Which 2nd Razor to buy?

tomstephens89

tomstephens89

Messages
106
Hi all, probably just got the bug... but I'm a new DE shaver as of 3 weeks, I am loving my Merkur 34c, so much so that I bought the gold 34g as well.

I'd like to have an alternative, maybe to give a more aggressive shave at some point and was wondering what people typically complement a Merkur 34c with?

what about a restored 1959 Gillette Fat Boy for example? Executive have them at £199 and I understand this razor has quite a reputation, especially since it's adjustable as well.
Or is there a good option for much less cash that will give me a more aggressive option?

thanks
 
Try the pass around Fatboy here first. They're good razors but I wouldn't say they're worth £200.

There's an EJ 3one6 available on the BST for £45 which is a great price:

For Sale - Edwin Jagger 3ONE6

Used only 4-5 times. Stainless steel head and aluminium handle so it weights I think 59g. The head weighs 30g. I still have the original box. £45 posted using Paypal please.
www.theshavingroom.co.uk www.theshavingroom.co.uk
 
£199 for a Fatboy seems quite excessive.
You can try one first in the lending pool:

Active - Pass Around: Fatboy

Hiya, Here's a 1959 Fatboy in good condition to be sent out on the house. This is a chance to see what's up with these things and get that Fatboy monkey off your back. Whoever I first send it to keeps it for a week or so, and then passes it along. I shaved with this particular razor and it...
www.theshavingroom.co.uk www.theshavingroom.co.uk
The Merkur Progress would be a cheaper alternative giving you a good range of aggressiveness.
 
riverrun said:
£199 for a Fatboy seems quite excessive.
You can try one first in the lending pool:

Active - Pass Around: Fatboy

Hiya, Here's a 1959 Fatboy in good condition to be sent out on the house. This is a chance to see what's up with these things and get that Fatboy monkey off your back. Whoever I first send it to keeps it for a week or so, and then passes it along. I shaved with this particular razor and it...
www.theshavingroom.co.uk www.theshavingroom.co.uk
The Merkur Progress would be a cheaper alternative giving you a good range of aggressiveness.
Click to expand...
+1 on the Progress. I'm getting some great shaves with mine at the minute.
 
tomstephens89 said:
Hi all, probably just got the bug... but I'm a new DE shaver as of 3 weeks, I am loving my Merkur 34c, so much so that I bought the gold 34g as well.

I'd like to have an alternative, maybe to give a more aggressive shave at some point and was wondering what people typically complement a Merkur 34c with?

what about a restored 1959 Gillette Fat Boy for example? Executive have them at £199 and I understand this razor has quite a reputation, especially since it's adjustable as well.
Or is there a good option for much less cash that will give me a more aggressive option?

thanks
Click to expand...

The best advise, Tom - don't think about buying another 'more efficient razor for a few months
Get your technique absolutely nailed with your 34C, and enjoy using it
I dare say most of us here could get faultless shaves with a 34C, and wonder why we spent so much more on 'the next best thing?'

But, if you are determined to buy a razor that will give consistently good shaves, here are a few I would recommend from experience

RazoRock Game Changer .0.84 - stainless steel razor for not a lot of money

Merkur 37C or 39C - slant head razors
Both shave very well and again, not expensive

Another Merkur to consider is the 38C - it is essentially the same razor as your 34C, but with a longer handle
I found that it shaved a bit better than the 34C with the extra weight afforded by the longer handle

Forget paying £200 for a Fatboy - that's extortionate imo

If you have a £200 budget, you are in to Timeless territory, although you can pick one up used for much less
My Stainless 0.68 is a dream to use, and knocks the spots off the other razors in my current line up

So, there you have it . . . .

From sub £50 to £200 -and all you'll get is a shave - much the same as with your 34C, but with the feeling that using a 'different' shiny razor gives us
 
Sound advice from Paul

The 34c is a great razor !

If you are determined too ( I think we all have at some pint been). Then a couple more I would add to the Mix , Are the Muhle Rocca the latest version in my opinion is a great razor bit more efficient than the 34c but very pleasant to use. I would also add the Karve in Either Stainless or Brass a very fine razor and good value considering the quality , and it has the option of different base plates to vary how it shaves.
 
Thanks all for the advice. It would seem the best advice here is that I wait and get my hand in with the 34C, it's already giving me a fantastic shave and (that's) only going to get better. I don't think I'll see any benefit at this point in getting an adjustable like the Merkur Progress or even another brands razor similar to the 34c. So I'm going to stick with the 34, then if I really fancy it down the line I will look at a bit of a ‘statement' purchase, such as the Gillette fat boy. There's something that appeals to me about using a world standard quality razor from 1959.

tom
 
tomstephens89 said:
Hi all, probably just got the bug... but I'm a new DE shaver as of 3 weeks, I am loving my Merkur 34c, so much so that I bought the gold 34g as well.

I'd like to have an alternative, maybe to give a more aggressive shave at some point and was wondering what people typically complement a Merkur 34c with?

what about a restored 1959 Gillette Fat Boy for example? Executive have them at £199 and I understand this razor has quite a reputation, especially since it's adjustable as well.
Or is there a good option for much less cash that will give me a more aggressive option?

thanks
Click to expand...
Hello mate - most people reading this will have been through the great wet shaving epiphany - as evidently you are doing so at the moment - my experience was that - you should not start lashing out money on new gear - without learning the trade - you have a great razor there - take your time - appreciate its worth before moving on. There is a cornucopia of kit out there - but a lot of it - will probably not suit you - some will - some won't - and these can be a very expensive mistakes to make. That being said - my second razor was the Merkur 37c slant - I wouldn't use the term aggressive - assertive perhaps or efficient - and I would recommend this razor - I still use it routinely - over a decade later. If you are intent on an adjustable - the Merkur Progress is one of the finest razors ever made - but my first pick in the den would be the Parker Variant - both available for much less than the - no doubt - shiny and lovely Fat Boy. PM me - and I'd happily lend you some razors to try out - see what works for you. Learn you will - young Jedi - single edges - vintage - mention you did not. Ha ha - yours - I.
 
tomstephens89 said:
Hi all, probably just got the bug... but I'm a new DE shaver as of 3 weeks, I am loving my Merkur 34c, so much so that I bought the gold 34g as well.

I'd like to have an alternative, maybe to give a more aggressive shave at some point

what about a restored Gillette Fat Boy for example?
Or is there a good option for much less cash that will give me a more aggressive option?
thanks
Click to expand...

Hi there,

I would echo previous posters who say hold off buying another razor until your technique has improved to getting good but not great shaves every day..... don't toss a new variable in the mix so early.

Plenty of razors to sample and trying the forum Fatboy is a good start for the next one. Also, another benefit is this razor shaves as it should. Not all Fatboys shave the same......it's true. Only drawback if you like it is finding something with a similar head if that one fits well. Different than a Merkur or Muhle/EJ head so different fit on the face.

Let me suggest trying a Slim too. Adjustable, with a head design found in some other Gillettes. It's just as popular as a Fatboy for less cash.

Bite wise, Gillettes don't have a 'dangerous' setting, even at the highest. Other adjustables like the Progress can crank that blade feel up pretty good and paying attention is crucial. No way I could enjoy using a dialed up Progress. Or, try an open comb type down the road.

Oh, before I forget, the MWF soap just needs a brush with lots of backbone and plenty of time loading with it being only slightly wet, so not much useless and misleading, in the way foam gets created. Do not listen to these moon cows or jabbernows who can't figure it out!

Martin
 
Hi there. I'll second (or third etc) the advice not to splash out on a new razor just yet. I certainly wouldn't pay £200 for a Fatboy, which I would say is a decent razor, but no more than that. It's a bit of an emblem of an era in history, and quite rare, which are the main reasons for its high price. If old razors appeal to you, and when you've built up a bit more experience, you would probably gain more from buying a Gillette Old or New razor, or something more unusual like a Fasan slant.
 
I have a mild ATT R1 plate. Use it correctly and you get a really close shave with 2 passes plus touch up. Most on the forums, keep buying razors before they give the so called mild razors a chance to shine.
However, but a more aggressive one to have as back up.
 
Don't pay £200 for a fatboy. All the vintage razors I've seen for sale on ES have been highly inflated. You could try a want to buy on this forum. I don't think you'd see much difference in shave as the fatboy isn't that aggressive even on its higher settings, but I totally get the vintage appeal and I have many old Gillette razors.

I'd say stick with what you have for now and don't fall down the rabbit hole of buying lots of stuff, although it is fun

If further down the line you want to try out something new the Razorock Gamechanger is nice and it's a good price for a stainless steel razor. A Progress would give you the adjustability to find your own preferred level of aggression and I'd also recommend the Rockwell 6S as a nice smooth razor.

Hope that helps.
 
dodgy said:
Oh, before I forget, the MWF soap just needs a brush with lots of backbone and plenty of time loading with it being only slightly wet, so not much useless and misleading, in the way foam gets created. Do not listen to these moon cows or jabbernows who can't figure it out!

Martin
Click to expand...
+1 on the MWF. Don't soak the soap, and use a brush that doesn't drip when you give it a gentle vertical shake, but yet is still wet. Keep working the dry, airy froth back onto the soap and it'll thicken, at which point small additions of water can be made.
 
chrisbell said:
+1 on the MWF. Don't soak the soap, and use a brush that doesn't drip when you give it a gentle vertical shake, but yet is still wet. Keep working the dry, airy froth back onto the soap and it'll thicken, at which point small additions of water can be made.
Click to expand...
This sounds like good advice, the stiff brush aids loading more soap on, and I'm starting to feel like (that's) the way to crack this soap, really heavy loading.
 
When you do buy a Fatboy (and you will), it would be a lot cheaper to buy a decent used one and get it replated yourself if you really need it to be in mint condition.

All of the vintage razors have date codes stamped on them. Just to add to the nostalgia, look out for one that was made in your birth year and quarter.
 
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