Do you use a cartridge razor?

Nah.. it's ok. A lot of people do.. and you can always move away from them later if you want.

 

Once upon a time there was canned goo. A miserable little fellow who felt he was totally misunderstood. People trusted him to give them good shaves or what they thought were good shaves. In truth, he was an evil little fellow that wanted to conquer the world. His slick advertising and promises of shaving nirvana. Yet shine the light of truth on him and he quickly returns to the shadows. Nursing his ego and blaming his woes on others. I pity the poor thing.

 

Schick quattro for head shaving.


marty

 

Mach 3 for me. Permanently.

 

I still love using my Sensor occasionally. I have a Geo Trumper Warwick Ivory handle for mine that I picked up from a forum member some time ago and I really love the feel of it. It handles more like a classic/vintage than a cartridge to me. And it gives it that classic look as well.

The Sensor is the ONLY cartridge razor I've been able to really adapt to and get a decent shave out of. I prefer the plain, original Sensor cartridge, not the Sensor Excel or the Sensor 3. There's no little plastic 'thingy' ahead of the blade to cause irritation.

But I'm a DE man at heart. I love my Merkurs! But I'm not ready to give up my Sensor yet either!

 

Trac II...Anyone?

A razor I've not seen mentioned here very much at all is the Gillette Trac II, which was introduced in 1971. Apparently the Trac II is the cartridge that fits the Merkur Twin Blade razor, from what I can gather. I'd like to hear from those of you who know more details about the Trac II, but especially the Merkur Twin Blade razor and how it performs. I might want to add one to my collection.

 

PDiddy, long time no see.

I have used a Trac II

Not bad, not bad at all. It dose not have the "flex" the Sensor dose but a very nice razor.

The Merkur (Col Conk) blades are lousy you are better off going with the Gillette made blades.

 

I probably don't need one more type cartridge to buy and keep on hand anyhow. As for sticking with Gillette, I've found that the same holds true with the Sensor. I'm finishing off a pack of generic Sensor blades now and won't buy any more; they are 'very poor' quality and shave no where near as smooth as the OEM Sensor cartridges.

I do like the 'flex' of the Sensor over the non-flex of the fixed cartridges. And then there's the Atra from Gillette, one more garden variety of cartridge you hear very little about. It seems the Sensor is the 'sweet spot' of cartridges, at least from Gillette. I would like to find some more ivory, horn or bone type handles to fit the Sensor. I'm not a big fan of the 'one-size-fits-all' handles that have the adapters that fit Trac II, Atra and Sensor. I like the ones that are made specifically for the Sensor, quickly becoming a very rare animal.

Now, if we could only find a good, cheap source for OEM Sensor blades! About a buck a pop is as cheap as I've found them. Anyone know of a good Sensor supplier?

 

I've used a lot of cartridge razors in the past, culminating in the Mach 3. To be frank, I always got fairly good shaves with the cartridges, particularly on the head. I think, in the end, knowing how to effectively use the tools you have is more important than what tools you use (to some extent).

But I stopped using cartridges completely when I got my first straight - sometimes I get curious to compare the shaves, but haven't done that experiment.

James.

 

I have. Try as I might, I have yet to get a BBS shave with a straight. I've been at it for two months, and it really doesn't seem to be getting much better. I can shave with a Mach 3 in 10 minutes (including prep and clean up) and get BBS every time. Without paying the slightest bit of attention. With a straight, it takes me an hour (literally) - and I STILL have to do a final pass with the M3 to get a good shave...not to mention paying serious attention while using the straight.

I do love my brushes, soaps and creams, but have just about had it with DEs and straights. In fact, I haven't used a DE since I started using the straight. It's true that cartridge razors have no soul...but it's hard to argue with results...

YMMV.

 

I am telling you brother, get this.

I am sure you can sell some of the stuff you don't need to afford it.

 

Amen, brother!

I agree, I get a consistent BBS shave with the cartridge razor. I just can't be convinced that you get a better shave with a DE. If the blade in a DE shaves you any closer it's not by much - if at all. The shave is the same, to me. The cartridge is just a lot more comfortable. Yeah, the DE is a cool nostalgia thing but beyond that it's prehistoric shaving - and the way my face feels after a DE shave is proof of that. But if it's your thing, great!

Michael, I've dropped the brush out of my routine as well so my prep time is even shorter now. Just don't have time or the desire to hassle with it. I've gone totally brushless at this point. Yeah, the blades will cost me but I'd rather have a smooth, comfortable shave every time and not dread having to face that dinosaur of a razor called the double edge every day.

 

The Trac II is a great razor! The cartridges are two-bladed just like the Sensor. The only difference is, the head is fixed and does not pivot. I bought one new in the package a few years ago off of eBay. I use it once in a while. You have the option of using the Trac II blades or the Trac II plus blades. The Trac II Plus blades have the lubrastrip and the Trac II's not. Personally, I don't like the lubrastrip. But the original Trac II blades are very tough to find - you have to buy them online or on eBay. I have yet to see them in any store. The Trac II Plus blades, however, CAN be found in most drug stores.

 

I know, I know. You've told me that before. I may do it yet, but I haven't given up on the straight...lots of guys use them and apparently get great results. And if anything has soul, it's a straight!! At least I have no irritation with it..........and have yet to seriously injure myself!

 

That's a beauty! I was in Trumpers the Easter before last, and their shop is stacked with similar type items that take cartridge heads. I'd guestimate over 90% of their shavers were this type of thing actually. I almost got one, they looked so good. But I got a Dovo BL instead.

Micheal - BBS is elusive with the straight, for sure. But I found once you cracked it, you still never quite get it again....:happy102

No, no, seriously - the key I've found to BBS with a straight is a very, very sharp edge, light touch, fairly intimate knowledge of your hair growth patterns, good stretching, and correct (for you) angle. It does eventually click and once it does things also tend to become faster shave-wise.

Took me, if I'm honest, almost 6 months of frustration with the straights to finally get all the parts to work together and get what I considered a good shave from one. Passable before that, but not "good". I think things would have progressed quicker if I hadn't been trying to do everything at once - honing, stropping, shaving, .... Too many moving parts, so to speak, and I never really knew, if I got a decent shave, what it was due to as I was changing 3 things at once each time.

It's different for everyone I guess - but you're not Robinson Crusoe with the straight frustration, and if there's anything I can do to help just ask.

James.

 

I know...I have your brush!

As for me, this will NEVER happen. Not ever.

 

Slapping on some cream and speeding through with a M3 dose not sound fun.

But hey, just shave baby.

If I could have gotten an irritation free shave with a M3 or other cartridge razors I would have never made the switch. It is true that the closeness for me with the DE is the same as the M3 but the irritation is gone. Even going back to the M3/Sensor/Trac II now that I know what I am doing still causes me irritation, not as even half as much but it is still their.

 

It might not be "fun" but quite honestly, at this point, I'm satisfied with a speedy yet comfortable shave that's hassle and irritation-free. After that, I get out of the bathroom and get on with my day! And that's good enough for me!

 

Right on bro. Get in get out. That is how I used to be but man did I pay for it.

I just like taking my time and I feel I get better results.