RayClem's Blade Evaluations

Treet Dura Sharps in a New SC is an amazing retro shave. Other sharp blades I have tried in the New SC were too irritating, but the Dura Sharp for some reason works a lot better for me.

Is it due to the coated Carbon Steel? Are the blades a bit thicker? They do seem less springy if you flex them on the length axis. I don’t know, but I had retired the New SC to a honored position, now it will make it back to the shaver rotation.

Treet Dura Sharps in a New SC is an amazing retro shave. Other sharp blades I have tried in the New SC were too irritating, but the Dura Sharp for some reason works a lot better for me.

Is it due to the coated Carbon Steel? Are the blades a bit thicker?  They do seem less springy if you flex them on the length axis. I don’t know, but I had retired the New SC to a honored position, now it will make it back to the shaver rotation.

I do not have a Gillette New Short Comb, but I have heard some good things about them. Pairing a razor from the 1930s with a carbon steel blade is certainly appropriate. 
 
I never had much respect for Treet blades until I started testing them. I also questioned whether carbon steel blades could possibly be any good. There is nothing like data to destroy preconceived notions. 

Most of my straight razors are carbon steel, although i do have a few in stainless or semi-stainless. The carbon steel blades take a wonderful edge, so I really should not have been surprised that some of the Treet carbon steel blades were quite good. The carbon steel blades might be slightly thicker than stainless. Since stainless is more expensive than carbon steel, there is less cost pressure to reduce the amount of steel in the blade.

The DuraSharp certainly lives up to its name. I have not tested enough of them to determine how long they will last, but at 8 cents per blade, even if you get no more than 2 shaves, they are affordable. I did not find the DuraSharp blades to be quite as smooth as BIC CP blades, but they were smooth enough to get the job done. 

I have not used a DuraSharp since I evaluated them. Perhaps it is time to rectify that oversight.

At the time of his review, RayClem reported that big chrome platinum blades were $.18 when purchased by the hundred. It would seem that razor blade club currently has the cheapest price on them for 100 at $14.95. And they ship orders of 100 blades are more free. I just thought I'd post this for those who might be interested. A modest savings, but savings nonetheless.

https://www.razorbladesclub.com/razorblades/

Are Astors in any way different than Chrome Platinums? I’ve been told they’re the same, just different names for different markets.

Are Astors in any way different than Chrome Platinums? I’ve been told they’re the same, just different names for different markets.

From what I have seen, it is also my understanding they're supposed to be the same. I know RayClem commented on this if I'm not mistaken. I do not remember what his thoughts were on it. But he did rate both blades, and they rated very differently. All the actual Bic CP's were a 5 for both sharpness and smoothness, the Astor blades were rated at a 4 for sharpness and 3 for smoothness. In some places, they are the same in price and others they are slightly different with the Astor blades being cheaper by around $2-$3 per 100. Now, as for the coatings, the Bic blades are called chrome platinum. I'm assuming that's the coating they use. The Astor blades they are listed as chromium polymer. So I'm not sure if the coatings may be different.

Are Astors in any way different than Chrome Platinums? I’ve been told they’re the same, just different names for different markets.

I have heard that the Astor platinum and BIC platinum blades are the same, but i have not used Astor platinum, only the Astor stainless. They are NOT nearly as sharp or as smooth as BIC CP blades, so do not be fooled into thinking they are. I have never seen BIC Stainless.

Shaving While Traveling

The past few days, I have been in Kansas City visiting with relatives from Colorado and Oklahoma. It is about 500 miles from Chicago, so we drove. That allowed me to carry my Parker semi-slant razor, some DE blades, a synthetic shaving brush, and a partial tub of Grooming Dept Laundry soap. I did not bring a shaving bowl, but saved a plastic dish from a two-scoop sundae purchased at Culver's along the route. The dish has some ridges near the bottom that help with lather building.

Normally, I shave every two days and do a four-pass shave: WTG, XTG, ATG and clean-up with buffing strokes to achieve a near-BBS shave. During the trip, I have shaved daily. To avoid skin irritation, I have only done a two-pass shave: WTG and then a clean-up pass with combined XTG and ATG strokes with buffing. I only achieved a DFS, but that is fine for daily shaving.

My brother in law has a slow-growing beard and shaves with a cartridge razor. My son-in-law has a slow growing beard and shaves with an electric shaver. Neither are interested in traditional wet shaving. I hoping my granddaughter will one day marry someone whom I can interest in wet shaving to inherit my collection of shaving paraphernalia.

Shaving While Traveling

The past few days, I have been in Kansas City visiting with relatives from Colorado and Oklahoma. It is about 500 miles from Chicago, so we drove. That allowed me to carry my Parker semi-slant razor, some DE blades, a synthetic shaving brush, and a partial tub of Grooming Dept Laundry soap. I did not bring a shaving bowl, but saved a plastic dish from a two-scoop sundae purchased at Culver's along the route. The dish has some ridges near the bottom that help with lather building.

Normally, I shave every two days and do a four-pass shave: WTG, XTG, ATG and clean-up with buffing strokes to achieve a near-BBS shave. During the trip, I have shaved daily. To avoid skin irritation, I have only done a two-pass shave: WTG and then a clean-up pass with combined XTG and ATG strokes with buffing. I only achieved a DFS, but that is fine for daily shaving.

My brother in law has a slow-growing beard and shaves with a cartridge razor. My son-in-law has a slow growing beard and shaves with an electric shaver. Neither are interested in traditional wet shaving. I hoping my granddaughter will one day marry someone whom I can interest in wet shaving to inherit my collection of shaving paraphernalia.

You can always send them to me!

After having my Soloedge for about two months and experimenting with factory single blades, I finally cut a BIC CP to use in the razor. I was rewarded with a fabulous shave. Again, I don't know why I mess with all these other blades, it is just wasted effort.

Le Bic ftw!

Shaving While Traveling

The past few days, I have been in Kansas City visiting with relatives from Colorado and Oklahoma. It is about 500 miles from Chicago, so we drove. That allowed me to carry my Parker semi-slant razor, some DE blades, a synthetic shaving brush, and a partial tub of Grooming Dept Laundry soap. I did not bring a shaving bowl, but saved a plastic dish from a two-scoop sundae purchased at Culver's along the route. The dish has some ridges near the bottom that help with lather building.

Normally, I shave every two days and do a four-pass shave: WTG, XTG, ATG and clean-up with buffing strokes to achieve a near-BBS shave. During the trip, I have shaved daily. To avoid skin irritation, I have only done a two-pass shave: WTG and then a clean-up pass with combined XTG and ATG strokes with buffing. I only achieved a DFS, but that is fine for daily shaving.

My brother in law has a slow-growing beard and shaves with a cartridge razor. My son-in-law has a slow growing beard and shaves with an electric shaver. Neither are interested in traditional wet shaving. I hoping my granddaughter will one day marry someone whom I can interest in wet shaving to inherit my collection of shaving paraphernalia.

Ray, I have 3 sons - no interest in my gear. Too bad, i feel ya

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Shaving While Traveling

The past few days, I have been in Kansas City visiting with relatives from Colorado and Oklahoma. It is about 500 miles from Chicago, so we drove. That allowed me to carry my Parker semi-slant razor, some DE blades, a synthetic shaving brush, and a partial tub of Grooming Dept Laundry soap. I did not bring a shaving bowl, but saved a plastic dish from a two-scoop sundae purchased at Culver's along the route. The dish has some ridges near the bottom that help with lather building.

Normally, I shave every two days and do a four-pass shave: WTG, XTG, ATG and clean-up with buffing strokes to achieve a near-BBS shave. During the trip, I have shaved daily. To avoid skin irritation, I have only done a two-pass shave: WTG and then a clean-up pass with combined XTG and ATG strokes with buffing. I only achieved a DFS, but that is fine for daily shaving.

My brother in law has a slow-growing beard and shaves with a cartridge razor. My son-in-law has a slow growing beard and shaves with an electric shaver. Neither are interested in traditional wet shaving. I hoping my granddaughter will one day marry someone whom I can interest in wet shaving to inherit my collection of shaving paraphernalia.

Ray, I have 3 sons - no interest in my gear.  Too bad, i feel ya

Sent from my SM-A536U using Tapatalk

TC, there's always your illegitimate son (Bluegrass)