It's a beautiful razor. I really want to give it another chance. I put a blade in it again the other day and chickened out before the shave. I've watched GeoFatBoy's vids in the past -- he seems to like everything, so I usually don't watch him anymore. Sinatra Lennon's vids are good. He admits that it's a fairly agressive razor. He gets a good sting when he puts on Sinatra's aftershave at the end, though. I might try it first with a shim above the blade, though I usually avoid shims. Funny how even back in the 60s the companies mucked around with the formulas of aftershaves. I'm sure Sinatra wasn't happy. I'm surprised he didn't pay them to make up special batches for him using their old formula. Does anyone know of a currently produced afteshave similiar to the original Yardley's English Lavender? If so, I wouldn't mind trying it if the price doesn't break the bank.
Consider turning off the sound and watching the video. His technique is solid, and the shave turned out great. Geo is a shavette/straight razor shaver, so any DE razor is relatively easy to use in comparison. He also compares the dimensions of the 99R to several other razors, which may be helpful. Technique trumps tools.
It seems that a shim introduces another variable unless you plan on using one for every shave. I've never used one.
He must have tough skin, too. Any razor he ever uses, he whips it around his face like he is using the opposite side of a butter knife. Plus every product he uses is also for sale at his online store.
The last and only time I used a shim was probably 3 years ago. If you have many razors (like most of us), you just use a different razor when you want to adjust agressiveness up or down. Or use an adjustable. I made a shim last night and put it in the Parker, just to see, and it didn't look like it changed much. I'm just going to use the Parker as is.
Not in my case. I get the same closeness from my Gillette Travel Tech as a Muhle R41, regardless of the blade I load in it. I keep my adjustable razors set to wide open and adjust my technique accordingly. I typically use the same razor for extended runs, and that helps me reacquaint myself with it. That's just me. As for tough skin...I used an electric razor for 30 years because I didn't think my skin could tolerate a non-electric razor. Once I got started with DEs, I experienced the learning curve like everyone else. I had my share of cuts and irritation. Early on, I used a shavette (with infinite blade gap) loaded with Feather blades for nearly a year. (I never claimed to be smart.) I called it a Pain Stick because those things penalize poor technique in a hurry. Once I got the hang of the shavette, shaving with any DE razor because relatively easy. I stuck with the 30 Day Rule/Focus group for several years...probably because I am a slow learner....but that approach really stuck with me. Thankfully, cuts and irritation are rare for me these days. They still happen, but it occurs much less frequently. I would never claim a BBS shave because there is always room for improvement. I'm just sharing my experience. It's free and worth every penny as I don't have an on-line store. Have fun!
The 3 Ls of Real Estate: Location, Location, Location The 3 Ts of wetshaving: Technique, Technique, Technique
Well, I've had 2 shaves with the 99r again. Much better than from a year ago. I actually like it now, but I still consider it aggressive. I accomplished in 2 passes, WTG and XTG, what usually takes me 3. Barely needed any touch-ups, too. I treated it with respect, and shaved carefully. I was ready for it this time. Perhaps last year, I wasn't, even though I had plenty of experience under my belt, but with milder razors. I also use a much more saturated lather now then I did a year ago. That helps, too.
Forgot to mention: I used a Gillette Platinum (aka Swede, light blue package, white lettering, not the one from Gillette Heritage) on its 4th and 5th shaves. Don't remember what I used with it last year. Could have been the same, or could have been Rapira, or Astra SP.
These are supposed to have a brass "frame". I have read that means that the entire razor is brass, and I have read that only the handle is brass. Has there ever been proof either way? I also saw an ebay listing where the seller says his Parker TTO is "from back when Parker was making them with brass." Their website still says brass "frame." Thanks
Yes, I like it now. I did about 3 or 4 shaves with it a few weeks ago. Since I have so many razors, I've set it aside for now. I tend to do that -- I begin to like a razor them move on to one I haven't tried yet, or one that gave me trouble in the past, lol. Maybe someday I'll settle on a rotation and maybe even sell some razors!
I have a Parker Variant and a Parker Semi-Slant. The semi-slant is comparable to the Merkur 37, but the slant is less than on the Merkur, hence the name semi-slant. Still, I have found it to me on the upper end of the medium range, lower end of aggressive range. I recommend a forgiving blade such as Astra Superior Platinum or Tiger Platinum. You'll want to use a really slick shave soap and be sure not to apply pressure, as even the slightly less-slanted angle on the Parker acts much like a guillotine blade (meaning greater slicing power). I've not had the opportunity yet to try the TTO Parker razors. I'd been considering a 96R or 99R, but alas, I'm between jobs and have no money.
I have a Parker semi-slant. I tried it about a year ago -- I found it a bit aggressive and set it aside. I hope to try it again soon. I was tempted to get a Variant, but since I have a Progress, from the reviews I've seen it is pretty much the same shave. I don't have an issue with the Progress handle, neither grip-wise nor the yellow adjustment knob.
"All Parker TTO razors use the same head design (with minor changes in TTO hardware depending on the type of handle used)......... Differences in shave-feel between Parker TTO models will come from variations in weight, balance, and grip, depending on the handle." Makes sense........... https://sharpologist.com/a-popular-razor-parker-99r/
