What tool do you use?

[NCWayne]

I guess you can call a razor a tool.... So, I"m just curious as to what kind of razors ya"ll use?

I imagine that many of us grew up and either started shaving with, or began early on to shave with, one of the single edge/double sided safety razors. From there we aged, and as time and technology moved on, we moved on to the multiple blade razors, or maybe even an electric razor on occasion.

Personally I did all the above, but tonight I took a step backwards in time, and I loved it. A few weeks ago I was watching TV one night and saw an add where they had one of the guys from Pawn Stars hawking a new version of the old razors. That got me to thinking. Several years ago I was cleaning out an old house and ran across one of the old double edge safety razors and several unopened packs of blades, and I knew I had it all lying in a box somewhere. With the kind I'm talking about you turn a knob on the end of the handle and the end opens up like a clam shell to accept a double sided razor blade.

Anyway, I got the old thing dug up earlier this evening and actually stuck it in the dishwasher to give it a preliminary sanitizing before dousing it in alcohol...(didn't know the last guy to use it, or when). I then proceeded to install a new blade, lather up, and shave off about two months worth of growth.

I shave infrequently (meaning when it begins to bug me) mainly because I hate to shave, and in my line of work a wooly coat doesn't matter to most folks...heck, many of my customers are woolier than I am....LOL Not to mention I don't mind letting it grow for awhile because my wife says she likes my "rugged" look, and you know I've got to keep her happy too....LOL

Anyway, I LOVED the old razor. Use to be trying to shave off anything over two or three days growth with my current, three edge razors has always been a PITA, even with a brand new blade. Give it a month or more and just keeping the blades unclogged takes longer than the actual shaving.

It's been so long since I used one I had forgotten how great they were. The thing I love is it actually gives you two edges to use before you need to rinse it off. Then, to make things even better, a simple twist of the handle opens it up enough to get all the long hairs rinsed out, and with another twist the other way your ready to shave again. The end result, to me, seemed just as close as any of the others I have ever used. In reality though I am hoping it wasn't quite as close because the multi-blade razors always seemed to cut the hairs below the surface and cause ingrown hairs for a week or more after using them. Hopefully with this single cut it will eliminate all of that and I might actually be able to enjoy shaving again.......

Regardless of what happens I've have officially discovered other simple item that did a really great job when it was invented, and will still be doing a good job for years to come.......for a lot longer and ALOT less money than the multi-blade refills......Just goes to show once again that regardless of how complicated the engineers of this world try to make something, often the original is nearly impossible, if not completely impossible to beat...........

 

[woodbutcher]

Wayne,
I had pretty much the same experience as you did. Growing up, I started with the double sided safety razor. It's what my dad used, but both granddads used straight razors. I liked the double edged blades, but it seems like, when they came out with a new blade with a catchy name, the quality of the one that used to be the best was dropped down a notch. I think they do the same thing with these new disposables.
Butch

 

[NEKS]

Been using the old double edge razor for the last 15 years. It seems like the electric razors would only cut the black ones off and leave the white ones(silver). After buying a few heads for the electric razor and the price I had to pay decided it was cheaper to juat go back to the blade. Have to go to Dollar General to find blades. This razor has followed me around since my army days. Always keep plenty blades on hand, never know when the government might deem them unsafe.

 

[JOB]

I started shaving with the Gillette safety razor many years ago. When aboard ship back in 65 the ships store had Wilkinson double edge blades, a package of 5 for .40 cents. I bought so many that I am still using the blades that I bought from the ships store yet today. I did buy a couple packs of new Wilkinson blades from Target a few years back. Those new blades seemed a little sharper unless the old blades lost some sharpness from sitting on my shelf for 45 plus years. I was told that the Gillette razor would wear out so I bought a another new one back in 65 or so. I still have that new old one sitting on the shelf. I am still using the Gillette that I started shaving with.

I did not fall for the latest greatest razor through out the years. If it is not broke don't fix it.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

Wife goes at it about once a week with clippers and scissors and gives me a trim. Not much has to get taken off the top of my head anymore. Haven't shaved in years.

 

[Anonymous-0]

use 2, cause sometimes I only shave twice a week. First I use an old hog scraper type double edge, then finish up with a 3 bladed gillette. I use mug shavin soap, a bar lasts about a year, and only costs a dollar or so!

 

[Bret4207]

I bought a brand new Parker double edged razor a couple years back. Why? I can buy 100 really, really good and sharp Japanese Feather blades for $15.00. They shave closer than anything else there is and they last 7-10 shavings. I had been buying double or triple edged razors and the cost got up to something like $12.00 for 6 inserts. They would last 1-2 shavings. They would pack with hair and skin and soap and be useless. They are just too expensive for me.

 

[circus]

Only reason for multiple blades is profit. Shaving with a $.10 single is the same as $1.50 multiblade. Trick is giving the shaving cream time to soften the hair. A minute or so.

 

[GordoSD]

Gillette safety adjustable from college days (1960) and Wilkinson blades from Ebay. Brush and mug for soap.

 

[Harold Hubbard]

Last time I shaved was in 1970. I would like to know how much time and money I have saved over the last 40+ years by not doing it.

 

[pete black]

before retirement I shaved every night including weekends. still shave every day but now in the mornings. good quality disposable razors is what I use.

 

[Fred Werring]

That"s funny, saw the same ad, got me to thinking.

Started shaving with the double edge safety razor, then fell for the hype about more edges being better blah blah blah.

Ordered a safety razor online...paid $2 for it including shipping (guess where it came from).

Doesn"t have a butterfly opening to put the blades in, you unscrew the top from the handle to insert the blade...really basic.

Handle was too short, had a piece of 5/8" nylon round stock, tapped a 10-32 hole in the end.

Works great, cleans easy.

No more high dollar double edge refills for me.

Fred

 

[Anonymous-0]

When I entered the Army in 1968, Uncle Sam issued me a Schick injector razor with a single edge. I still use only this and it still does an excellent job. I can order the blades through Walgreens and a blade lasts for a month or more.. I couldn't be happier with the trim it gives.

 

[JRSutton]

Intersesting - I've got to (re)try one of those old razors.

I've got the same problem you do. I work form home, so I can't be bothered to shave every day. I go days, sometimes weeks without shaving.

Then something will come up where I suddenly have to spruce myself up for a meeting or whatever, most razors just don't work well in that situation.

I refuse to buy one on TV though - I'll have to look around to see if I can find an old one around the house first.

 

[Stan in Oly, WA]

There's no question about having saved a lot of time. How much money you've saved is a different matter. Compared to the typical American consumer who shaves, you've probably saved $2,000 to $3,000 ($1 per week for 40 years = $2,080). Compared to the careful spenders on this forum, though, not that much. Even those who didn't stock up on some bargain item 50 years ago, so that shaving costs them only pennies a week, have figured out some good way to get a lot of shaves for not much money. Compared to them, you've probably saved a couple of hundred dollars at best.

Now, giving up cigarettes---That's a different story.

Stan

 

[El Toro]

My late FIL used a straight razor. Hal

 

[RayP(MI)]

I got a Shick Injector razor when I was in college. Still have it, as well as a a second. Prefer it over anything else I have used. Blades are few and far between, and if I happen to find a stock, I buy a bunch. I have quite a stock, but don"t think they"re being made anymore...

But I still remember the razor my dad had - a double edged gilette. Then he had the companion sharpener. Was a device about the size of a potato, with a crank on the side. Stick the blade in the slot in the side, turn the crank a few turns, and you had a smooth almost new blade. Inside were two leather covered rollers that polished the blade. He could stretch a blade for weeks.

Seriously, I have a beard for about 5 or 5 months, and don"t do that much shaving. When I"m doing it daily, I use a Norelco.

 

[504]

A five pack of most any disposables will last me a year easy. I have to shave five days a week(must be able to wear a full safety air mask) a blade will go six months if it is rinsed and dried a little.

 

[bison]

I still use the old double edged stick razor, works the best for me.
Blades are harder to get though.
I shave only once or twice a week.
I tried the electr razors but they just jam solid on the barb wire i grow and the disposables clog up and loose their edge with one use.

 

[Goose]

Norelco triple head cordless electric.

I shave every morning, weekends and all. Don't know why, but it bugs the hell out of me to have any noticeable growth.

Started to grow a mustache once when I was in the Marine Corps. Everyone started calling me "Weasel", so I shaved it off and haven't tried again since.

 

[Greg1959]

I have remodeled many homes and it always amazes me when I strip out a bathroom. When I tear out the wall (usually lathe & plaster) behind the bathroom sink and between the studs where the sink mirror cabinet is installed, I find the cavity piled high with double edged razors.

There was a small slot cut into the back of these cabinets that let the person shaving dispose of their dull blades. The blades just fell down between the studs. I have found many blades that were still sharp and shiny!

 

[D beatty]

When I got old enough to shave my dad bought me a Remington electric razor ( crude electric razor pulled like hell). I then went to safety razors for many years and then went back to electric razors and found that the Norelco triple head gave the best shave for an electric razor and held up good.

 

[C W Hinton]

I've used everything from a straight razor to what
I'm using now - a Panasonic ES8249 Wet/Dry shaver.
It's fairly expensive $150.00+, but it shaves me as
good as any blade razor, including straight.

B.T.W. I'm 71 years old.

 

[Mike (WA)]

For those who shave every day, its hard to beat a Norelco triple head rechargeable- I had Remingtons for awhile, but Norelco is much better- takes less than a minute, nice close shave.

If you have a beard but need to shave up next to it, might want to stay away from rotary head shaver- it pulls in from the side- Nephew had one, called it the "rip and tear" method, got rid of it.

 

[moresmoke]

Haven't shaved since I could grow a respectable beard. Wayne, you just need to watch out for the female customers that are woolier than you are!

 

[GVSII]

(quoted from post at 06:39:28 01/12/14) I bought a brand new Parker double edged razor a couple years back. Why? I can buy 100 really, really good and sharp Japanese Feather blades for $15.00. They shave closer than anything else there is and they last 7-10 shavings. I had been buying double or triple edged razors and the cost got up to something like $12.00 for 6 inserts. They would last 1-2 shavings. They would pack with hair and skin and soap and be useless. They are just too expensive for me.

Bret , Is that parker better than the Gillett double edge or are they both pretty much the same?I've been useing the Gillett since I was 15 years old.

 

[T in NE]

I think the only time since high school a razor has touched my face is for a wedding I went to in 2012. Normally I just use a trimmer and leave some stubble so I don't get the ingrown hairs. I might try a straight razor sometime just to try it. My aunt was always sending the cards in from the magazines for 3-4-6-11 blade razors for me trying to get me to shave. Never worked. The Schick Tracer was the one I liked most out of all the ones she got me, only one I didn't really not like, but I lost the handle and they don't make them anymore.

 

[Ian Beale]

If your Norelco (AKA Phillips) rotary seems to not be shaving so well try soaking the heads in methylated spirits (cleaning alcohol).

I use a cheap mains powered one, usually on 4 or 5 days growth, and it doesn't pull like a previous version I had. The heads are labeled "Lift and Cut".

 

[Jeff B.]

I'm using a "schick stick" injector razor that I got for free in the mail when I was about 18. I'm 58 now, and I still love it. I have to buy blades online, but as long as I can find some I will never change. I usually use one blade 3 or 4 times before I switch, but I only shave twice a week or so.

 

[Bret4207]

(quoted from post at 15:37:23 01/12/14)

(quoted from post at 06:39:28 01/12/14) I bought a brand new Parker double edged razor a couple years back. Why? I can buy 100 really, really good and sharp Japanese Feather blades for $15.00. They shave closer than anything else there is and they last 7-10 shavings. I had been buying double or triple edged razors and the cost got up to something like $12.00 for 6 inserts. They would last 1-2 shavings. They would pack with hair and skin and soap and be useless. They are just too expensive for me.

Bret , Is that parker better than the Gillett double edge or are they both pretty much the same?I've been useing the Gillett since I was 15 years old.

I bought the Parker after reading reviews on a blade shaving website. Yes, there are websites and forums devoted to SHAVING! Anyway, I never used a double edge till now, started out with some multibladed deal in the late 70's, so I don't know about the diff between Gillette and Parker. I was going to buy a Gillette off Ebay, but I wasn't going to pay for a scuzzy looking one when I could get a new one of known quality for less. Clean looking Gillettes were going for over $25.00 plus shipping at that time. My Parker with 5 Feather blades cost $18.00 and free shipping IIRC. THe big difference was the Feather blades. I went through them and then tried Wilkinsons from Walmart and no names from Kinneys. The Feathers are 10x the blades! No pull, no burn, smooth. I hate shaving so if I have to do it I want it to be pleasant and cheap. A good razor, hot water and good badger brush (which I've had for 25 years at least) and I'm as happy as I can get about it.

FWIW- I don't know how anyone can use an electric. I've tried Norelcos, Remington, Braun and couple others. Maybe those with a light beard can do it, not me. 2 weeks with a Remington and I'd give up the nations nuclear secrets before trying it again! TORTURE!

 

[Doug in IL]

I'm 63 years old. I have never used any kind of razor other than the type you are talking about. I have tried others, but always went back to the old safety razor within a few days.

 

[JML755]

I shave every day, sometimes twice if we're going out at nite on a weekend.

Actually, today is unusual, I shaved on Sunday morning, caught a cold over the weekend, am working from home today, so I didn't shower OR shave this AM. First time in a loooong time I haven't shaved in the AM.

As for razor, I use a double blade. Get lots of shaves out of 1 blade. At least a week or 2. The trick is to take a hot shower, use shaving cream and shave right after and even an older blade does a decent job. Trying to shave with a dry beard with cream and a week old blade and it's pretty painful.

 

[RESLLS]

Went back to Gillette safety razor after about 20 yrs. Easier to travel with than electric. Different hotel 5 nights a week. Use Neutrogena sensitive skin shave cream in a tube.

 

[Dr. Walt]

First started shaving with a straight razor (learned from my Dad), actually I used Two - a thick, hollow ground blade for the heavy growth and a thin, hollow ground blade for the finish & trim work. Used a lather cup & fine Horsehair brush to lather up with first. Leather strop to keep the blades sharp.

In my mid-twenties I bought a good, used 3 piece Star Double-Edged Safety Razor in a small, sliding top Bakelite travel case; and I have been using that ever since - EXCEPT, every once in a great while I will revert back to the straight razors just for the heck of it.


Doc

 

[GordoSD]

Is that the razor with the gear shift knob and 4 spd pattern in it?
I have mine from back in the 60'2 but haven't found the injector pack blades for it.
ebay? amazon?

 

[howdy1960]

Shave??? My face has seen sun about 3 times in last 25 yrs. Stopped shaving when couldn't afford razors while paying child support in the mid 80s.

 

[PaGlenn]

One of my favorites was the 'Stick Shick' with the round knob with the four speed shift pattern embossed on it. I think I still have a few laying around.

 

[farmerjohn]

I have come across a couple of those cabinets in my 20 years of remodeling homes.