Thanks! I looked at your stash and gotta say WOW, very impressive! Can I ask you if you have a favorite/daily use razor and blade? Also, how do you like the Arko and Palmolive stick soaps?
First, I want to say that I have been involved in doing this for a long time. I have gone through the AD's(aquisition disorders) as we call them on the boards many times. To answer your questions: I like Arko(my soap of choice) which is a firm but not hard shave stick that works well. I can be used as a stick or smashed into a cup like a puck. Palmolive is a hard stick that you use as a stick or you can grate it into a cup. It is harder and I like to use it in my dopp kit. Razors: I would say I use my Gillette New Deluxe the most Blades: I would have to say the Gillette 7 O'Clock Super Platinum(black box) are my favorite Now these are subjective. Just because I like them doesn't necessarily mean you will. What is your kit as of now?
My kit so far is a Merkur 38C HD Barber's Pole, Merkur 34C HD, Arko sticks, sampler pack and Astra SP's, Perfecto Badger brush, Simpson's wee scot best badger brush. That is it. I have a friend that has the iKon standard head bulldog that is all stainless and I wanna try it. I heard good things about the Palmolive stick so kinda want to try that too!
Nice kit! My advice to you would be to try to stick with that for a while to hone your technique. Bringing in to many variables can really mess with your shave. After you feel really comfortable with one set up for a while you can start changing one thing at a time for a week and try to determine if that change was for the better or worse. Also experiment with your lather. Creating hand lather really lets you feel how moist and lubricating the lather is. I feel lather is one of the most important aspects of your shave. Have fun and enjoy your shaves!
I am always trying to reduce variables and I started with the 38C but felt that is too heavy and long handled so I picked up the 34C and first shave was great DFS but not BBS, which at this point I dont expect. I do have plans to get to one or two razors, one blade, one soap and keep it simple. I didnt get into the after shave idea nor did I want soap in a bowl as I try to eliminate steps that I feel are not needed. Another goal is to get a DFS down in two passes and so I wonder if my Astra blade is the cause for my three pass shave plus a touchup spot or two or if it is my lack of skill. Thx.
Razors have far too many points of variability to make a chart. Exposure has gap, open blade width, and for some heads curvature differences. Weight of the head, weight of the handle, center of balance, material mixing (example handle of plastic head of metal), would cause radical differences in aggression. Head geometry and tolerance of parts can cause differences in how the blades are seated. Those are general issues which can be mulitiplied by hundreds of different razors from different manufacturers would require decades of testing to go over each razor once or twice. That is why a table does not exist at that level of detail.
Thanks! It was given to me many, many years ago but I cannot find any coin collector/seller to actually ID it or value it! @Kilgore Trout, @ vwp528, @ mfrancis79 - thanks for the welcomes!
Thanks! So you are no longer a Michigander? Whats the matter too cold or too long of winter? LOL Just kidding! How long have you been an Arkoholic? I am only 3-4 weeks!
Still living in West Michigan. Like you, I'm a noob. I have only a couple of different soaps, bur I find myself pulling the Arko from the cabinet.
Welcome to the den. Blades are a subjective in their nature. Have found that Derby blades are mild, Astra sp blades are more sharper, Sharp and shark are about the same. Gillette 7 o ' clocks are still sharper yet. The Russian blades are good too.
Thanks! I have used a few times and seem to like the Astra's but today I went with the SuperMax Ti and have mixed feelings about it as I commented in my SOTD today.
Welcome from yet another Michigander in the GR area. As other have said blades are very personal preference, however I agree regarding the Super Max, absolutely a terrible blade for me. Used it for 1 full shave and 1 stroke of a second shave and went in the blade bank. But then others love it, good thing about this obsession...err hobby enough of various hardware and software for all find what works for them and enjoy.
