DE Razors Blade carriers or much more

Mike Smart

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Right The Burning Question
is a DE Razor a blade carrier & nothing else ?

for me it's more, Angle, is the head matt finish or shiny ?

does that make a difference?
length of Handle does that matter ?

What's your opinion ?
i Think it all matters and if they were only blade carriers then we would all just buy the cheapest.

Open Comb, closes comb they are different to me.
 
is a DE Razor a blade carrier & nothing else

A good razor is one that doesn't interfere with the shave in any way. Things like thickness, size, restricted blade access, clogging can make a razor less than desirable.

is the head matt finish or shiny ? does that make a difference?

Matt finish is always slicker, less surface area contact, ask a guitar player about the back of the neck.

length of Handle does that matter ?

As long as the handle doesn't catch your attention while shaving it's fine. Too long and the balance and nimbleness can be affected.

i Think it all matters and if they were only blade carriers then we would all just buy the cheapest.

Most do pay too much, I like vintage because it's vintage, they have charisma and mystique.

Open Comb, closes comb they are different to me.

I have learned that open and closed shave the same.
 
Right The Burning Question
is a DE Razor a blade carrier & nothing else ?

What's your opinion ?
i Think it all matters and if they were only blade carriers then we would all just buy the cheapest.

I used a cheap plastic Gillette DE razor, one made for developing nations that costs a few pennies (maybe £0.30) and it wasn't a smooth shave in the slightest bit, there seemed to be no mass behind the blade, with the razor weighing a few grams.

images
 
is a DE Razor a blade carrier & nothing else

A good razor is one that doesn't interfere with the shave in any way. Things like thickness, size, restricted blade access, clogging can make a razor less than desirable.

is the head matt finish or shiny ? does that make a difference?

Matt finish is always slicker, less surface area contact, ask a guitar player about the back of the neck.

length of Handle does that matter ?

As long as the handle doesn't catch your attention while shaving it's fine. Too long and the balance and nimbleness can be affected.

i Think it all matters and if they were only blade carriers then we would all just buy the cheapest.

Most do pay too much, I like vintage because it's vintage, they have charisma and mystique.

Open Comb, closes comb they are different to me.

I have learned that open and closed shave the same.
so your saying they are not just blade carriers ?
 
is a DE Razor a blade carrier & nothing else ?
Blade gap and blade exposure make a difference so the design is important. Large blade gaps and extreme blade exposure I don't think are necessary.
At the end of the day, it is the blade that does the cutting if presented correctly.
length of Handle does that matter ?
I like short handles like the Merkur 34C, standard EJ DE89 and even the Piccolo are just fine.
I always wondered about the longer handles but cannot see the benefits.
 
Regarding open comb/closed comb, I also think they give the same shave. The key different is, if you'e taking a couple of weeks growth off, the open comb is far less cumbersome to unclog while you're shaving. Likewise, razors with a large gap ... or adjustables set to 10. Those circumstances are the only ones I see adjustables as any actual use.

When Gillette released the three colour SuperSpeeds (the red, blue and unpainted), more than coarseness of beard, I think it was geared more towards shaving frequency - the blue for the office daily shaver versus the burley woodsman who might shave once a week with the red. Cue adjustables. Or rather, market a secondary cause for non-adjustables.

One type of razor that I think does make an actual different is the torsion slant, like the Merkur 37C.

Regarding combs, take a look at the DEvette. There was a minor side-road a few years ago, snipping the comb off safety razors. The blade shaves you. The comb is simply there to prevent the blade beaching into your face in the even of a mistake in angle. Look at the shavette ... or straight.
 
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(the) old ones make me happy, even when I'm not shaving.

Folks who see my collection often ask what the point is as I can't possibly shave with them all. Fact is, I don't. I shave with maybe five very specific ones as a happy coincidence. I do like them as objects and that's why I collect them. If I shaved with a modern cartridge, I'd still collect them. Indeed, they give me joy even if they're not going to be used for shaving.
 
Blade gap and blade exposure make a difference so the design is important. Large blade gaps and extreme blade exposure I don't think are necessary.
At the end of the day, it is the blade that does the cutting if presented correctly.

I like short handles like the Merkur 34C, standard EJ DE89 and even the Piccolo are just fine.
I always wondered about the longer handles but cannot see the benefits.
I personally like a long handle as i hold the razor at the bottom and let the weight of the head so it's thing. it's a learning process for us all and it takes a while for us to fully understand what we like or more importantly what we don't like
 
Better to hold at the balance point for control, The knurling on a Durham Duplex handle is the correct place for two fingers and a thumb.


These handles


100_2493.JPG


Tech on the left


100_2151.JPG


When trimming accurately at the edge of something I hold about an inch below the head.



.
 
Better to hold at the balance point for control, The knurling on a Durham Duplex handle is the correct place for two fingers and a thumb.


These handles


View attachment 59608


Tech on the left


View attachment 59609


When trimming accurately at the edge of something I hold about an inch below the head.



.
This is perhaps what i'm doing wrong with the Rex
i'll give that a go tomorrow
 
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