Trying a bunch of different blades (from tryablade.com)

Not at all ridiculous. Speaking personally, I'm keen to follow along with your journey through these blades -- some I've tried, and some not. I think the documentation you're doing will be enormously useful to you, and helpful for the rest of us too.

I agree with your appraisal of Derbys, but some guys just love them! My current favorites are Polsilver SIs and Astra SPs. I find these two blades both smooth and sharp, but the Polsilvers are twice as expensive. I started out with a sampler from amazon, and I still like to try different blades now and then. Tryablade is great for this with good service and reasonable shipping.

 

Astra SP is probably the bang-for-buck champ of DE blades. Solid reccomendations. On Derby, I left out that razor selection is critical. Derby is indeed basically unworkable in a mild razor like a Weishi. But placed within an aggressive razor head is where Derby shines.

 

Thanks for that post -- I've still got a few derby's, and I will give them a try in my R41.

 

I found that after about 150 career DE shaves, a decent shave could be had from most blades. This doesn't mean that I feel that all blades are equal, though. Don't be surprised if your appraisal of blades changes radically after a few months. Generally, techniques trump tools. Of your sampler, GSB, Astra SP, Voskhod, and Super Iridium are all high on the sharp/smooth continuum of blades. Bic and Feather are both very sharp, and much smoother on shave two.

 

You may really like it. I disliked derby until I tried in a Cadet OC, a fairly aggressive geometry like R41. It completely had me rethinking the way I evaluated blades. Good luck with your experiment.

 

Thank you. I'm glad you are interested. How was your experience with trying to find the right blades? Were there any that were just terrible?
I have a few astra aps. I'm excited to try them

 

Yeah I'm aware of the importance of technique. But I think it will be nice to know the blades that work with my current technique level, which in theory will excel more when I'm a better shaver. Thanks for the insight on the sharp/smooth blades. I hear the Voskhod are great with sensitive skin, since the glide across the skin well. Is that correct?

 

That is generally true about Voskhod. Both GSB and Voskhod are Teflon coated, and I found Teflon blades the easiest to work with in the beginning. GSB is my main DE blade, but I like Voskhod very much.

 

I was unaware GSBs were Teflon coated, thanks!

 

You're taking the right approach, welcome to the Den!

 

Welcome to the den from a relative newcomer to de shaving. I think what your doing is right don't dismiss any blade until your technique is better. I jumped in with 100 astras as it was highly rated and I don't consider my skin to fussy. I was ready to bin my astras and ordered a sample pack. But the guys in the focus talked me into sticking with the astras for the 30 day duration of the focus and now I swear by them I've just marked today as the day I nailed my technique and I'm still surprised how I was in such denial about my technique and blaming some superb blades. I think it would serve you well to join the focus and stick to 1 set up for the month it helps perfect your technique without to many variables maybe find a blade you like by the 30th ( start of new focus) and stick with the set up for the 30 days. It's hard because it's exciting exploring but I'm so glad I listened to the focus. Good luck

 

From the lineup in your sampler photo there are no blades I recognize as terrible for me -- I did not like Dorco blades (300s or 301s) and the well thought of Merkur blades didn't work for me at all (but just check their premium price on tryablade). I tried Feather blades when I was too much of a novice, and thought them harsh, but I plan to give them a try again -- maybe in a milder razor. Your Weishi may be the ideal candidate for the Feather -- wicked sharp! As Bama Samurai suggested, I'm going to give the Derby blades another go in an aggressive razor -- I might have to change my opinion of them.

It's just this kind of thing that keeps retro wetshaving fun! After several years shaving with a double edge razor, the endless combinations of hardware and software (I seem unable to stop buying new shaving soaps) continue to fascinate me. Some folks go mad buying brushes -- a few of those luxury badger brushes cost $300 or more!

 

Yeah some people are ridiculous. I don't have the money to spend that kind of cash on just a brush

 

That's actually a great idea. The only blade I currently have enough of to do the 30 days with are the GSBs (roughly 25 blades I think). Which is no problem, I definitely like them. I may just do that, thank you

 

Tried the lord platinums today. Had to do a short shave though, the wife was rushing me. My technique was feeling on point, kept a nice low angle with small smooth passes. Everything was going well until my second pass around my Adams apple. Got tons of drag, maybe lather dried a little, don't think it was the razor angle because I was being very conscious of it and also using no pressure. I'm going up jump back on to the GSBs for the 30 days of the same equipment. But I'd like to keep the thread open for people to discuss their blade discovery journey and talk blades in general. Thanks for following along for this short time and I will continue trying blades when my technique is more solid, I think constant variable changes can effect my technique development. Again please continue taking blades, I keep learning a lot and at least one other person has as well.

 

To my surprise I only used 3 GSB blades during my last (and first) 30-Day-Focus. @Bama Samurai almost made it through the month with one single blade The GSBs are fantastic.

Good job here btw - you're definitely on the right track.

 

Lord Platinum is another blade that's smooth, but not super sharp. You are correctly perceiving that blade! You are also right about constantly changing variables. I am a big advocate of the 30 Day rule for new converts. It greatly accelerated my ability to shave well, and push the tools to full potential. This traditional shaving stuff is a set of a few closely related, yet entirely independent skills. By picking one razor, one blade brand, one brush and one soap--and then using that specific set allows for the separation of issues into their component parts. The goal with blades at this point is to pick one. I suggest a Teflon blade, as mentioned earlier. Pick the soap that gives the most replicable results on a daily basis. Any brush or razor will do just fine for learning. You may want to map the precise growth pattern in your beard. ATG and WTG might not be where you think the path lies. This is critical. I also cordially invite you to join up for January's 30 Day Focus Thread. I am a brand newbie again in January, but on straight razor this time, so I will be doing the exercise I just described. There are a mix of newbies and vets, and we'd love to talk daily about what's up with your shaves.


My shaving mentor's work on blades:

http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/de-blade-challenge-ii.28223/
http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/de-blade-challenge-ii-addendum.33136/

His collected info on shaving:

http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/gd-carringtons-razors-and-blade-references.42301/


Glad you found us. Have fun!

 

I had similar problems with my wife I do my head everyday and including a shower and tidying up I'm close to an hour. My wife was rushing me and rushing is probably the worst thing a novice can do. I've started taking on some extra chores kind of earning an hour to myself it's sad but keeps us both happy try not to rush it's better to skip a shave than mess your skin up rushing... I feel your pain though

 

Unlike most I prefer Kai blades to Feather, I feel that they are just as sharp but way smoother with a longer lasting edge. I also prefer GSB to Voskhod. Something about the Voskhods make my face red and ingrowns are terrible afterwards. Astra blades are good and so are personna.

 

I don't have any kais but if they are as sharp as feathers (which are apparently the sharp standard), then I'll have to try them out further down the road. Yeah I think I'll use GSBs to perfect my technique