I really like Feather blades. For me, the sharper the better. I want a blade that cuts with minimum resistance. (What is the point of using a duller blade?)
I also like Treet carbon blades, as I like carbon steel no matter what the tool. Of course they must be blotted dry after use, but I dry my razor and blade every time that I shave regardless of which blade I use.
I also like Treet carbon blades, as I like carbon steel no matter what the tool. Of course they must be blotted dry after use, but I dry my razor and blade every time that I shave regardless of which blade I use.
(09-12-2024, 04:57 PM)jamessb Wrote: I really like Feather blades. For me, the sharper the better. I want a blade that cuts with minimum resistance. (What is the point of using a duller blade?)
I also like Treet carbon blades, as I like carbon steel no matter what the tool. Of course they must be blotted dry after use, but I dry my razor and blade every time that I shave regardless of which blade I use.
I like sharp blades as well, but for me and for many others, the Feather blades are just too fragile. They just do not hold up to my tough beard. If I get three shaves, I am lucky. About the only way I can use them is to use them in a mild razor for my clean-up pass. If they work for you, that is wonderful.
I always viewed Treet blades with suspicion considering them to be "cheap" blades. When I tried the Treet DuraSharp and Treet Classic Carbon blades, I was impressed. They are both inexpensive, but perform quite well. They are a superb value.
(09-12-2024, 04:57 PM)jamessb Wrote: I really like Feather blades. For me, the sharper the better. I want a blade that cuts with minimum resistance. (What is the point of using a duller blade?)
I also like Treet carbon blades, as I like carbon steel no matter what the tool. Of course they must be blotted dry after use, but I dry my razor and blade every time that I shave regardless of which blade I use.
What is the point of using a duller blade? Well, there are a couple. First, super sharp blades (like Feather) are very unforgiving of less than perfect technique. It is very easy to get a weeper with a fresh Feather blade. In fact, I have never been able to avoid it. Second, as stated above by RayClem , super sharp blades usually don't last that long. Third, if you are using the less sharp carbon steel Feather blades, especially SE blades like the Feather SE carbon steel, they can be stropped and refreshed on a sharpening stone and made to last a very long time. You can't do that with the super sharp SS blade.
I generally shave with an SR and I suppose I could maintain it as sharp as a fresh Feather blade, but it would require me to go to the sharpening stones probably every third or fourth shave. Moreover, my technique (and focus) would have to be perfect to avoid getting nicked. I can get to the same place with a duller blade, and a third pass, with no cuts, nicks or weepers, and I only need to refresh the edge about once every six month.
So, in my opinion, there is a balance and trade-off between sharpness on the one hand, and forgiveness & longevity on the other, among other things. So, the answer isn't quite so simple.
(This post was last modified: 09-12-2024, 10:21 PM by John Rose.)
I just happened to have received 50 Feather blades today, from vendor "SBT Supply" on Amazon.ca - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00AGG3MNU
They were CAD$22.95 (US$16.90 today) plus 15% sales tax, which seems to be a pretty good price. We have Amazon Prime, so the shipping was free.
Shipping from other sources (especially eBay) is usually what drives the cost up, often more than the listed price, unless you buy enough other stuff to get free shipping (as with Italian Barber, Fendrihan, Top of the Chain - my usual go-to suppliers for shaving stuff).
They were CAD$22.95 (US$16.90 today) plus 15% sales tax, which seems to be a pretty good price. We have Amazon Prime, so the shipping was free.
Shipping from other sources (especially eBay) is usually what drives the cost up, often more than the listed price, unless you buy enough other stuff to get free shipping (as with Italian Barber, Fendrihan, Top of the Chain - my usual go-to suppliers for shaving stuff).
We could be Heroes, just for one day.
- David Bowie -
(09-09-2024, 07:02 PM)jamessb Wrote: My local pharmacy has crap DE blades.Mine too, at both pharmacies.
They have Wilkinson Sword blades, at $3.99 (sometimes more!) per pack of 5, or (more recently) the King C. Gillette blades at $8.99 for a pack of 10.
I've not tried the KCG blades yet, but I really doubt that they are worth 90¢ apiece.
And I really dislike the WS blades in general, regardless of the price.
Piracy.
We could be Heroes, just for one day.
- David Bowie -
(09-13-2024, 09:27 PM)John Rose Wrote:(09-09-2024, 07:02 PM)jamessb Wrote: My local pharmacy has crap DE blades.Mine too, at both pharmacies.
They have Wilkinson Sword blades, at $3.99 (sometimes more!) per pack of 5, or (more recently) the King C. Gillette blades at $8.99 for a pack of 10.
I've not tried the KCG blades yet, but I really doubt that they are worth 90¢ apiece.
And I really dislike the WS blades in general, regardless of the price.
Piracy.
I remember many years ago seeing Personna blades at the supermarket near me. When i needed some DE blades in a pinch i went to the local cosmetics store. I don't remember what else they had, but they had the Wilkinson Sword blades. I picked them up because I knew the name. That was ages ago, don't remember price or experience with them. I agree the King C. Gillette are too pricey, but I grabbed them on sale at Amazon for $3.99/10. Basically .40¢ a blade. I have to say I really do like them and only bought back ups because I found them on sale again. They are sharp and very smooth and I have gotten great shaves even in my more efficient razors. Only caveat is they show Russian packaging but the ones I received were Chinese.
https://www.amazon.com/King-C-Gillette-S...112&sr=8-1
integritas pietas fortitudinem
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