Safety Razors

MediaTank · 25-04-2009 10:56am

Amalgam wrote: »

A Merkur Vision, without a doubt.. for that season anyway, Season 4, I think is an open comb Merkur Heavy Classic.. Pilots or Season 1, a Gillette DE of some sort.

Bladeless for the scene.

(see attached) Adama and his Merkur Vision.jpg

Definately a Vision 2000 - well spotted.

MediaTank · 25-04-2009 10:59am

Amalgam wrote: »

I was tempted, I wanted to get the cream in the bowl too, seems handier than a tube. I don't know why I didn't at the start.

I am angling for a boar brush at some point, my grandfather used one, it always had a particular smell, a bit like straw, a tad earthy, not gross, but not exactly pleasant either.

I find tubes are handier - much easier to guage how much cream you are using as opposed to dipping the brush in a bowl.

I have both badger and boar brushes. Badger are far far superior to boar.

MediaTank · 25-04-2009 11:02am

DonJose wrote: »

I won an auction on Ebay for a '59 Gillette Fatboy and got it in the post yesterday. What number settings would you recommend using.

Always start with the loweset number and work your way up until you get a close shave without nicks and cuts. So for a Fatboy start with 1.

BTW, nice razor, I use exactly the same model.

MediaTank · 25-04-2009 11:07am

axer wrote: »

It has been very cheap for me but im in the minority I believe.

I'm over my collecting phase - so cheap for me too.

MediaTank · 25-04-2009 11:08am

Gran Hermano wrote: »

I think I'll order a large bottle of the skin food in Lime next time.

Fantastic product, I use it especially in the summer as balm tends to be 'heavy' in warm weather.

Fajitas! · 25-04-2009 12:20pm

Don't think I'm a fan of the Gilette 7 O'Clock's... Have more nicks than I've had on any other (sharper) blades, shave isn't *quite * tight enough compared to the shave I was getting off the Astra Superiors. Just didn't really feel nice either... Will give it another go on Monday, but there may be a box of 4 sealed going around here.

Amalgam · 26-04-2009 1:59pm

Do people change from foam to brush and cream, but keep the orange bic, gillette II.. Is it possible to use a disposable with a cream like Proraso, TOBS etc?

Just curious, are there any mix and match users on thread.

MediaTank · 26-04-2009 2:53pm

Amalgam wrote: »

Do people change from foam to brush and cream, but keep the orange bic, gillette II.. Is it possible to use a disposable with a cream like Proraso, TOBS etc?

Sure do, when tarvaeeling with hand luggage only for a 2 day trip at most, I bring a Mach 3 (Ugggh), travel brush and cream.

il gatto · 26-04-2009 7:30pm

Amalgam wrote: »

Do people change from foam to brush and cream, but keep the orange bic, gillette II.. Is it possible to use a disposable with a cream like Proraso, TOBS etc?

Just curious, are there any mix and match users on thread.

There's no problem with that. Disposables actually came out after DE razors and well before the cartridge type. They're really quite similar to shave with. Just one sharp blade (unless there's two:o). I always shred my face with the Bics for some reason. The Gillettes are fine.
Some of the lathers a good cream or soap produces can be very thick, so you might have to rinse the blade a bit more often than with canned foam.

Fajitas! · 27-04-2009 2:57pm

Anyone (Amalgram, looking at you!

)fancy helping myself and Cabaal solve a mystery?

On the Merkur Progress, which setting is the most and least aggressive? As in on the 1 - 5 scale on the bottom.

Gran Hermano · 27-04-2009 3:05pm

On the Progress 5 is the most aggressive setting.

Link here shows razors listed by how aggressive they are.
http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Double-Edged_Safety_Razors_Ranked_by_Aggressiveness

Amalgam · 27-04-2009 3:35pm

I can't help.. I don't have a Progress. A Futur, but no progress..

Just a quick question, any Kent BK4 shaving brush owners lurking?

Are you happy with the brush, is it ok with creams, not too floppy?

I'm in the mood for one from the Shaving Shack.

MediaTank · 27-04-2009 4:15pm

Fajitas! wrote: »

On the Merkur Progress, which setting is the most and least aggressive? As in on the 1 - 5 scale on the bottom.

As a rule for all adjustable safety razors the higher the number the more agressive - wider gap between rail and blade. Therfore 1 is the least agressive. For the Vision 2000 razor, V is the least and N the most agressive (if the razor is aligned correctly).

MT

axer · 27-04-2009 4:31pm

I used to find the way to get the progress to start at zero (for my de razor anyway) was to put the blade and top together but not to tighten anything. Then turn the razor on its head and push the base into the top so that the head, blade and shaft are tight and only then start screwing the bottom all the way until closed. After that then twist the bottom knob to loosen to the correct figure.

That was a few years ago when I was using a progress so I dont know if that was the correct way of doing it.

MediaTank · 28-04-2009 12:30pm

Anyone used these guys http://www.waldo.ie/store/index.php ?

Gran Hermano · 28-04-2009 1:08pm

MediaTank wrote: »

Anyone used these guys http://www.waldo.ie/store/index.php ?

Nice find! First time I've spotted them online. Interesting link from the
Waldo site back to the Waldorf Barber showing a gallery of old shaving
products - including some creams/strops/soaps made in Ireland in ye olden
days.
http://www.waldorfbarbers.com/index.php?option=com_oziogallery&Itemid=2

MediaTank · 28-04-2009 3:26pm

Gran Hermano wrote: »

Nice find! First time I've spotted them online. Interesting link from the
Waldo site back to the Waldorf Barber showing a gallery of old shaving
products - including some creams/strops/soaps made in Ireland in ye olden
days.
http://www.waldorfbarbers.com/index.php?option=com_oziogallery&Itemid=2

Great slideshow.

This might be worth checking out on National Geographic - Secrets of Shaving http://www.natgeochannel.co.uk/programmes/secrets_of

Gran Hermano · 28-04-2009 4:36pm

MediaTank wrote: »

Great slideshow.

This might be worth checking out on National Geographic - Secrets of Shaving http://www.natgeochannel.co.uk/programmes/secrets_of

You and I spoke about that Nat Geo show earlier on this thread, we are really getting lost on this one monster thread!

To think we had all those great Irish shaving suppliers and they're now gone.

MediaTank · 28-04-2009 5:23pm

Gran Hermano wrote: »

You and I spoke about that Nat Geo show earlier on this thread, we are really getting lost on this one monster thread!

LOL, a 56 page thread will do that to you

:D

StealthRolex · 28-04-2009 11:10pm

Amalgam wrote: »

I can't help.. I don't have a Progress. A Futur, but no progress..

Just a quick question, any Kent BK4 shaving brush owners lurking?

Are you happy with the brush, is it ok with creams, not too floppy?

I'm in the mood for one from the Shaving Shack.

I'd say go for it! Got one about a year or so ago and haven't looked back. The grip took a little getting used to as it's on the small side but it works just fine. BK12 is supposed to be huge.

Bottom line - happy - and take it traveling when I can - beats a pure bristle hands down.
Better with creams than soap IMO but YMMV. That said, it works well with soap in a bowl or if I rub a shave stick over my chin too.

Never had problem with floppiness on a BK4.

Bought a synthetic Omega from Knights, used once now it's in the bottom of a drawer. Problem - too floppy for Viagra to rescue - darn thing just fell over as soon as it smelled the wet.

Score 10 or 9.9 with the gripe on the grip.

Anyone got any experience of the Taylors synthetic?

Amalgam · 29-04-2009 3:25am

StealthRolex, cheers for the input. I don't mind the shape of the handle, I like it, I had been mulling over a Simpsons 'Persian Jar' handle, so, I was sort of leaning towards that shape.

I may be using a synthetic, I didn't realise it because the Men-Ü brand brush is colour toned to look natural.

phantom_lord · 29-04-2009 5:25am

is there much of a difference in these two brushes, is it worth getting the second one?

http://www.4men.ie/index.php?sid=108072e3ba615453358a2b1c02694527&cl=details&anid=f1445783f852aa634.79476710&pgNr=1&listtype=search&searchvendor=be34356cee3cc6286.26926837
http://www.4men.ie/index.php?sid=108072e3ba615453358a2b1c02694527&cl=details&anid=MU13&pgNr=1&listtype=search&searchvendor=be34356cee3cc6286.26926837

Amalgam · 29-04-2009 5:43am

The more expensive brush is synthetic. If you have ethical issues with the use of Badger\Boar\Pig hair, that's fine, but there are cheaper synthetics out there. Omega for instance make synthetics at a quarter of the price.

I am currently using the 'cheaper' brush, a bit stiff and takes time to work a lather up. The gel they supply isn't the best (I think it's crap), the most basic of shaving cream will work better than it. You can't produce 'mass' from nothing, I'm not convinced by the word 'concentrate'.

The brush I'm using is available in the Boots chain of Chemists, so you might like to pop in and have a hold of it first. Boots sell it for one euro less.

Boots in Saint Stephens Green Shopping Centre usually stock them.

An ok starter brush, but you'll soon be yearning for something else..

Gran Hermano · 29-04-2009 9:59am

I'm awaiting delivery on a Semogue brush from Vintage Scent. Based on
the feedback on the usual shaving sites they seem to give great results
for their price. I ordered the high-density brush as I want to use it with
both creams and soaps. I'm also rotating between a TOBS pure badger
and the Omega boar.

waraf · 29-04-2009 10:28am

Lads, does anyone want a free pure badger brush? I have a silvertip and to be honest the pure badger has been sitting on the shelf doing nothing so someone may as well have it. I only used it for about a month so it's in perfect condition and comes in it's original box. Send me a PM if interested.

(edit: now taken)

Fajitas! · 29-04-2009 11:16am

If it's still going, I'd take it off your hands!

If you're in Dublin, I could pick it up off you?

In other news, I took my eye off the ball this morning and took a chunk out underneath my lip on my XTG run... Of course, rather than stop it bleeding, I went for my camera... Talk about stinging... :pac:

waraf · 29-04-2009 11:27am

Fajitas! wrote: »

If it's still going, I'd take it off your hands!

Will you PM me with your address please Fajitas and I'l throw it in the post today.

On a separate note, does anyone know the cheapest website to buy feather blades?

Gran Hermano · 29-04-2009 11:42am

waraf wrote: »

Will you PM me with your address please Fajitas and I'l throw it in the post today.

On a separate note, does anyone know the cheapest website to buy feather blades?

West Coast shaving in the USA will post you 100 for €41 but best price
I've seen lately is the special offer on shaving shack
http://www.shaving-shack.com/shop/home.php?cat=159
Works out at just over €26 for 100 delivered.

There is also a regular on B&B Pauldog who sells them cheaply, PM him for a price.

hamsterboy · 29-04-2009 11:59am

www.4men.ie have them for 3.75 inc delivery

waraf · 29-04-2009 12:48pm

Gran Hermano wrote: »

West Coast shaving in the USA will post you 100 for €41 but best price
I've seen lately is the special offer on shaving shack
http://www.shaving-shack.com/shop/home.php?cat=159
Works out at just over €26 for 100 delivered.

There is also a regular on B&B Pauldog who sells them cheaply, PM him for a price.

Doesn't appear to be any special on feather blades at the moment on Shaving Shack. Anyway, I got 30 for 10 euro delivered using some shaving points. Thanks for the replies lads.

Safety Razors

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