Hello TSD, I could use your help. I am just a few DE shaves into my wet-shaving experience, and I just got a blade sample pack in the mail that I ordered. I currently have a Dorco ST301 Platinum blade in my Gillette Super-Speed (undated version) and nine additional Dorco blades. Of the following, which blades would you recommend to go with next? I'm looking for a mild blade that will be more forgiving as I get a little bit more comfortable with the razor and the process. I have two of each blade. The blades are: FEATHER Hi-Stainless (Japan) KAI (Japan) BlueBird (Europe) Derby (Turkey) Super-Max Platinum (India) Super-Max Stainless (India) ASTRA Superior Stainless (Russia) TRIG Silver Edge Stainless (Pakistan) TREET Classic (Pakistan) Gillette 7 O'Clock Super Stainless (Russia) LORD Super Chrome (Egypt) LORD Platinum Class (Egypt) LORD Super Stainless (Egypt) LORD Classic (Egypt) SHARK Super Stainless (Egypt) ASCO Super Stainless (Egypt) BIGBEN Super Stainless (Egypt) CROWN Super Stainless (Egypt)
The Dorco ST301 is a middle of the pack blade in terms of sharpness, so don't be fearful of any of the blades. That said, if the Dorco doesn't feel like it's a problem, I'd use a few more to get your basic technique down before trying other blades. Otherwise, you won't know if the quality of your shave is the blade or your technique. Here are my impressions of each blade FWIW: FEATHER Hi-Stainless (Japan) - Sharpest blade around KAI (Japan) - Haven't tried them but reputation in similar to FEATHER BlueBird (Europe) - Haven't tried them Derby (Turkey) - Mild smooth blade Super-Max Platinum (India) - Haven't tried them Super-Max Stainless (India) - Haven't tried them ASTRA Superior Stainless (Russia) - My favorite blade, sharper than average, but not FEATHER level. TRIG Silver Edge Stainless (Pakistan) - Good, mild blade TREET Classic (Pakistan) - mild blade Gillette 7 O'Clock Super Stainless (Russia) - Great blade, very similar to Astra LORD Super Chrome (Egypt) - Very sharp, decently smooth LORD Platinum Class (Egypt) - Very sharp, decently smooth LORD Super Stainless (Egypt) - Very sharp, decently smooth LORD Classic (Egypt) - moderate blade, smoother than other LORD blades SHARK Super Stainless (Egypt) - moderate sharpness, very smooth ASCO Super Stainless (Egypt) - Haven't tried them BIGBEN Super Stainless (Egypt) - moderate, somewhat rough IMHO CROWN Super Stainless (Egypt)[/QUOTE] - very rough on my face You'll likely not agree with me on all of them, blades are very personal. But you'll at least have a rough guide.
Did you by any chance get that from NTguys? If you did, I'm working my way through the full pack version. Anyway, the Derbys are a good place to start--they are pretty well accepted, and aren't particularly sharp for a razor blade. Save the Kai's and Feathers for down the road--I nailed myself pretty good with a Kai this morning. So far I've enjoyed the Astra Stainless (I've tried these and the platinums, and have yet to have a bad shave), and the 7 O'Clocks. But I haven't gotten all that far with this pack (Feathers, Bluebirds, Astra, 7 O'Clock, Kai, and Lord Super Stainless). And of course, that doesn't mean that you'll necessarily enjoy them, either. But that's the adventure of sampler packs, right? Erik--I thought the Feathers were a little more forgiving than Kai, but that's going on one shave. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
