Hi folks, I've been using my Astra SP blades for a while with fairly good results, but decided to try out my test pack of Merkur SP in my 34C, and it's been a really odd experience; I feel like I must be using them wrong or something! Even with a copious amount of pre-shave oil and gel, it managed to feel both like it was pulling while doing almost nothing to the hair - went over the same spot about four times before I noticed it even getting close to the skin (and left me with a burn!), and I can do these in one pass with the Astras. So, I decided, "It must be just that blade!" and swapped it for a second one in the pack, only to encounter the same thing again. I've gone back to the Astras, but I really wanted to give them a proper try for comparison's sake. Am I just really, really unlucky with these blades so far, or am I using them wrong somehow?
Nah man I have not even tried merkur blades because I have only ready of one person having a good experience with them.
I had similar experiences with the Merkur blades. May just have been my face; but they hurt something awful. And yes you are using them wrong. Correct instructions: 1) Open package 2) Place directly in trash receptacle 3) Move on to (insert brand here)
In wet shaving the blades are the most YMMV ting you'll encounter. Blades which work with someone else might just be the wrong ones for you in combination with razor x. Some blades work in one razor and absolutely not in another. So I guess Merkur blades aren't made for you (in combination with the razor you use). Nevermind. Just hop on to the next brand. That's what makes blade samples so much fun: you get to try a lot of different brands! Enjoy your search for the blade which suits you most!
You are not using the blades wrong!! Razor blades and your face are a match truly made in heaven.. YMMV is very much the rule. While reviews and suggestions may help a little. Unfortunately there is no way of telling if a particular blade will work for you unless you actually try it. This is why most people including myself always suggest getting as large a sample blade pack as you can afford. The more "DIFFERENT" brands of blades you can try especially in the beginning the better, until you find the blade or blades that work "BEST" for your face and technique. Blades that work "wonderfully" for 99% of shavers may work "TERRIBLY for you and of course vise versa.
….Must have been ME. I actually liked the merkur blades—no issues with dullness or irritation. They are a bit pricey and there are better options I prefer, but they certainly were not the worst DE blades in my experience.
There was a joke going around a few years back that packs of Merkur blades only have 1 blade missing...for that exact reason. My experience with the blade can only be described by the words of my brother "Some blades feel like you are raking your face with broken glass!" I know they work for some, but not everyone. You just have to find the blade that works best for you. In my case it is Personna Plat (Red Israelis...whatever you want to call them), I have tried many different blades, even some that most people love, but most feel like that broken bottle on my face. So know that you're not alone!
Merkur blades are by far the worst I have tried. They almost made me want to give up and go back to carts YMMV is true, but there is a large hate on for Merk blades.
My Merkur 34c HD came with 1 Merkur blade. I used it 1 time and moved on to the Wilkinson Sword, that is much much better. I would never use a Merkur blade again.
How can Merkur razors be so good, but Merkur blades be so bad? My Merkur Classic 33C came with one Merkur blade and everyone on this forum has warned me not to use it. I actually curious now haha !!!
agree about blades being HUGE YMMV....was at WCS, and there was a gentleman in there getting all set up with a de starter kit...he was finally at the blades and said "just give me 100 of those", the salesman said "you should get a sample pack first because different blades feel different and you should see which works best for you"...the gentleman said "no just give me 100 of those I will be fine" (he was older)....as he was walking up to pay, I told him "get the sample pack" and he started to say something when I said "GET THE SAMPLE PACK".....he put the other blades back and grabbed the sample pack and said "thank you"... I have 3 blades that I have found to be acceptable to be in my den...thats not to say I wont try new ones, but I will NEVER buy more then a single pack of blades I have never tried....soaps on the otherhand I do all the time.
It is surprising that there are so few who seem to like the Merkur blades. Even the folks here stating that "there are worse blades out there" are only saying that they are tolerable -- not really much of an accolade. On tryablade.com Merkurs are the second most expensive blade offered! Astra blades are 15¢ -- Feather blades cost 55¢ -- Polsilver SI are 75¢ -- Merkurs cost 80¢. The only DE blade this website charges more for are the KAI blades (85¢). Maybe there are other mitigating factors in these price levels, but it almost defies belief that such an ill-favored blade should rate such a high price! It's a bit like a car salesman telling you that the Cadillac will cost you 160k, but for only a little more, you could own a Yugo!
Yeah it's a beat up subject, they've been around long enough for all to know they suck. I wasn't referring to you btw.
