Newbie journey brings me here

paulmc

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Hello all,
after decades using cartridges I finally thought I would try "proper" shaving.
After speaking with Brian at Executive Shaving I ordered the cheapest one-blade which I thought was pretty poor. Sort of OK for the daily shave but totally useless on more than a days growth (after the weekend).
I nearly assumed that modern tech had moved on but then saw and bought a really cheap W Sword at the local supermarket - which was a bit better.
I spent some time alternating without much real satisfaction and nearly went back to cartridges.
Then, having a sort out, I discovered my Grandad's old open comb Gillette - wow - this gave me a really close clean shave.

So - I need a "proper" razor (see how quickly RAD sets in!!)
I needed some benchmarks - onto Amazon for a Merkur 34C - nice but a bit mild - much better than the W Sword cheapie - but at least I now have a Monday morning shaver (Grandad's old OC) and a daily shaver - the 34C. (The one-blade hasn't been used since).

Lot's of surfing later - including this site - I'm still wondering about options and conclude I need a further benchmark.

So in comes a Muhle R41 - well it's another reference point! Really close shave but I have managed to take a couple of small chunks out of my nose so this is definitely "handle with care". But I am now able to interpret comparative reviews with more knowledge.

But still looking for that really nice "proper" razor and still spending a lot of time surfing on line.

And this site has been super useful. The internet is packed full of nuts arguing about all sorts of things including whether or not we actually landed on the moon 50 years ago.

This site - and a few others - attracts a nice bunch of mildly eccentric chaps who have developed OCD about their shaving habits.

And I now humbly submit myself for membership.

Because last week - after reading almost every thread on this site - I ordered a polished titanium Timeless (0.68 scalloped).
Which I thought was pretty expensive until DHL put 25% on top for duty VAT etc..

Still it arrives Monday and I am very much looking forward to shaving with it - which I never ever did with cartridges!

So many thanks to all of you and I'll post my review in a few weeks

Cheers
Paul
 
Welcome to TSR. While it can be entertaining to work your way through loads of razors, and there are many good modern models, you might find your grandfather's old Gillette very hard to beat. The Old Type, New Improved and New were all great razors capable of giving shaves as good as any new DE.
 
Welcome to TSR. While it can be entertaining to work your way through loads of razors, and there are many good modern models, you might find your grandfather's old Gillette very hard to beat. The Old Type, New Improved and New were all great razors capable of giving shaves as good as any new DE.
Thanks for that perspective. I've gone for a milder timeless since it should be a lovely daily shave and if it does struggle with more growth then I can always use Grandad's. I think I will always want to use it now and again. It's rather a nice thing to use as I remember him shaving with it.
 
Its cheaper they said! Ill try it i said...................
Ok jmho, buy something that has lasted the ages, or is modern and has amazing reviews forget a budget as you get what you pay for ie will a homebase 19mm spanner at 1.99 do the same job ad a snapon 19mm 24.99 spanner , well yes but it will round the fastener off / slip and not fit quite right.
So spend a bit buy a gillette adjustable, a long handle black beauty , maybe a fat boy or gillette slim.

Tryed tested and they work! As i said jmho. I started using straights and double edged nearly 15years ago and my goto razors are my fatboy and a 1890's joseph rogers straight, i wouldnt change them foe all the money in the world.
 
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