• 1 Post
  • 16 Comments
Joined 6 months ago
cake
Cake day: October 28th, 2025

help-circle

  • Oooooh no. No. And no.

    That Merkur 34C almost turned me off entirely to DE wetshaving, full stop. It’s just a bad razor (I got it while budgeting tighter than nowadays). I can’t badmouth the Mühle 41. I’m slightly bemused about your feelings on the Merkur 34C… you may compel me to root around in my attic to see if I still have it or PIF’d (Pay It Forward) to someone just getting into wetshaving. With my 20+ years of technique finally finessed, and with an okay shave den by now, I might (if I find the cursed thing) give the Merkur 34C another try.

    Were I to start all over again at 18yr old, my pick would’ve been a vintage Gillette Red Flare Tip Super Speed ('55-'60), or a Mühle R41. And don’t get me started on Parker razors, either.

    @PorkButtsNTaters666, what blades do you use in your Merkur 34C?


  • Well, I’ve had only 2 open combs to date, but have had 9 closed combs over the years. Mostly vintage Gillettes.

    It’s important that when you’re doing A-B comparisons, that you stick with a blade you’ve had great success with, so you can track how well that razor works for you. When I started my journey, I was all about the Derby blades. Having honed my technique, now I’m a Feather guy. It took 20+ years to find my matches, technique can never be stressed enough.

    The best advice I can give: go slow and steady (you want to maintain a 30° blade angle to your skin), be sure to use a good quality shave soap or cream (Proraso and Tabac are great for me), don’t use Barbisol or aerosol cans, and remember to have fun and enjoy the experience! I love my shave routine, it’s Zen for me.

    There’s a great site that still holds strong to this day for all things wetshaving: BadgerAndBlade.com


  • Had a Merkur 34C as my first closed comb DE razor. I hated it. Tried various blades (Persona blue/red, Feather, Shark, generics from the NEX or Navy EXchange store on base, Gillette Silver Blue) and I could never get a BBS from it. I hated that closed comb razor.

    Still, after 20+ years in DE wetshaving, I didn’t learn my lesson and decided to shell out +/- €100 for a Pearl Flexi (Indian company) closed comb DE razor. I hate it, too, for the same reasons.

    Can you see I’m steering you away from closed combs? There was one exception over my 20+ years: my 1955-1960 Gillette Red Tip Super Speed. I loved it so much, I paid a company (Back Roads Gold in the US) to clean, repair, and replate it. Lost it moving overseas. I loved her so.









  • LOLseas@lemmy.ziptoWholesome@reddthat.comYay
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    3 months ago

    Oh my Gucci- this post made me immediately think of this oldie but goodie. I can’t find the original via NewPipe nor Invidious, but the YT link is here: Cat attacks sitter changing litter

    Wished I knew how to generate a NewPipe or Invidious link, knowing the video URL is v=Oipw_d_eKA8 but I just can’t figure it out.

    Sorry for a YT link, but it is so worth the watch!

    Edit: oh my Gucci- this might be the original after all, posted 2002!