Tried a straight razor..

[silencertalk]

This is literally my first time ever trying one. It was hard to use around my Carotid artery and chin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNx5kWQUpA0

It is not the kind that you strop but rather takes disposable blades: http://amzn.to/1yNFiRB

[robpiat]

I ordered one of these...Many positive reviews. Never tried anything but disposables.

http://amzn.to/1ygM8A2

[silencertalk]

That looks like a great deal. I never would have found it as it is miscategorized under "electric shaver accessories."

I have these and like it:

http://amzn.to/1tHIqTk

This one is the most often recommended for most people to start with:

http://amzn.to/1yW9Bdw

Same thing with lines:

http://amzn.to/1yOwzyq

I have this and love it - machined stainless handle and pressed 17-4 head:

http://www.weberrazor.com

I don't have this, but want it. It is considered "aggressive" but very good:

http://amzn.to/1ygKyhu

The finest machined quality product if you want to spend this much: http://www.abovethetie.com/?store_cat=34&sub=true


These are my favorite blades and happen to be cheap. They are Russian: http://amzn.to/1zp3NbF

These are good also, and made in USA, but cost more and don't seem better: http://amzn.to/1BBWgEo

These are considered the sharpest blades, but they are harder for beginners: http://amzn.to/1zgJqPe

[a_canadian]

Okay, I got to maybe 1:20 then couldn't cope, had to close that tab. Why oh why, unless trying to impress an impressively attractive female (or male, if that's your thing... not that there's anything wrong with that), would anyone push such a blade against their own face? Even in a controlled fashion it's just scary. I was skeptical for years about the multi-blade disposables but then got a 3-blade piece of nonsense in the mail as a sample, tried it, and mind=blown. Damn thing worked beautifully! And since then I've gone to a 5-blade version and it's even nicer on my skin! Okay, so truth be told I haven't shaved in a bit more than a year. Seems the wife likes a beard. So I'm obliging, for the time being. But when I get back to shaving it's going to be with a state-of-the-friggin'-art 17 blade disposable or the closest thing I can find to that. Straight razors are like having a death wish. Slumped on my bathroom floor drenched in oxygen-rich arterial blood is not how I want to leave this place.

[silencertalk]

Realistically, the smart thing to do is get a Trac-II handle (one is sold called Bump Fighter), then get Trac-II blades - they are from the 1970s. That was the sweet spot of modern shaving. Most things beyond that were just to make more profit. Fusion blades are $3-4 each but Trac-II blades are cheap.

As for straight edge, that was my first time, and I don't know how to use it yet, but there are videos on YouTube were guys have thick beards and they just fall off their face at the sight of the straight razor. It almost looks fake how it works. They don't clog.

I don't think females would be impressed by shaving prowess - guys just think they are. It is like when my friend got a Buick Grand National in the 80s and assumed women would be impressed with it but it only impressed guys.

[silencertalk]

Bond:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWQjfbHX82A

[a_canadian]

Bond:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWQjfbHX82A

Okay. Goddamn. That I get. But shaving myself with a straight razor just ain't that.

[hunter2]

Bond:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWQjfbHX82A

Okay. Goddamn. That I get. But shaving myself with a straight razor just ain't that.

I am not sure how God had anything to do with that, but OK.

[a_canadian]

Pardon me, I was using that word not in the fairy tale sense but as an enthusiastic expletive. But supposing one believes in such things... well, then surely an all-powerful, all-knowing being from whose imagination sprang the universe has at least a little something to do with everything, right? Even sexy straight razor scenes in film clips.

[Bugzy]

Damn Robert,

That was like watching somebody giving themselves a suntan with a oxygen/acetylene torch.

Just a bit timid with your strokes there. Maybe a long smooth stroke, versus a peck here and there would be a better technique. I understand it was your first attempt, but I just couldn't help but expect a twitch in your hand...and seeing self dispensing red lubricant.

I've considered them in the past, but the five blade deals work good enough for me every morning.

Good luck with it brother!

[Conqueror]

I grew a beard this year.

Dude, Rob, I cut people open for a living and that video made my skin crawl. Your face looked like it went through a paper shredder. When I shave, I use a Sensor Excel from like 1990. Two blades only, doesn't clog like the modern whiz-bang things. I did get a straight-razor shave once from an experienced barber, and to be honest, I got bad razor burn and felt that I could achieve better results with my own razor.

[plant.one]

Fusion blades are $3-4 each but Trac-II blades are cheap.

i too got the free promo birthday 3 blade special and wow. then 5 bladers hit with that little vibrating motor in the handle and i was like omg yes. sure they're $4-$5 a head, but i get 3-4 weeks of shaving out of each head. and if i want to get the smoooothest shave possible i just take one pass with the grain and a follow up pass against it.


to each their own

[silencertalk]

You can buy those Fusion heads at BJs for $3 each.

Remember that watching someone straight razor shave for literally their first time is like watching someone ride a bike or swim for their first time.

[Conqueror]

So have you stuck with it?

[silencertalk]

I have been using a DE safety razor since I last posted. I like the DE and don't see myself going back to cartridges. I expect to try the straight some more. I enjoy the reusable heavy hardware along with 10 cent blades.

There are some super nice units out there:

[Conqueror]

I actually was considering a DE safety razor before I grew the beard. You like them? I felt that clogging of the blade cartridges was causing razor burn long before the blades were truly dulled and that the safety razors should be immune to clogging. What's the deal with the curved/twisted ones?

[silencertalk]

I can't say for certain that they work better than cartridges as other fans of them say. I am liking them for a few reasons though.

One is that you get real nice metal hardware that is enjoyable. And the blades are 10 cents each (I like 100 packs of Astra from Amazon). Certainly they don't clog as easily on a beard.

I am not sure if they have less razor burn. People say they do, but I am not sure that is real.

The curved ones are said to act like a guillotine and cut more easily, but I am not convinced as it is only about a three degree angle - not 45 like a guillotine.

As for which on to get - man. I wish I knew. I can greatly narrow down the search to some.

Cost no object, everyone seems to like the ATT (Above the Tie) stainless machined ones. Problem is, they make so many models it is hard to know which one you will ultimately like. For that reason, I have not got one. You can buy kids for $300 or $400 with an assortment of their heads and then sell off the ones you end up not liking. They also have a 30 day exchange policy.

There is the iKon with a lathe-turned 316 handle and cast aluminum head. The razors are mostly well liked. They get some negative reviews because the company owner is accused of being not nice to customers like Soup Nazi. Personally that would not keep me from buying one if I wanted it. They are mostly over $100. I don't feel like buying one without a way to try it first.

Then there is the Japanese Feather AS-D2 matte-chrome over stainless. The head is powdered metal stainless. They are "mild" so they are hard to cut yourself with and comfortable, but some people don't think they cut as well due to this mildness. For $175, I have not decided to try it.

I have a Weber stainless and love it. It was only $70. Head is 17-4 PH powdered metal. Handle is lathe-turned 316. Problem is, they just stopped making the heads for an unknown reason. Their handles are $38 and nice. Same with iKon handles.

There are $33 EJ-89s that are mild, but less mild than the Feather AS-D2. They look very high quality. Heads are die-cast Zinc with chrome plating. Probably you-all should start with one of those, and then a 100 pack of Astra blades. $45 all-in, and that is a year's worth of blades.

There is also the ever popular Merkur 34c. Problem is, I can't say it is better than the EJ-89, and plating quality is much worse. It works real well, but no price of ownership due to the finish quality. And it is not compatible with aftermarket handles like the EJ-89.

So buy an EJ-89 from Amazon and 100 Astra blades.

No lines on handle: http://amzn.to/1yW9Bdw

Lines on handle: http://amzn.to/1EWG5b9

I suggest these blades: http://amzn.to/1zp3NbF

You can get a badger-hair brush if you want for as little as about $12. I use one. But you can use regular soap or shaving cream also. There is no special reason why you need a brush with a DE razor but not a cartridge razor.

[Conqueror]

I actually was using a badger brush and soap with a cartridge razor pre-beard. If I go back to shaving I will probably try a DE.

[silencertalk]

I have gotten so into this DE stuff in such a short amount of time, that I had to design my own.

My target was a perfect 5 on a scale of 1 to 10 for aggressiveness. I printed one on my home printer, and it works really well.

http://youtu.be/YFw6XkceSa8

[silencertalk]

[66427vette]

How much do you want to print and send me one?

[silencertalk]

Let me finish it first.

Estimated 0.17mm of blade protrusion assuming the blade starts at 20.00mm wide. Gap is 0.59mm. Notice how the radius of the top cap and bottom factor in the 0.1mm thickness of the average blade. Angle is 27.56deg.

[silencertalk]

[Maser]

I'm happy with my electric razor.

[Nikwho]

I shave with a Thiers-Issard straight razor and love it! It comes with a learning curve, but after your first time, I would guess that most pretty quickly learn what works and does not work for them. With that said, straight shaving is a more involved process. I have found that I will straight shave when I have a bit of extra time or when I take my wife out for dinner, etc. I have gone COMPLETELY away from my electric razor and cartridges, though! My every day razor is a safety razor. I have a 1954 Gillete and a newer Merkur. I too like the Astra blades, along with the Merkur's. I like getting the sampler packs and experimenting with different blade types. I have not looked back since transitioning to more classic means of shaving! It has turned into a hobby for me and turned shaving into something I enjoy, believe it or not. I love the printed safety razor!!! Very cool!

Nik C

ETA: I just realized that was my first post here! I've been reading so much I kinda figured that I had posted by now. But, trying to do lots of reading early on as I figure that most of my simple, newbie questions have likely been answered! my name is Nik. I live in Flagstaff, AZ. I am in the process of building my first SBR and purchasing my first can (SilencerCo Osprey 45). Though, I have a nice Rockwell lathe at my disposal and want to get into the machining of F1 supressors. I am by NO means a machinist and have only just begun my learning of running a lathe. Happy to have found this site!

Nik C.