few questions about DE razor shaving……

Means you can use both edges of the blade, one each side of the head. You don’t flip the blade in the head and reuse it. I guess it’s the distinction to a single bladed razor (cutthroat style) when DE was the new fangled choice!

thanks mate, id have guessed that but wasnt sure.

im about to press ‘buy’ on a load of stuff including that merkur, so can anyone just confirm the heads not as big as the futur?

cheers

The head isn’t as big as futur. Do it!

Having read through this thread I’m thinking of asking Santa for a kit like this and see how it goes.

The head isn’t as big as futur. Do it!

thanks, the ‘buy’ button has now been pressed on around £80 worth of kit.

im sure ill have more questions when it all arrives 🙂

thanks a lot chaps

£80??!!
How did you manage to do that?
Razor: £20
Brush: £20
Soap: £3-10
Blades £5ish

The key is to start small and simple then buy more razors!

The head isn’t as big as futur. Do it!

Don’t take the size of the Futur head as a bad thing…. it’s a very good and successful razor for a reason.

£80??!!
How did you manage to do that?

ooh now then lets see……

merkur stainless steel razor £23
bluebeards revenge brush and stand (synthetic to save dem badgerzz) £22
taylor of old bond st shave cream (coconut) £9
assortment of blades (feathers/israeli/derby) £8
styptic pencil £4
proraso shave cream £5.50
bluebeards revenge shavette – free cos i added another cream to qualify for it.

actually its just over £70 when i count it up now. can see this being one of those hobbies that i keep spending on, just like i used to with bikes, but just not as expensive 😀

Don’t forget the palm strop.

Don’t forget the palm strop.

haha, FFS, just when i thought id read everything there is to read on shaving, woppit throws something else into the mix 😀

didnt know if you were taking the p*ss or not wop, so googled and youtubed. still dont know if you were or not 😀

obviously theres nothing else to buy, but im a little confused as to when youd do this. some sites said when the blade is new to remove imperfections, some inferred itd prolong the life of a blade, much the same as my razorpit and cartridge heads.
i spose youd do it the same as a barber would strop a single edged blade on leather, but i dont know when he’d do this either.

any advice on this now? 😀

😀

I took it to be the first case although I haven’t tested it. It adds to the whole ritual aspect of the shave at least.

Don’t forget to clean the blade after the shave by wiping it length-wise on each side from a grip at each end on your towel before using it again (ie: four times, two each side)…

obviously theres nothing else to buy

Oh yeah?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TrueFitt-Hill-Ultimate-Comfort-Pre-shave/dp/B000F5NRQY

http://www.thefragranceshop.co.uk/Mens-Aftershaves-and-Fragrances.aspx

im a little confused as to when youd do this. some sites said when the blade is new to remove imperfections, some inferred itd prolong the life of a blade

Who cares… the blades cost pennies.

any advice on this now?

Yes. Stop thinking about the [stupid] extras that you’ll [probably] never use and get on with the basics.

Don’t forget to clean the blade after the shave by wiping it length-wise on each side from a grip at each end on your towel before using it again (ie: four times, two each side)

or just rinse it under a running tap

Buy at least 1 pack of blades that come in a plastic box (derbys and feathers do iirc. The plastic box is an ideal receptacle for dead blades rather than just binning them (they’re still razor sharp)

or just rinse it under a running tap

Doesn’t hack it with a cream – can get sticky when mixed with the bristles and leaves a thin deposit which will then dry onto the blade if left. Will need a wipe.

Doesn’t hack it with a cream – can get sticky when mixed with the bristles and leaves a thin deposit which will then dry onto the blade if left. Will need a wipe.

ok, im using a cream so will wipe.

Don’t forget to clean the blade after the shave by wiping it length-wise on each side from a grip at each end on your towel before using it again (ie: four times, two each side)…

cant picture how you mean. got a pic or vid to link to?

ta

Doesn’t hack it with a cream – can get sticky when mixed with the bristles and leaves a thin deposit which will then dry onto the blade if left. Will need a wipe.

ahh right, never used cream. soap rules.

This is nice pre-shave stuff and makes the perfect receptacle for old blades once it is empty

Never pass up an excuse to show off my 1930s engineered marvel. It really is an involved toy, all the auto-honing is achieved with fluid ease in an elegant case. Original strop and hone pastes too!

Do you use it MR or just look at it?

Do you use it MR or just look at it?

8) Think this is the first outing from the drawer for 12 months, last time it got cleaned and checked. There is a miniscule nick in the blade that needs to be worked out before is allowed access to necks. It’s one on a hundred to do lists.

Doesn’t hack it with a cream – can get sticky when mixed with the bristles and leaves a thin deposit which will then dry onto the blade if left. Will need a wipe.

What cream is this then? I’ve used Trumpers cream and there’s no residue at all.
Not had to wipe a blade clean after use in 5 years so interested to see what goo you’re using so I can keep well clear of it.

Malvern Rider I have an old Rolls Razor set which is just like yours. I tried it once and it was a pretty uncomfortable shave. Proper blades are in a different league.

Means you can use both edges of the blade, one each side of the head. You don’t flip the blade in the head and reuse it.

Not sure about this. I definitely flip it over and get more use out of the blade. Some blades are actually numbered on each edge 1 to 4 like the Derby stainless I had in a multi-pack.

Pffft I have a gold plated rolls from 1927. Its battered to hell.

I have it with an edge just as good as a DE. You need a stropping compound on the leather mind!

Not sure about this. I definitely flip it over and get more use out of the blade. Some blades are actually numbered on each edge 1 to 4 like the Derby stainless I had in a multi-pack.

im sure i came across this question in my never ending quest for shaving knowledge a few days ago so did some digging. seems the numbers are just for manufacturers use only in the QC process, and you dont flip the blade. have a look here[/url] and here.

As the link said, i couldn’t see how flipping the blade gives any sharpness back to the edge. And at 10p per week, if it was true and I’m wasting £2.60 a year on bad shaving habits – I can live with that.

Question for Drac… (or other trumper users)

I am a complete convert to Astra blades after your suggestion for trying them! (took me away from feathers as nearly as good but last twice as long and much smoother than black 7 o’clocks)

HOWEVER, I am struggling with you Trumper choice…

Do you find it 3 times better than something like proraso as suggested by the price?

I’ve tried a couple of soaps and the best lather I’ve had has come from Arko – this includes Trumpers Cream which is not as good as the price tag suggests but smells lovely (coconut) which is why I’m getting another small tube.

Malvern Rider I have an old Rolls Razor set which is just like yours.

No it isn’t. Different league. Mine is The Darwin De-Luxe Hollow Ground Safety Razor. Harumph!

cant picture how you mean. got a pic or vid to link to?

@sadexpunk

Grip blade at one end. Wipe lengthwise.
Grip blade at opposite end. Wipe lengthwise.
Turn blade over.
Repeat.

No no no…..

Grip blade at one end. Wipe lengthwise. Turn blade over. Repeat.
Grip blade at opposite end. Wipe lengthwise. Turn blade over. Repeat.

Less handling.

Damn, you’re good. 😯

Surely if you’ve bothered to take the blade out then the tap would now do the trick???

I’ve run a couple of LEAN workshops in my time, I’ll admit…..

sadex, if you’re thinking about a post-shave balm, I’ve just had a go at:

from a free sample from Shaving Shack.

Really good. Seems expensive at £10 per 100ml, but you only need a small dab so it should last…

does it smell nice mate? ive never looked into all this malarkey before, and considered all the usual smells from yer usual suspects as the way to go. £40 on a bottle of john paul gaultier etc etc thatll do me nicely thank you. never really considered that they contain alcohol and may not be the best thing for my lovely delicate little chops 🙂
its only now ive looked into DE shaving that im reading about balms, subtle shades of sandalwood, citrus notes blah de blah. must be getting old 😀
i like the thought of ‘growing out of’ the commercial alcohol-based aftershaves, and getting into more subtle smells and balms. trouble is, ive got nowhere to try these smells, all the shops round here sell the usual aftershaves, so im just gonna have to buy to try.

so….back to my original question, what does it smell like? does the smell on these balms last all day? is sandalwood actually a nice smell? or are you sposed to use a balm and then an aftershave?

thanks for sticking with me, and excuse my ignorance 🙂

Good question! Just bought some geo trumper lime shaving cream for exactly the same reason. Will report back, but expect it’ll be sort of citrusey, limey….

Sandalwood is actually a really nice, earthy, woody (no shit Sherlock), manly smell. It is, essentially, sweet aromatic wood. You could do worse than smell like a carpenter’s bench.

do balms retain their smell on your face all day? and er…..while we’re talking balms and lotions, are there ‘body lotions’ in the same smell too? im now thinking alternatives to sprays such as lynx.

sadexpunk – Member
does it smell nice mate?

The Bluebeard’s balm has a refreshing, slightly astringent smell. It’s difficult to describe as I can’t think of anything to compare it to but it’s really refreshing, especially following the cold water rinse. It also feels instantly calming on the skin and moisturises well.

The smell only lasts for the length of the application.

Sandalwood is subtle, but gorgeous.

all the shops round here sell the usual aftershaves, so im just gonna have to buy to try.

I recommend http://www.shaving-shack.com/

Spend £9.99 or more and you get free samples, which is where I discovered the Bluebeard’s balm…