaving cream you'd get in an old barbershop)

I really like Tabac. Although you have to use more cream to get it nice and rich, compared with Taylors for example. But I love this old timers fragrance it leaves.

who007 · 10-03-2009 6:55pm

probably the only time anyyone on boards talks any scents

Amalgam · 10-03-2009 10:00pm

Just curious, what 'wish lists' have other members got?

On my list to buy at some point, in no particular order.

Gillette Tech. I love the low profile head, meant to be a mild shaver though. Bakelite or metal shaft, military or non military issue. I'll grab whatever I can. Not as 'fashionable' as other Gillettes, you can get them mint quite easily for a fair price, hovering around $15 to $25-$30 tops, boxed. The box the WWII version supplied to troops comes in is a delight. There's also a civilian and military version from WWI, presented in a hard canvas case.

Gillette 'New'. A mighty beast, very hefty. Open comb though, which I fear.. Prices are low to fair, they are often quite scuffed.

Gillette Super Adjustable. Lovely lovely shaft on this, black pastic with a diamond engraved pattern, long and short version. Late 60's version has a full metal razor head, the underside is metal. The version from the early 80's has a plastic underside, everything else about the head is metal. Identical in character to the 'Fatboy', but pops up mint and boxed for about $25-$45. Push comes to shove I would get this over a Fatboy.

Gillette 'Fatboy'. Overpriced at the moment, I feel. You just need to shave after all.. I would probably plump for a second hand one.

---

If money was no object..

Gillette Aristocrat & Gillette President Lovely diagonal milled pattern on the shaft, stumpy, plain, but in a subdued class kind of way. If I have money to piss up a wall at some point, I will probably get one.

Oddities..

Eclipse Red Ring. Lovely razor, probably English. A unique head and a beautiful bakelite box.

That's about it, used to shave, not big into just staring at something on a shelf, boxed.

Gran Hermano · 10-03-2009 10:10pm

I'm still debating whether to get a used, good as new (in box with instructions, etc) or old but replated/rechromed when I get around to picking up a couple of vintage razors.

I'm contemplating these two as a starting point:
Fat Boy
Slim Boy

I like the 195 but they are silly money and I'm not sure why I like them - maybe the rarity!

The Rockets look interesting as do some of the English made razors from the same time as the Fatboy.
I've also seen some interesting military issued shaving kits that look
interesting but couldn't see myself actually using.
Am tempted to go for this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/GILLETTE-ROCKET-CASE-BLADE-HOLDER-INSTRUCTIONS-MINT_W0QQitemZ120386872505QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_2?hash=item120386872505&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A570|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

As several have said, the prices on B&B and Shave Den are much better than ebay.

Amalgam · 11-03-2009 1:32am

Gran Hermano wrote: »

I like the 195 but they are silly money and I'm not sure why I like them - maybe the rarity!

[cheesy grin]

That seller.. the one selling the 195, the amount of aggro and flak he has got on Badger & Blade.. Selling a few 'Fran-ken-razors' on eBay. Basically one type with another bit bolted on, from another razor. Also stuff with visible cracks in the handle and seemingly, solder or welding marks!

Here you go:

http://cgi.ebay.com/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280312862138

It was listed as a normal sale at one point, but with this, he's probably just listing it to give a big F--- Y-- to the various forums that were reporting him en masse, to eBay.

dbar · 11-03-2009 9:51am

Crap, missed this one...
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=79801

Gran Hermano · 11-03-2009 11:14am

dbar wrote: »

Crap, missed this one...
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=79801

They buyer bought it with his first post on B&B, there's hope for us all!
You'll find me doing cartwheels if I pick up a bargain like that.

I think I'll stick to B&B's and the Shaving Den's "For Sale" sections
not only to avoid the mad prices elsewhere but also less less likely to
get a dodgy razor. Pity some of the sellers on the fora ship CONUS only.

dbar · 11-03-2009 11:42am

Yeah,
What does that mean? I assume US - Canada only?

Amalgam · 11-03-2009 11:43am

Continental United States, usually excluding Alaska and Hawaii. 50 states.

dbar · 11-03-2009 11:45am

dbar wrote: »

In case anyone is wondering how to dispose of the used blades safely...
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=54746

UPDATE: Smyths toys are selling piggy banks that are basically big Cans with a slot in the top for coins, the beauty is; they cant be opened without a tin opener so basically its a sealed tin, I got the Cars one for 3 yoyos. It will last forever and a day.

sombaht · 11-03-2009 12:47pm

Are the vintage razors really worth the money being asked? The one in the link below for example seems to be priced fairly high compared to say a Merkur Progress. Whats the extra cash actually getting you? A better brand? Better build quality? Or is to simply the fact that it is rare?

Not having a dig or anything, just genuinely curious.

http://cgi.ebay.ie/1958-Fatboy-Gillette-1-9-Double-Edge-Safety-Razor-D-4_W0QQitemZ360136907560QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item360136907560&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

Cheers,
sombaht

axer · 11-03-2009 1:16pm

sombaht wrote: »

Are the vintage razors really worth the money being asked? The one in the link below for example seems to be priced fairly high compared to say a Merkur Progress. Whats the extra cash actually getting you? A better brand? Better build quality? Or is to simply the fact that it is rare?

Not having a dig or anything, just genuinely curious.

http://cgi.ebay.ie/1958-Fatboy-Gillette-1-9-Double-Edge-Safety-Razor-D-4_W0QQitemZ360136907560QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item360136907560&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

Cheers,
sombaht

They are far from necessary.

Many people that start DE shaving really get into it and end up spending a fortune on stuff (but then again probably no more than if they continued to use a mach3). I have only ever bought 3 razors - a wilkinsons sword DE razor (didnt know any better at the time), a merkur progress (learned how to de shave using this but have never used it since) and a merkur slant bar (my main razor since it works so well).

MediaTank · 11-03-2009 1:55pm

sombaht wrote: »

Are the vintage razors really worth the money being asked? The one in the link below for example seems to be priced fairly high compared to say a Merkur Progress. Whats the extra cash actually getting you? A better brand? Better build quality? Or is to simply the fact that it is rare?

They are just desirable. People like them and buy them.

Jip · 11-03-2009 2:31pm

dbar wrote: »

Crap, missed this one...
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=79801

Just noticed that the razor above is very similar to the one I had my first ever shave with. It was my dads and the head of it was pretty similar but the handle was a mustard colour and of some sort of plastic material. I've tried googling it before but never found it, anyone know what I'm talking about ?

Star Lord · 11-03-2009 2:47pm

If it was like this:

then it was a Merkur Progress, but I'm probably way wrong here though...

Gran Hermano · 11-03-2009 3:04pm

I also thought of the Progress when I heard the description of similar head
but cream plastic on handle.

Safety Razors

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