Safety Razor for the once a week shaver?

The NEW is TTO right? Also, where could I go about looking for one? (other than ebay) The query "gillette NEW" brings back a ton of fusion and other cartridge products.

 

Nope, a New is a 3 piece razor. Check out Achim's New Page for pics of what they look like.

 

Right.

But a one-piece (twist-to-open) is easier to clean while using it, and that helps when you're shaving off more growth.

 

This is one of the most important things to remember from this whole thread, if you are trying to do it in a hurry you will not like using any D/E.

Chris is right here, the older injectors are great at removing alot of growth, plus they can be had cheaply and the cutting angle is close to a cartridge style razor.

Thats true also, maybe you could look into an open comb TTO depending on what you are willing to spend. But be forwarned, they are pricey.

 

ill also say a type E injector paired w/ a good blade. a gillette old type is another option.

 

Seeing Dave here reminded me, a GEM 1912 would also be a good choice.

 

Agreed! Kinda makes you wonder why Dave didn't recommend one himself. :think002 Think maybe he's slipping in his old age?

 

I think after all my reading and searching and posting this thread, I have found that there is a plethora of vintage razors that I can use that will do a great job. However, if I can get as good a shave out of a new one, I would prefer that. Because of this, I am going to go with a Merkur open comb HD long handle (12C). It seems to be the best blend of aggressivenes, price, availability, etc. I think it is a matter of opinion and individual face, but, I would think I could just as easily get a good shave out of a new Merkur than an old vintage piece, correct?

My next step is to find a decent brush for a good deal...

Any deals floating around that I should check out...

 

well....i didnt think it was good for that

 

What type of blades would you guys recommend for the 12C?

 

Remember how many different answers you got above? Be prepared for the same thing when it comes to blades. No one can tell you which blade will be right for you, it is a personal preference thing or <looks around for Ray> YMMV.

The best bet would be to get as large of a sample pack as you can afford and try them all. A couple of good sources are: West Coast Shaving and Connaught Shaving.

 

welcome to The Den. I would like to chime in w/ my 2 cents. Don't limit yourself to just one razor. Go ahead and get the Merkur as it's a new razor and readily available. Then start looking for a couple of vintage razors that are in good shape and at a reasonable price. You might like the newer razor or maybe the vintage will suit you better. Or like many of us here you might like a variety of razors and put several in a rotation. The same goes for blades. Especially blades. And don't forget about soaps and creams. You could spend a fortune or be frugal. Just have fun and enjoy yourself.

 

I really believe that blades are the only thing you NEED to experiment a lot with. It's easy (if you're not obsessed or picky like all of us) to find a great soap or cream, a great aftershave splash or balm, a great razor, a good enough brush, but with blades, it can take a lot of work.
TSD soaps and creams and aftershaves are all well liked and inexpensive. So is Proraso, Omega, Nivea and Speick. You'd be fine with any of those.
As for brushes, a great soft badger brush would be a Rooney in Style 1 size 1. A great boar would be a Semogue or an Omega.
Your razor will most likely work just fine.
Just try blades now. Gillette 7 Oclock Yellows, Feathers, Derby's, Red Israeli Personnas, Crystals, Astras, Bics...
That's my quickly written two cents

 

That's because the guy definitely needs and open comb and 1912 open combs are rare.
And Dave just couldn't bring himself to suggest a MicroMatic open comb as he hates MM!

Anyway, I'm going to suggest it, MicroMatic open comb, (or OLD or NEW Improved or NEW)

 

happy102

if they were more abundant, i would highly recommend them