Wet Blade VS. Electric Razor

[Fusion1]

Safety razor. Anyone know what to use for sharpening double sized razor blades? I have a bunch I bought off of E-bay that works great 2 or 3 times and then gets noticeably dull. The trick is to clean the blade after each use and more importantly is to dry the blade(s). I bought one of those stropping machines from ebay that was probably made in the 1950s but the leather wrapped center cylinder that strops the blade doesn't press against the blade tight enough to actually hone the blade. I took one apart but was never able to put it back together so I bought another. Same problem the leather never really contacts the blades so no actual sharpening occurs. ANy other ideas? I heard rubbing it on the inside of a glass will sharpen the blades but I never noticed much difference. I bought one of those SEEN ON TV gadets that supposedly sharpen blades and it seemed to just make a bunch of noise and seemed to damage the blade.

[Sludgenutz]

^Do you mean the Kriss Kross?

[Mephis]

I never shave completely clean, just that annoying looking stubble.

A basic electric shaver does the job just fine.


I'm a bit paranoid of blades after the few bad experiences I've had. My skin doesn't usually get along with them.

[B2D]

I use Schick 2-blade disposables for my face, and a Schick Quatro Titanium for my head.

I know what some of you are thinking... just use one for both. I've tried just using one or the other but the disposables do a good job in the mug whereas the Quatro doesn't, and the disposables cut the crap out of my scalp whereas the Quatro leaves it smoooooth.

[Fusion1]

^Do you mean the Kriss Kross?

Yeah, actually mine are two models like this, a Twinplex, only not rusted like this one.



Do those Kriss Kross stroppers work? That one in your picture looks new. Are they still making them, or are these also from the 40s and 50s? If there was a way to replace the leather these would be great.

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Use once and destroy! Re-used blades harbor bacteria, and create "razor burn", which is not necessarily physical damage to skin, but bacterial infection that jumps into exposed skin.

I actually discussed this with my doctor a few months back - he advised rinsing the razor off with rubbing alcohol after shaving. Since doing this I've noticed a marked improvement in breakouts/red marks, especially on my neck.

[Imp]

I actually discussed this with my doctor a few months back - he advised rinsing the razor off with rubbing alcohol after shaving. Since doing this I've noticed a marked improvement in breakouts/red marks, especially on my neck.

nice! i'll try tea tree oil and report back.

for me, it's a merkur 34c and wilkinson sword safety blades..


i spend less than half a day's wages on maintaining the blades annually, since they're so cheap. if you exfoliate/free trapped hairs before you shave, you're on to a winner.

be warned - i've seen people try safety razors with the most ham fisted technique (no skin prep, pressing hard and trying to do that razor ad 'swoosh' movement) and whinging that they havn't got a perfect shave. did you jump in a car and get it right without finding out how, too?

http://www.gentlemans-shop.com/acata...ect_shave.html

[Fusion1]

Imp how do you maintain your blades? Do you just mean by buying new ones?

Mine is a Parker 90R I also have a 96R and 22R I bought from Ebay.

[Imp]

Imp how do you maintain your blades? Do you just mean by buying new ones?

Mine is a Parker 90R I also have a 96R and 22R I bought from Ebay.

yeah, just buying them afresh.. they're cheap enough

saying that i have met a guy who's marked each side of his safety razor.. means you use each side equally and get the sharpest edge each time!

[Fusion1]

Actually with a dual sided blade theoretically you get 4 different cutting surfaces. The top and bottom of each edge and there are 2 edges. That said I still want to be able to sharpen each surface at least 3 times.

[Sludgenutz]

Nice! I have never seen a Twinplex before! It's kinda funky... in a fishing reel sorta way. A Kriss Kross looks sorta like a spincasting fishing reel...and the Twinplex sorta looks like a bass fisherman's baitcasting reel.

You are asking great questions. I have never used a Kriss Kross. I do have a never-used Kriss Kross in the factory box, because my dad was an avid garage saler in the 1970's (this was the Golden Age of Garage Sales, IMO)! He bought dozens of GEM and Gillette razors. Many of them are gold plated, most are nickel plated. I have no idea what they are worth. There millions upon millions of safety razors out there, so this small collection is a mere curiosty.

The extra complexity inside the Kriss Kross mechanism housing, is the fascinating 180* degree flip this device performs automatically as the coffee grinder handle it turned! It is a very interesting device, whether or not it works.

I have an abused Kriss Kross too. The leather disc is heavily grooved. I suppose a person could put extra pressure against the blade edge, which is a likey reason why that poor sample has such a heavily grooved leather platter.

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The late sixties thru mid 1970's, heralded the era of the Schick injector style safety razor! I don't know where the plastic-y handle came from in the video below...but it shows that shaving can be as fun as a tour of Vietnam. Lock and Load!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ52zoN5acU

^Wilkinson, and Persona were the last real brands of the era that challenged the Big Two of Gillette and Schick. They faded away by 1980.

Wilkinson was badass! They were purveyors of British Steel, and said so in their US TV commercials as I actually remember them!

Judas Priest actually follwed suit!

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The funky history of the safety razor in the US (probably worldwide in developed countries) is exactly the same as the perpetual battle between video gaming systems now!

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Guitar-wise, I love the safety razors too. Just as electric guitar hardware is plated in nickel and gold out of necessity...the richness of the plating is germaine to both the function, and longevity of an intentionally long lasting product. It also reminds me that small and medium size factories created many wonder pre-microchip items in a more contained, less global USA.

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In the end, all I do is use disposable BIC (a great story from France) single edge razors, and I toss them after one use. I am more about the preparation before the blade touches my face.

[Fusion1]

Sludgenutz, the Twinplex has that feature also of flipping the blade 180 degrees every time the crank is rotated one full revolution. Quite ingenious considering this thing was patented in the early 1910-1920 era.

[guitfiddle]

I shave so seldom that anything more than a bic disposable is like swatting a fly with a howitzer. I'm 38 now, and the last time I used a blade and shaved completely clean, I was 35

[Sludgenutz]

I actually discussed this with my doctor a few months back - he advised rinsing the razor off with rubbing alcohol after shaving. Since doing this I've noticed a marked improvement in breakouts/red marks, especially on my neck.

Truth! Those red bumps on the neck are very much a part of youthful skin. I had the same experience.

A person sleeps hours a day with their face laying on the same pillow every night! If acne/bumps/redness is a problem...replace your bed pillows often, and replace your pillow covers everyday.

[Sludgenutz]

Sludgenutz, the Twinplex has that feature also of flipping the blade 180 degrees every time the crank is rotated one full revolution. Quite ingenious considering this thing was patented in the early 1910-1920 era.

Hmmm,. I would love to see one in action. Mechanical things get my motor running.

[Gr8Scott]

I have really coarse beard hairs. I'm talking were-wolf thick like a full mm thick for each individual hair. I have to use a blade. I tend to use a Schick Quattro on my coarse face and a Schick FX on my scalp. Dull blades tear me up badly.

[B2D]

I actually discussed this with my doctor a few months back - he advised rinsing the razor off with rubbing alcohol after shaving. Since doing this I've noticed a marked improvement in breakouts/red marks, especially on my neck.

I do this. When I don't, it shows.

Plus, pre-treat your skin by washing it with soap and hot water. I use Dove soap and it makes for a much smoother shave.

[Jonny R]

electric for everyday 'good enough' for work

blade for when i want to get closer than close to mrs t4d on the weekends

i have one of those multiblade deals - couldnt tell you which brand - works fine

t4d

+1 ...except not with Mrs T4D

Apart from that, where's the Wet Electric Razor option?