Sampler Packs versus Honing One's Technique: Pros and Cons

Could I tell the difference, possibly, but not enough to say that I can't get a good shave. I found a tuck of blades in a store is Houston called Big Ben. My first tries with two of the blades were less than stellar. This was easily 6 months into wet shaving for me, and I basically wrote them off as terrible. I never threw out the tuck, though. Well, about a year after I started wet shaving, I decided I would finally get serious about following some technique, and my shaves got significantly better very quickly.

I tried the Big Ben blades again, and I can get just as good of a shave with them as I can with Voskhod, my personal favorites. Can I tell differences in them to a Voskhod, yes, I do in fact like the Voskhod better, but I can get a BBS with either, and I can do it comfortably. I am not saying there are no differences, just that the differences on the shaving experience had are much smaller than what technique makes. If a newbie is really interested in getting good shaves, an investment it technique pays off much quicker (not to mention much cheaper) than an investment in gear, whether blades or razors.

 

You can tell the difference...but solid technique will take away the differences and allow for a great shave with any of them. A sharp Dorco will shave as good as the russian stuff. Heavy beard or no. Before the VI comes through.... this is assuming no damaged equipment and sharp blades.

 

I like how you worded that. Well said!

 

I don’t disagree with you on that. TSD wouldn’t be my go to shave forum if I didn’t actually believe technique trumps tools. I can still get a good shave from a Derby I just don’t like it. I like a sharp blade I also tend to lean towards more aggressive razors. It’s totally preference though and I get that. I could get a good shave with a Tech and a Derby but I probably won’t enjoy the experience. I’m here because I turned a chore into a hobby I want to enjoy it.


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Was the -store- Big Ben (Big Ben Tobacco?), or were the blades Big Ben? I'm just curious because I live in Houston, and the only store I can think of besides the drug stores and AOS to carry blades is British Isles.

 

Figured out a long time ago you understood. BULLY!!!!!

 

So far, I've shaved with OLD, NEW, Tech, Aristocrat, Senator, Krona, all three SuperSpeeds, Fatip Piccolo (PIFed it away), several clones of.. double ring, Tech, SR, and travel razors (I believe also a Slim and Fatboy, but it's been a while). I've also used a number of SuperSpeed variations, such as the Weishi. So far, I've found _one_ that gave bad shaves, and one that I wouldn't even touch because the head didn't want to fit the base plate.

In all of those cases, it generally took about one stroke to figure out exactly how the razor wanted to be held. I _still_ find differences between the blades, and between the different razors. I still have lots to learn about the DE's before I go to straights - for one thing, I had a coupon so I bought some SE blades from CVS so I can try at least one Gem.

Does technique 'trump' tools? Yes and no. You _have_ to have good technique to make the tools work the way they were designed. However, the tools themselves are different. Just like one screwdriver works better with certain screws than another - you just have to experiment to find out. If you haven't learned how to hold a screwdriver, though, you'll strip everything.

 

I started out with Astra SPs and used several boxes before I started sampling. I generally like most Russian blades. I even had good luck with Derby. But, I've never had any luck with Sharks. Right now I'm using up my several year stock of Astra and Rapira. Anyone want to take a few tucks of Sharks? I hate them.

 

Well put and agreed. The statement technique trumps tools is a philosophy though and the prevailing one here. There are other forums with lots of sponsors that seem to have the tools will fix your problem philosophy which I don’t agree with. If you can’t use a screwdriver it doesn’t matter how good it is it still won’t work for you.


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Stainless or Chrome? I’ll gladly take the stainless I love em. The chromes however are low on my list.


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I found the chromes are okay for face shaving, but fantastic for underarms. No nicks, burning, or anything, even when running out of soap.

 

I'll have to look when I get home. I've blocked all details from my memory.

 

Big Ben blades and I did get them from British Isles.

 

I might be able to tell if it was a subject of interest and some prize at the end, but the final result is pretty much the same whether it is a modern Feather or Ming Shi.

Now if it is a really old blade I might be able to tell it was not a modern blade but I have found that even with those I can usually get the same results. I did really get beat up about a year ago using a Gillette New with some 1944 fourth quarter Camouflage Gillette blades.

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AbE:

So as a test I pulled out a random old Gillette blade. Once opened it turned out to be a C1 date so first quarter 1957 and plopped it into the No Date Code post-war Tech I've been using this week.

The result was a two pass plus minimal after alum touchup PDG near perfect shave. Could I tell any difference between it and what I had been using?

Nope.

 

I'd like a couple of each if you have enough surplus and no one else claims them.

 

I do think tools contribute to how well or badly a shave goes, although the extent to which they do can be debated. Since getting my Fatboy, I'm learning that the lower settings, 3 and 4 for example, do quite well for lowering my nick count. 5 and above, I get weepers. My Merkur 34c gave me no nicking at all once I got the hang of it, which was within a day. When I first got my Van Der Weishi, the brand blades that came with it always left me nicked and irritated, but that ended once I got my Astras.

 

I think what you are seeing is that the angle of attack can vary between razors. What works on one razor may not work quite as well on another. When technique develops more, though, the feel for the best angle for a particular razors comes more easily.

At their cores, every razor and every blade are the same thing. A razor holds the blade which is a beveled piece of steel. The goal is to apply this bevel in the optimal angle to the skin to most efficiently cut the hair. This applies to straight razors, shavettes, and safety razors. The geometry of the head can have an effect on this, so learning how to find the angle and adjust to the angle is part of the technique needed if shaving with multiple razors is desired. Once this skill is learned good quality shaves with great results are obtainable from just about any working razor. You can even use a couple of popsicle sticks, a staple or two, and a razor blade to do this. Or you can use a carriage bolt, but, and razor blade. Or just a razor blade and your fingers.

Visit the 30 Day Rule thread here. It is all about developing technique. Once you really have this down, I believe you will see that the tools have much less importance than the technique.

Just a few caveats. I am not talking about using broken or defective equipment. I understand that there are absolutely some razor blades made in some places that are not sufficiently sharp, and razors that don't hold a blade properly are a problem as well. I am also not saying you won't find some razors preferable to others. I definitely have my favorites.

 

Okay, so in the first line, you say "They're all the same", and then you say "I find some are better than others."

 

That is not exactly what I said. I said at their core, every razor is the same. That is true. It is an instrument for holding a razor blade. Nothing more, nothing less. Of course they have different geometries, blade exposures, and weights. All of this can account for difference in feel of the razor, but still every razor has the same purpose and function.

 

Once your technique improves you can take the training wheels off and come play with the big boys. We will buy the icecream.