Recommendations

[Reformation Student]

Hi y'all:

I think I'm in the right category but...

I am a die hard straight user however, I will be doing a fair amount of traveling starting in April. Having traveled with razor and strop in the past I've been thinking that for those weekends that I need to be on the road, a DE would be a better choice (simplicity, less fear of losing expensive equipment, etc).

What would be a good DE for a straight user to use on an occasional basis?

Thanks gang,

Steve

[Lucy7]

I'm thinking one of those treet plastic DE razors. They've gotten good reviews here, inexpenisive (to start, or in case it gets lost), and light(but with good balance). Definitely worth looking at.

[DragonBoy]

Id say go for a Merkur HD.. One of the greatest shave tools invented..

[bearbeard]

check out the monsieur charles razor

or the dovo Shavette razor.

I would recommend on the shavette to get the stainless steel one as the colored handles are much lighter.

the upside is that you can use a DE blade and still feel like you are using a straight razor.

downsides. witht the monsieur charles razor you have to use injector blades.
which means not many choices.

with the dovo. its a bit lighter than the charles razor and doesn't have the shape of a normal str8 like the charles. however you can use the DE blades of your choice in em. They even come with different adapters so that you can use some longer blades than a normal sized DE blade. Here is a link to the mr. charles razor:

http://www.bowmanbeauty.com/store/shop.mvc?page=BBS/PROD/2-9000/BP0800

and for the shavette:

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522940/286100.htm


I have loved using both of them.

[bearbeard]

bump....this is one of those that was not showing up when I looked at new threads. or my recent posts or reformation students recent posts

[Reformation Student]

Thanks everyone for the recommendations. I'm going to look through them.

[zippersmith]

You could always grab a vintage Gillette DE.
The cost is minimal and the blades plentiful.

A Slant bar DE I've heard is the closest thing to a straight.

There are many of us who have old gillettes we could sell you for a few bucks and shipping. Heck I'd even throw in some nice blades.... ;)

Chris

[Reformation Student]

You could always grab a vintage Gillette DE.
The cost is minimal and the blades plentiful.

A Slant bar DE I've heard is the closest thing to a straight.

There are many of us who have old gillettes we could sell you for a few bucks and shipping. Heck I'd even throw in some nice blades.... ;)

Chris

I've read that a slant bar should never be used by a DE newbie.

Do you have, or can you point me to, any pictures of vintage Gilette DEs? Are they ebay avaliable? OK, done with the questions :D

[Mottern Man]

I've read that a slant bar should never be used by a DE newbie.

Do you have, or can you point me to, any pictures of vintage Gilette DEs? Are they ebay avaliable? OK, done with the questions :D

http://search.ebay.com/gillette-super-speed_W0QQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypage ZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfnuZ1QQfromZR10QQfsooZ2QQfso pZ32QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQpqryZgilletteQ20superspeedQQ sabfmtsZ1QQsacatZQ2d1QQsaobfmtsZinsifQQsaprchiZQQs aprcloZQQsofocusZbs

[Reformation Student]

Thanks Doc!

[Mottern Man]

Thanks Doc!

Ebay is a great place is it not.

For starting DE shaving I say go with a Superspeed, or Merkur HD

[Reformation Student]

Ebay is a great place is it not.

For starting DE shaving I say go with a Superspeed, or Merkur HD

Do you, or anyone else, know why they are called Superspeeds?

[Mottern Man]

Do you, or anyone else, know why they are called Superspeeds?

No idea, but it is a cool name. :D

[zippersmith]

If you have the presence of mind to use a straight razor I wouldn't think a slant would be out of the realm of possibility. Just be careful not to push down, and watch your blade angle... it's a great shave.

Maybe the super speeds were called that because with the tto (twist to open) design, it was easy and speedy to change the blades.,,,

[PalmettoB]

Maybe the super speeds were called that because with the tto (twist to open) design, it was easy and speedy to change the blades.,,,

Yep. Give that man a cigar! This was the 1940s, after all (and 50s, and beyond). We were rebuilding the country after WW II. They were selling that "modernism" stuff after the war, and TTO was easier and faster than a 3 piece unit.

See this (http://www.adclassix.com/classictvcommercials/1948gillettemajorleaguebaseball.htm) old TV ad from 1948.

[Reformation Student]

Yep. Give that man a cigar! This was the 1940s, after all (and 50s, and beyond). We were rebuilding the country after WW II. They were selling that "modernism" stuff after the war, and TTO was easier and faster than a 3 piece unit.

See this (http://www.adclassix.com/classictvcommercials/1948gillettemajorleaguebaseball.htm) old TV ad from 1948.

Wow!!! Only $1.29??? It looks like they are way overpriced on Ebay :rofl

Seriously, thanks for the video. I love the old stuff.

[PalmettoB]

Wow!!! Only $1.29??? It looks like they are way overpriced on Ebay :rofl

Y'know, it's funny you mention that. I thought the same thing. Then I found this (http://www.measuringworth.com/ppowerus/) site. A buck twenty nine then has the same "purchasing power" as $10.80 today. I have seen some Super speeds in antiques shops for $5.00, so they are still a great deal! :D

[Reformation Student]

So, if I wanted a SuperSpeed, what would be considered overpriced? $20? $15? $1.5m? :D

Then there's learning technique. I know there must be instructions/videos posted in here somewhere so I'll take some time tonight to search.

Thanks again, gang :signs107

[Reformation Student]

This time, blades.

What would be a good blade to use that could be purchased at my local Wal-Mart, CVS, Walgreens, Rite-Aid, etc.?

Looking forward to the responses.

Steve

[Mottern Man]

This time, blades.

What would be a good blade to use that could be purchased at my local Wal-Mart, CVS, Walgreens, Rite-Aid, etc.?

Looking forward to the responses.

Steve

NONE!

If you want PM me your address and I will send you a Sampler.

Over priced Super Speed = 25 dollars.

[Reformation Student]

NONE!

If you want PM me your address and I will send you a Sampler.

Over priced Super Speed = 25 dollars.

Thank you, Will. I appreciate the offer. PM sent.

[IsaacRN]

I must tell you. I tried my first shave with a Super Speed and WOW...it was great. It kinda makes me rack my brain why i shave with a Straight. I do recommend it. IM using Derby Blades atm...

[Reformation Student]

I had no intention of purchasing one for a while because I didn't need it until April, and nothing was currently inside my budget, but I saw a SuperSpeed on Ebay for a nice price (well inside my price range) and, being something of a history buff, couldn't resist. (Hey, if it's good enough for Pee Wee Reese :rofl)

[Scorpio]

I had no intention of purchasing one for a while because I didn't need it until April, and nothing was currently inside my budget, but I saw a SuperSpeed on Ebay for a nice price (well inside my price range) and, being something of a history buff, couldn't resist. (Hey, if it's good enough for Pee Wee Reese :rofl)

If you peruse your local antiques mall you will most likely find them for less than $10 and in very good condition. As for blade I prefer Israeli Personnas and Gillette Swedes. Both will give a smooth shave. Another good choice are Derby's.

I travel quite a bit and I always take my straight and my strop with me. But I should mention that I travel by car.

Raf

[Reformation Student]

I travel quite a bit and I always take my straight and my strop with me. But I should mention that I travel by car.

Raf

The main problem I had with traveling with my straight is fear of damage or loss by the airlines. Also, once I get to a hotel room, finding a good place to hang the strop was a bit problematic. I figure this way is the simplest.

Thanks for the blade recommendations, btw.

[Scorpio]

Door knobs are great hanging places works for me at home and at the hotel room.

Raf

[Reformation Student]

I want to publicly thank Mottern Man for the sampler pack of blades that he generously sent to me. I'm looking forward to trying them out. :D