Hi all, So I've been using an SE blade to shave so far, yes I know, a huge leap straight from cartridge, but that’s another story. Anyway, I've noticed that I absolutely love the shave, but often times it takes a little longer to get a full shave in the mornings when I'm in a rush, so I would like to perhaps try out a DE shave, to see if it can give me the same satisfaction as an SE but in less time. So with that being said, I could either do what I did and just go to the Art of Shaving store, and buy one of their hugely overpriced Safety razors $75 for their middle of the road safety, and $200 for their top of the line. But the whole idea was to not waste money, so here I am. Given that I want to have a good quality safety razor that will hopefully last me a very long time, and given the fact that I'm looking for a time efficient shave, could any of you recommend what you feel would be the best Safety razor that will provide a lot of control, is the best quality, but yet at the same time isn’t going to slice me up all to hell on the days that I might need to go a little faster and be out the door quickly. Oh and I know that many times it not just the Safety razor but the combination of it and the blades I select, but for that very reason, I'm not going to use something ultra sharp like the feather blades, so that I don’t lose layers of skin in the process. Thanks all.
So you shave with an SE right now? What type- micromatic, 1912 GEM or something else? I'd suggest you look for a Gillette Tech. They're a 3 piece razor that was produced in massive quantities for something like 50 years. You can find user grade Techs for around $10 to $20 a razor. They're mild shavers. That said, you have a huge leg up on most new folks with your experience with SE razors. The shave angle is different with a DE but the difference from SE to DE is not as dramatic as cartridge or electric to DE/ SE. Hope this helps.
I would suggest a Gillette Fat Boy or slim or if you don't want to do the E bay thing hit the sites for a Merkur Progress. I suggest these in particular because they are adjustable, so you can dial in to your comfort level. All three of these razors are well made and will last a very long time. Get a sample pack of blades to determine which blades best fit your tastes. Initially, it will cost a moderate amount of $ but after that your largest expense will be blade replacements that average between .25 down to .08 per blade and your shave soap or cream. If you can control your AD this type of shaving is very economical. Hope this helps. Dan
Actually, I ment SE as in Straight Edge or a Straight Razor. I actually bought it from the Art of Shaving, but only because its the only thing they apparently sell that ISNT over priced
Go to the classifieds here and at B&B, and find a decent SuperSpeed at a seriously reasonable price. You may also want to check out the reviews of different releases of SuperSpeed either here or at B&B to see which era(s) might provide the sort of shaving experience you're looking for. Good luck!
ah! got it. if you're using a straight, then you shouldn't fear Feather blades. I'm sure you've already noticed, but when you ask for recommendations around here everyone's got a different opinion. Some of us have more than one. Whatever you choose, you can find a user grade razor for well under $30. Let us know what you pick!
I'd go with the Merkur Futur, its heavy and can be adjusted for aggressiveness. Great razor and you'd be wise to go with it.:happy088
I'll keep the recommendations to ones I've tried myself, keeping in mind that the best may be something I haven't tried. Vintage: Schick Krona. Inexpensive, great shaver. Gillette New. Slightly more aggressive than the Krona. Simple 3 piece design. Gillette Fatboy. Just works great for me. New: Merkur 12C, Open Comb Barber Pole. Also, you may want to try Schick Injectors. They make it almost too easy. The blade angle is similar to the SE that you're used to, [oops, just saw the clarification that you meant a straight] and I doubt if you can be any quicker with a DE. My favorite is the G type, but the L1 is close, and it may be easier to find one in excellent condition.
DE/SE handles n blades are great..I feel that SE's are somehow more forgiving on yer nicks n cuts..somehow for me they are smaller...DE..needs a little more experience..IMOO ;-)
