Shaving gear recommendations needed

[kendun]

Hi Alpha

apologies for pestering you could you clarify some of my doubts please?

How long have you been using a cut throat razor? are there cut throat razors which don't need to be honed? I presume it takes a while to get used to these razors?

Using a cut throat razor is definitely on the cards long term, but feel quite nervous at present as I feel I'll take a fair chunk of my skin/ face off

 

[kendun]

in comparison to the neat, little slab of alum shown by Kendun the alum i use seems very much DIY..

.View attachment 8584

I haven't bought that neat looking block yet, as they are more expensive than the ones you have in your picture

 

[just4kix]

Hi Alpha

apologies for pestering you could you clarify some of my doubts please?

How long have you been using a cut throat razor? are there cut throat razors which don't need to be honed? I presume it takes a while to get used to these razors?

Using a cut throat razor is definitely on the cards long term, but feel quite nervous at present as I feel I'll take a fair chunk of my skin/ face off

After the throat is cut, no more shaving. He! He!

Sent from my GT-I9100G using Tapatalk 2

 

[alpha1]

Hi Alpha

apologies for pestering you could you clarify some of my doubts please?

How long have you been using a cut throat razor? are there cut throat razors which don't need to be honed? I presume it takes a while to get used to these razors?

Using a cut throat razor is definitely on the cards long term, but feel quite nervous at present as I feel I'll take a fair chunk of my skin/ face off

I have been using the cut-throat style but with disposable blades since 1999-2000. No major cuts etc till now.

I got the "real" cut throat razor a few years back, but as I told you earlier, I got flustered in one experience and came back to the disposable types.

Frankly: in shaving experience there is no difference between the cut throat with disposable (machine honed) blade and cut throat with hand honed blade.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

After the throat is cut, no more shaving. He! He!

Cheaper than laser treatment, I suppose, and it comes with a "lifetime" guarantee

For those interested in sharpening, please google --- and then spend a week reading the results! From engineering tools, through woodworking, the kitchen, and shaving, there is so much written about sharpening methods and skills. I used to think that my kitchen knives were sharp until I got one of these. Now I can sharpen a knife that will not only cut a ripe tomato (my old test), but will also shave hair off my arm. Although, except for show, I don't: it takes ages, and there is almost no requirement for a kitchen knife to be that sharp for ordinary chopping and cutting.

The secret is in the stones. The base set up is just an aid to getting the angles right. And it works very well, exploiting the fact that it is much easier to hold the blade vertically against a constant angle than it is to judge and keep the angle constant against a flat stone.

 

[kendun]

I have been using the cut-throat style but with disposable blades since 1999-2000. No major cuts etc till now.

I got the "real" cut throat razor a few years back, but as I told you earlier, I got flustered in one experience and came back to the disposable types.

Frankly: in shaving experience there is no difference between the cut throat with disposable (machine honed) blade and cut throat with hand honed blade.

Thank you Alpha.

 

[kendun]

Cheaper than laser treatment, I suppose, and it comes with a "lifetime" guarantee

For those interested in sharpening, please google --- and then spend a week reading the results! From engineering tools, through woodworking, the kitchen, and shaving, there is so much written about sharpening methods and skills. I used to think that my kitchen knives were sharp until I got one of these. Now I can sharpen a knife that will not only cut a ripe tomato (my old test), but will also shave hair off my arm. Although, except for show, I don't: it takes ages, and there is almost no requirement for a kitchen knife to be that sharp for ordinary chopping and cutting.

The secret is in the stones. The base set up is just an aid to getting the angles right. And it works very well, exploiting the fact that it is much easier to hold the blade vertically against a constant angle than it is to judge and keep the angle constant against a flat stone.

Thad, I was after buying shaving brushes and creams etc, looks like getting a the spyderco sharpener may be on the agenda at some point. This is an expensive forum to visit

 

[asliarun]

Cheaper than laser treatment, I suppose, and it comes with a "lifetime" guarantee

For those interested in sharpening, please google --- and then spend a week reading the results! From engineering tools, through woodworking, the kitchen, and shaving, there is so much written about sharpening methods and skills. I used to think that my kitchen knives were sharp until I got one of these. Now I can sharpen a knife that will not only cut a ripe tomato (my old test), but will also shave hair off my arm. Although, except for show, I don't: it takes ages, and there is almost no requirement for a kitchen knife to be that sharp for ordinary chopping and cutting.

The secret is in the stones. The base set up is just an aid to getting the angles right. And it works very well, exploiting the fact that it is much easier to hold the blade vertically against a constant angle than it is to judge and keep the angle constant against a flat stone.

Thanks for the tips. I've actually read quite a bit on websites and youtube. However, good sharpness (not even aiming for "scary sharp" as some people call it) eludes me. I think I hold the knives at a wrong angle. I have a pair of stones and a ceramic honing rod. Or at least it is a lot trickier than it seems.

I also think it could be because my knives have unusual edge angles (apparently most Japanese knives do). I just got them resharpened on a wheel so it might have reset the edge angle and will try again this weekend.

I actually think a good sharp knife is much safer than a dull one. I've almost cut myself a few times with a dull blade when it slips. Plus it is way faster and easier to work with. Of course, my definition of "sharp" is being able to cut a ripe tomato or cleanly slice paper, and nothing more.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Thad, I was after buying shaving brushes and creams etc, looks like getting a the spyderco sharpener may be on the agenda at some point. This is an expensive forum to visit

It could prove one of the cheaper things on the list! How about this "shaving set?"

Believe it or not, one of the crazy extravagances of my past was that I used to buy soap from that place!

Damn, I should have been saving up for hifi instead :lol:

I actually think a good sharp knife is much safer than a dull one. I've almost cut myself a few times with a dull blade when it slips. Plus it is way faster and easier to work with. Of course, my definition of "sharp" is being able to cut a ripe tomato or cleanly slice paper, and nothing more.
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I very much agree. I have cut myself by using a really sharp knife carelessly, but more often because a blunt one slipped. Sharp knives take less work too, and I'm lazy.

You can use the Spyderco stones in the set any way you like, but the base is set up to give standard angles. They cover many sorts of blade in their booklet/DVD, but I don't remember about Japanese blades. I think they are only sharpened on one side?

 

[kendun]

It could prove one of the cheaper things on the list! How about this "shaving set?"

Believe it or not, one of the crazy extravagances of my past was that I used to buy soap from that place!

Damn, I should have been saving up for hifi instead :lol:

Thad, I guess there's no harm in a bit of self indulgence eh?

I presume you must have enjoyed shopping at Jermyn Street

I guess your link to the drharris is similar to this stuff which is nice to look at... Shaving Sets For Men | Razor Stands | Mens Grooming Products

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Yes, and I see that a "cut-throat" razor is heck of a lot of money --- which I expected, although it might be cheaper in other parts of the world than central London. They must be very fine blades.

NB: This is not a product with which I would agree to any kind of blind test

 

[asliarun]

Yes, and I see that a "cut-throat" razor is heck of a lot of money --- which I expected, although it might be cheaper in other parts of the world than central London. They must be very fine blades.

NB: This is not a product with which I would agree to any kind of blind test

"Blade" is a slang I've heard in Chennai to denote a "rip-off". Somehow seems appropriate in this context

 

[alpha1]

Because there used not to be cream/oil/gel, but shaving soap, which had to be worked to a lather and spread on the face. I remember my father doing this fifty years ago. Alum is for the cuts.

I don't remember using a brush anytime to work a lather while bathing!
Why should shaving be any different?

Besides, more lather is not the same as better shave - since the purpose of lather/cream/oil is to improve lubricity on skin, not to clean the skin (as it happens in case of bathing or washing clothes)

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

I don't remember using a brush anytime to work a lather while bathing!
Why should shaving be any different?

No idea! I shave electric, and likewise, I don't plug electricity into the bath :lol:

This (see Kendun's post above) is interesting, but while recommending the lather it doesn't say why.

 

[Saket]

No idea! I shave electric, and likewise, I don't plug electricity into the bath :lol:

This (see Kendun'd post above) is interesting, but while recommending the lather it doesn't say why.

That was hilarious!

At times I use an electric shaver by philips. It shaves pretty well but I think the time & effort reqd is actually more than conventional shaving methods. But definitely cleans better than my Mach 3/ Sensor Excel.

Saket

 

[gobble]

I totally second this Keith. I have dried electric dry shavers and gave it to friends/ relatives as I didn't enjoy it and it didn't feel like a shave.

A shaving brush and lathering due add to the experience of shaving.Looks like other than a seven o clock platinum (which I currently use) no one's making any other recommendations ?

I will try the Biotique Bio Palmyra Expert Shave Cream Keith has recommended

This thread made me switch back to Mach3 today. The shop keeper told me the Mach3 handle I already owned would not attach a Mach5 blade so had to stick with it. Got the Bio Palmyra. When I opened it half the oily liquid that had collected at the top spilled into the wash basin Guess a lot of lubricant is now gone from the cream.

But I think I am back to wet shaves. The foil razor is one of those gimmicks and numerous contraptions from a material culture that gadget freaks love to handle and learn to tolerate even if does not deliver on its promise. Even Braun admits they have an even more expensive product that "promises" a better and cleaner shave in the neck area. Just like the audio world promise of very expensive ICs hyeah:

The time taken is almost the same if you dont waste time brushing. I have been searching for a real hair brush since two years with no luck. Today was no different with half an hour of cycling to various stores. Everyone stocks only nylon. Good for panty-hose maybe not for my chin So decided to go without one. Its all in the head - the thing about electric being more convenient. One just has to find a shaving cream that does not smell chemically repugnant and is easy to apply and dab with the fingers. Likewise the aftershave balm - I got a Biotique lotion with banana plant crush in it or something.

So far so good. Never going to spend on an electric again. hyeah:

--G0bble

 

[keith_correa]

Got the Bio Palmyra. When I opened it half the oily liquid that had collected at the top spilled into the wash basin Guess a lot of lubricant is now gone from the cream.

Huh????????? There is/was no liquid in my Bio Palmyra. It's just a very very thick cream. I wonder if they have changed the formulation since I bought it [a year ago]. I suggest you lodge a complaint with Biotique. Maybe nothing will come of it but don't take this lying down.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Even Braun admits they have an even more expensive product that "promises" a better and cleaner shave in the neck area. Just like the audio world promise of very expensive ICs hyeah:

Oh so true, and the way they name them is meant to make us think of BMWs. It must be a marketing man's nightmare to describe a range like that so the sell a bit of everything.

You can't say, "This is our cheapest, it's lousy; this one is a bit more expensive and actually cuts hair; spend more on this one and it's a bit better; this one is bloody brilliant, but..."

However, I'm sticking with electric, and when my Philips falls apart I probably will get a BMW 5 Series razor. Oh, I mean a Braun car, of course.

Wet shave? How am I supposed to do that lazily in front of the computer?

 

[kendun]

This thread made me switch back to Mach3 today. The shop keeper told me the Mach3 handle I already owned would not attach a Mach5 blade so had to stick with it. Got the Bio Palmyra. When I opened it half the oily liquid that had collected at the top spilled into the wash basin Guess a lot of lubricant is now gone from the cream.

But I think I am back to wet shaves. The foil razor is one of those gimmicks and numerous contraptions from a material culture that gadget freaks love to handle and learn to tolerate even if does not deliver on its promise. Even Braun admits they have an even more expensive product that "promises" a better and cleaner shave in the neck area. Just like the audio world promise of very expensive ICs hyeah:

So far so good. Never going to spend on an electric again. hyeah:

--G0bble

I would certainly recommend trying seven o clock baldes and a safety razor and compare it with a Mach 3 maybe ? It's definitely a different experience. I tend to shave in the evenings when I am bit more relaxed and have time to go through the whole ritual of whipping up a lather, using double edged blades followed by an aftershave etc....

Have a look at the following video, this (Merkur 39c) is my razor of choice at present
CAN YOU SHAVE WITH A SLEDGEHAMMER? MERKUR 39C SLANT BAR*CHOOSE YOUR RAZOR WISELY! Shaving/Beard Trim - YouTube

 

[jenson]

my favorite has been Geo trumpers shaving products, they are classic...just the way one must feel after a shave.
Welcome to Geo F Trumper

and when i'm in a mood to pamper self - Czech & Speake | Shaving Products

C&S has an amazing line of perfumes as well..