I was in the same situation, after years of disposal razors, (not very Green of me), Realizing that the online places used cartridges, I bought a Gillette Fusion and got a month out of one cartridge .I then bought 16 cartridges off ebay for half price. I'll give these a try for a while. The Fusions are 4 blade and a trim blade, 5 blades.

 

I was in the same situation, after years of disposal razors, (not very Green of me), Realizing that the online places used cartridges, I bought a Gillette Fusion and got a month out of one cartridge .I then bought 16 cartridges off ebay for half price. I'll give these a try for a while. The Fusions are 4 blade and a trim blade, 5 blades.

Almost the same result here. I went through a year ago a bout with Harry's and Dorco (who goes up to 7 blades in their latest model). Dorco makes (or at least used to) many of the blades and handles for Dollar Shave Club. They are less expensive in bulk from Dorco. Harry's gave a very smooth shave, but the cartridges didn't last long. Dorco lasted long enough, but the shave quality wasn't good enough. Harry's just redesigned their cartridge, and I haven't tried the new one.In the end, Gillette Fusion Proglide (5 blade) was where I ended up. Cartridges last a while, and the shave (for me) is better than anything else I tried. Sure they're more expensive, but Amazon/eBay/Costco are out there to get to $2 or $3 per cartridge. For me, the better shave was worth it.

 

I was using a DE and when I had no facial hair, or a goatee, it was perfect. But now that I have a beard, it is only a little bit on the checks and now half the neck. I had some unused Gillette two bladed razors and they were pretty good. Got the $3 sampler from Harry's and this 5 blades from Harry's, third shave in, is doing very well. If I get 7 or 8 shaves great, if not, then I may go back to a three bladed razor (the Gillette was 2) and try those disposables. I can get the Harry refills at Target for $2 each

 

I've been using Harry's blades for the last couple of years and really like them. On average, I get 20-plus shaves from each cartridge. I did about the same with a trial pack of Gillette Fusion blades, but at a higher cost.

For years I was a die-hard double-edge razor user, but I'd only get three, maybe four shaves per blade, with a lot more nicks.

I'm happy with Harry's.

 

I like the weight and feel Harry's the razor. I think I have the Winston model.

I get a few more shaves out of one of their blades compared to the Gillette product I was using before.

 

I switched from disposables to an Edwin Jagger safety razor (double edge) about 5 years ago and never looked back. I buy a 100 blades for $10 and they last about 2 years. Rarely get a nick, but get a much smoother shave than I ever did with disposables.

 

I'll stick with my Merkur Futur double edged safety razor. It serves me well and almost painlessly, but oddly I do have to follow up with a bit of finish work, shaving that tightly spaced area between the upper lip and the base of my nose with a Mach III cartridge razor, as the Futur is too large to shave that area well.

 

I'll stick with my Merkur Futur double edged safety razor. It serves me well and almost painlessly, but oddly I do have to follow up with a bit of finish work, shaving that tightly spaced area between the upper lip and the base of my nose with a Mach III cartridge razor, as the Futur is too large to shave that area well.

I use the Merkur 180 (the long handle model) with Feather's frighteningly-sharp platinum-coated blades, and I figure I spend as much in a year (100ish blades?) as I could spend in two months with disposables. Quite a money saver, a better shave, and infinitely more stylish.

Not the reason I started with safety razors, though! When my daughter was born, it struck me that one of my childhood memories was my father's safety razor, which was always sitting in its stand on the sink (this was the old days, when houses had A Bathroom, not a multiplicity of powder rooms, master baths, and the like). He used to let me play with it when it was empty of a razor, and I'd lather up and "shave". Even now, when I visit him (he's a widower now), there it is, that same razor, half a century into keeping my dad's wiry bristles under control and still going strong.

So I looked at my soulless Mach V or whatever sitting there, looked at my daughter, and made the change... and indeed, now (at age four), she loves coming in the bathroom and watching me go through my shave routine, and comments that the razor is "Daddy's". Mission accomplished.

Plus, it just adds a little panache to life, one thing less disposable. Probably something for the Small Luxuries thread.

DH

 

Almost the same result here. I went through a year ago a bout with Harry's and Dorco (who goes up to 7 blades in their latest model). Dorco makes (or at least used to) many of the blades and handles for Dollar Shave Club. They are less expensive in bulk from Dorco. Harry's gave a very smooth shave, but the cartridges didn't last long. Dorco lasted long enough, but the shave quality wasn't good enough. Harry's just redesigned their cartridge, and I haven't tried the new one.In the end, Gillette Fusion Proglide (5 blade) was where I ended up. Cartridges last a while, and the shave (for me) is better than anything else I tried. Sure they're more expensive, but Amazon/eBay/Costco are out there to get to $2 or $3 per cartridge. For me, the better shave was worth it.

I use the Pro Glide myself. I notice they start to dull within a week - just a bit. Now, I sharpen the blades before and after each use. This means you can use a blade for a few months. My current blade is going on 3 months. I use the blade buddy - .

 

I use the Merkur 180 (the long handle model) with Feather's frighteningly-sharp platinum-coated blades, and I figure I spend as much in a year (100ish blades?) as I could spend in two months with disposables. Quite a money saver, a better shave, and infinitely more stylish.

Not the reason I started with safety razors, though! When my daughter was born, it struck me that one of my childhood memories was my father's safety razor, which was always sitting in its stand on the sink (this was the old days, when houses had A Bathroom, not a multiplicity of powder rooms, master baths, and the like). He used to let me play with it when it was empty of a razor, and I'd lather up and "shave". Even now, when I visit him (he's a widower now), there it is, that same razor, half a century into keeping my dad's wiry bristles under control and still going strong.

So I looked at my soulless Mach V or whatever sitting there, looked at my daughter, and made the change... and indeed, now (at age four), she loves coming in the bathroom and watching me go through my shave routine, and comments that the razor is "Daddy's". Mission accomplished.

Plus, it just adds a little panache to life, one thing less disposable. Probably something for the Small Luxuries thread.

DH

What wonderful memories...yours of your Father's morning shave routine and of the one you are creating for your daughter. Thank you for sharing those memories! :thumbs-up:

 

I went to a Merkur double-edged with the unbelievably sharp Feather blades about five years ago and would never go back to disposables or electric shavers.

A great online company here in Australia called Men's Biz offered (and still offers) a sampler pack with Astra, Derby, Feather, Merkur and Gilette blades so you can find a brand that suits your beard. I settled on Feather and buy them one every 2 years in packs of 200 (I don't shave every day).

So much cheaper than disposables and it's nice to know how to use a proper old-fashioned DE. Love how smooth a DE can get the face.

 

^^
A Merkur Futur safety razor is my primary go to shaving option, but because of the size of the head on the Futur I find myself having to do a little final trim work (where the nose and upper lip are blend together) with a disposable razor. Has this been your experience or are you able to tackle those tightly sized areas with your Merkur? :icon_scratch:

 

^^
A Merkur Futur safety razor is my primary go to shaving option, but because of the size of the head on the Futur I find myself having to do a little final trim work (where the nose and upper lip are blend together) with a disposable razor. Has this been your experience or are you able to tackle those tightly sized areas with your Merkur? :icon_scratch:

Whilst you cannot see it so very well on this shot of my own Merkur, still, as a fellow owner, you will be aware that one side of the head has a protrusion (to the left in this photo) and the other does not. Always use the corners of the side without the protrusion to reach those difficult philtrum and nasolabial sulcus areas.

 

^^
Honestly, all the years I have owned and been shaving with the Futur, I am embarrassed to admit I have never noticed the protrusion to which you refer. However, holding my razor in my hand, there it is! I will certainly give the shaving technique to which you refer a try tomorrow morning and possibly be able to rid myself of the disposable. Thanks for a great suggestion. :thumbs-up:

 

My pleasure Eagle, let me know how it turns out for you.

One other aspect of the Merkur Futur which seems to elude many owners is the appropriate use of the depth of blade setting. In normal daily use the depth should be set to the absolute minimum, setting it any higher will not shave any closer but will run the risk of nick and cuts. The higher settings are intended to assist in the removal of heavier stubble, from several days growth up to full beards.

 

Curious, what blades are you double edge guys using, other than Feather?? thank you

 

I have tried them all this past 35 years but use Derby's exclusively nowadays. The quality is consistent and commendable but, what's more, when bought a hundred at a time the cost is so negligible per shave that they might as well be free.

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I have tried them all this past 35 years but use Derby's exclusively nowadays. The quality is consistent and commendable but, what's more, when bought a hundred at a time the cost is so negligible per shave that they might as well be free.
.

+1 for this, Derby's also very good.

 

I tried a couple variety packs of blades initially, but got the most consistent, comfortable shaves from Merkur blades . These days the Merkur blades are the only ones I use.