Posted on 06/03/2023 7:04:04 AM PDT by ConservativeInPA
A few weekends ago I posted a vanity asking for recommendations about shaving alternatives to typical disposable razors, such as from Gillette or Bic.
Thank you for all your recommendations.
Today, I’d like to share the results of my new shaving experience. This comes after two and a half weeks and two double edge razor blades of experience.
I wanted a good close shave, using an inexpensive, non-woke American made product. I am pleased to say, I am now fully suffering from toxic masculinity. Gillette, you can shove your razors where the sun doesn’t shine. Hopefully those blades will be jagged and rusty. (Ouch)
I now wet shave using a safety razor from Western Razor Co.. The safety razor has a one-time cost of $60. It’s an investment in a quality hunk of steel. It most certainly will last a lifetime and I will pass it down to my grandson so he can suffer from toxic masculinity too.
The safety razor came with five double edged razor blades. Western Razor Co. does not manufacture the razor blades. They resell double edged razor blades from Razor Blade Co. The double edge razor blades are branded as “Personna” and are made in Verona, VA USA.
I haven’t bought or researched where I can purchase the double edge razor blades, although they are available on Amazon for $16.49 in a quantity of 100, so they cost about 16 cents per blade. That is far less than a typical Gillette disposable blade or any of their competitors.
The safety razor is a heavy hunk of metal compared to the cheap plastic used by any of the manufacturers of disposable razors. It feels different because of its weight, but after two weeks it is barely noticeable. Wet shaving is something to get used to, but certainly nothing difficult.
I’ve been through two double edged razor blades. The first blade I used for a week and a half, approximately 9 shaves. I skipped a day or two. The last shave with that blade there was noticeable drag while shaving through my whiskers and I nicked myself three times. A sharp blade did not nick me. I will be replacing the second blade this morning. I used it for a week, in which I skipped one day, so a total of 6 shaves. That makes the cost per shave 2.7 cents.
I am getting the closest shaves that I have ever had. The process of wet shaving takes slightly longer than using foamy shaving cream and disposable blades, but is much more enjoyable. I truly find it relaxing as if I am pampering myself. I have even brought of retirement a heavy terry cloth bath robe to wear while I am shaving. I allow it to warm from the steam created by the shower.
It is well worth the little extra time to shave since I can plan my day in my head and contemplate what and how I will be doing things.
I have not successfully sourced an American made shaving soap/cream. I am currently using Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream. It’s made in the UK and I haven’t detected any wokeness on my face. It is a fine product. I will have to replace it in a year as it does not require a significant quantity to get enough lather to shave. If I can find a suitably priced American made product I will try it.
I realized that I have been susceptible to marketing. All my life I have been using disposable razor blades, beginning with two blades and more recently five blades. I had two major misconceptions. First, two or more blades is better than one, which you get with a double edged blade (one blade per side). Second, the disposable razors are somehow safer than a safety razor. I’ve cut and nicked myself with disposables countless times. I am fairly certain that I will have less of that using double edged blades if I replace then after a week’s use. There’s no need to stretch the use of a double edged blade due to price. That was the cause of any shaving accidents that I had in the past.
Final conclusion: sometimes old stuff works better. Don’t be fooled by marketing.
Store them in 90% isopropyl alcohol- no humidity in a covered sealed container. Isopropyl or better (though rather would drink pure grain ethanol alcohol) ethyl alcohol that has virtually no water.
Ethyl and other alcohols will remove water into themselves forming what is called an azeotrope. The metal then has zero to nil water in contact and reduces corrosion to near zero, from plain water. Salt water(ocean environments) are a different matter, electrolysis destroys even so called stainless steel if allowed continuous contact. Boat motor blades are protected by a “sacrificial” aluminum plate that attracts the ions to it instead of the rotor blade, and eventually degrade and have to be replaced. An age old battle.
There is this comprehensive history at wiki- pretty interesting, the Patents alone.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Safety_Razor_Company
Fwiw- one does not have to buy a razor blade shaver— they are at flea markets and many got their grandad’s dad’s shaver that will still fit a quality steel single blade. Have one that unscrews and is stored in a small leather case, handle and top.
The $90 bucks for 5 blades from somewhere, and a shaver is really high priced.
Is Gillette expensive enough? DINC, narcissistic and not expected to live past retirement usually add up to too much conspicuous consumption to use cheap razors. Then again, Gillette probably makes those 8-blade, $15-a-shave razors.
The Left are his type of people.
When I started to notice that some men looking at my ass in a funny way, I attributed it to using Gillette products. It must have been slowly turning me into a faggot. I needed to change that and quickly. /s.
More seriously, the initial thread I posted about shaving was partly due to Gillette going woke. The other major reason was I want to save money. My goals: American made, non-woke, high quality and hopefully inexpensive. That effort began when I knew I had to purchase razors within a week. Every time I buy razors I get ticked off by the price. It was a perfect time to make a change. As for me writing about shaving I was only trying to make it entertaining for fellow Freepers. As for some complete assholes that can’t appreciate and have the common decency to shut their pie holes if they didn’t have nice to say, they can eat chit, die and burn in hell. ( That’s toxic masculinity 😂) Only partly kidding.
My quest for non-woke, American made, high quality and inexpensive is not ending. If you don’t want to read about it, just close your eyes. Next on my research and purchase list are chamois shirts. I have several LL Bean chamois shirts that are looking shabby. They are 35 years old and have served me well. They are a high quality, American made product, manufactured before woke and political correctness, but showing a lot of wear. I went to Bean’s website the other day and it turned my stomach with all the multiculturalism and diversity thrown in my face. I went as far as looking at their chamois shirts, which are now made in Portugal. There were a number of negative comments about quality, fit and color.
Hopefully, I’ll find a replacement elsewhere but it is increasingly getting difficult with clothing. I believe they call it ‘fast clothing’ or ‘fast fashion’. That’s a crap product that quickly falls apart. The prices aren’t even inexpensive. Most of that crap is made in China. I don’t want to support the CCP or woke businesses that sell products that do not last.
I have always worn conservative, non-trendy clothing. I try to buy high quality products, even if they are more expensive because they are less expensive on a per wear basis. For instance, I have a pair of black leather, Goodyear welt Oxford business shoes that are 40 years old. I think they cost something like $200 when I purchased them. That was a lot of cash for me back then. They are still in excellent shape and have been re-soled every couple of years. Most of the cheap crap today you can’t re-sole. They are disposable. You end up paying more in the long run - just like buying Gillette products.
I don’t like getting ripped off and I am embarrassed that for all these years I fell for Gillette marketing. The best shave a man can get is complete bull chit. Maybe they need to change that to The best shave a faggot can get.
I will go back to Jeremy's if I ever decide to start shaving again.
So I'll worry about "woke" in about 10 years when I need to resupply.
PITY ALL,
THE MIGHTY CAESARS,
THEY PULLED,
EACH WHISKER OUT,
WITH TWEEZERS,
BURMA-SHAVE.
(circa 1930s)
😁😉👌
Here is the actual name/owner of the Verona, VA industrial maker of blades you referred to. As of 2015— this acquisition of the American Safety Razor Co. a very old company in US history. Devolved to industrial blade production. You can get blades direct from them as you stated.
Here is the actual name/owner of the Verona, VA industrial maker of blades you referred to. As of 2015— this acquisition of the American Safety Razor Co. a very old company in US history. Devolved to industrial blade production. You can get blades direct from them as you stated.
Oops, double post reply. Remove if you would, thanks.
Thanks. That’s good background. Their double edge blades work for me.
“Dim your lights,
Behind each car,
Show the folks,
How bright you are!
Burma Shave!
1940’s iirc.
Grew up with these razors.
Make sure you have tons of tissue paper near by!🥴
I'll just let my beard grow like a real man.
I have renovated enough houses to find several piles of those razors between the studs.
Yes, you made me very thankful I have worn a beard most of my adult life.
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