Bakelite vs Plastic

So.. I have like zero experience with Bakelite razors. Do they shave any different than metal razors? I see plastic razors getting talked down alot as flimsy or poor shavers. How do they compare to Bakelite? Sorry for the burst of "noob-ositity"

 

Bakelite is more rigid than a standard plastic. Bakelite might be a little heavier but still very light to me. Also most of the time a Bakelite razors will be vintage. Quality will be like comparing a Micro Touch (Welshi) to a vintage Super Speed.

 

Bakelite is very brittle. More easily broken than modern plastics. The Wilkinson Sword and Feather Popular have the best reputation out of modern plastic razors.

 

I wouldn't mess around with bakelite anything unless it was just for display. It breaks down in odd ways. I've never had a bakelite razor, but am used to bakelite knobs on things like vintage radios. It tends to become brittle, or else somehow break down due to age and get kind of sticky/tacky. Like you could almost mold it with your fingers.

 

I had an old Bakelite Slant. Could not stand the thing, Sold it for a big loss.

 

You guys are like my personal wiki lol Thanks for the info. Just read up on Bakelites history. Pretty interesting. But then again I used read encyclopedias for fun as a kid

 

I would do that every now and then myself. Although I remember nothing I read from them.

 

Those were the good ole days. Now I ask Siri for info.

 

History of Plastics

http://thecarrotbox.com/plastic/index.asp


Bakelite vs Cataliin

http://cycleback.wordpress.com/2013...ehyde-identifying-the-popular-early-plastics/

 

Many early 20th century straight razor scales are bakelite. Very sturdy stuff. Never had any problems with Bakelite.

Celluloid, the material for early films, was an early much used plastic and Bakelite came about a little later and also was much used and definitely more stable. Celluloid breaks down (cell rot) and the acid it produces actually eats into the steel of a straight razor.

 

I shaved with a bakelite slant once and found the experience to be highly overrated.

I have a Wilkinson Sword razor, the one that Fram mentioned earlier. I should try it out, I've had it for at least a year.

 

I agree the vintage and modern Bakelite slants are too light for me. I need a heavier weighted handle and head to shave properly, though some love them.

 

Ive heard of some people with celluloid handle knives or straight razors who have stored their stuff together in a box only to unexpectedly find all their stuff ruined by the celluloid because it can self destruct suddenly and unexpectedly.

 

I was given 4 straights from an old estate and the only one I had to dispose of had celluloid scales, a Beau Brummel. You can see the scales get fuzzy and on opening the razor the blade is splotched with dissolved/dissolving metal. It's a creepy sight.

 

Then there is the modern Merkur 45, a razor made of attractive red plastic. It shaves similar to the best DE razors. Light weight, slightly aggressive, and it gives an outstanding close shave. I have never cut or nicked myself with it. My theory is plastic is flexible and has some "give" so that it is more user friendly and difficult to nick or to cut oneself. It's a good travel razor because of its light weight. The only negative is it is fragile and needs the protection of a sturdy box when traveling.

 

Isn't the 45 made of Bakelite?

 

I guess it is. I vaguely remember awhile back there was a debate on one forum about whether the 45 was bakelit or a modern plastic. The current sites seem to all say bakelite, so I guess it's bakelite if they know what they're talking about.

Thanks for the correction.