Anyone Use Old School Single/Double Edged Safety Razors?

I have two fatboy razors from the early 60’s but I also have two sons, so not selling anything. They were my grandfather’s. We cut down an old black walnut tree on the farm that was dying and my buddy turned a couple badger brushes out of part of it. So when my boys are old enough, they are getting their great grandfather’s razors and badger brushes made from walnut grown on his farm.
 
i haven't really "shaved" my face more than once or twice in probably 15 years.
At some point I bought a safety razor and used some old feather blades we used in the lab (good enough for cutting slices of rat brain for experiments and histology) to trim up my cheeks and neck. but honestly for the little shaving i do, a cheap bic disposable razor does well enough.
and the places i do shave routinely... i'd rather not have it be feather sharp to slice off bits before you notice.
 
Les White said:
You know why we have disposable razors now? The double edged safety razor was one of the best shaving systems ever created. The problem is nobody held the patent for the razor blades. Anybody could produce and sell them. The double edged safety razor itself was generally so well made that it lasted a lifetime which meant a company could only hope to sell one per man. So they introduced the disposable razor to create buyer comeback. That's why in the disposable razor heads aren't interchangeable so you can't use a competitors blades. The Gillette mach 3 was considered the best for a great while but price increases made them hugely unappealing to most people. If I have to go get a store lackey to unlock a case to buy a product, I'm not buying that product there. In the double edge safety razor world you can shave for an entire year and not approach the cost of a single Gillette mach three refill. The cost of a double edge safety razor, blades, a bowl, a brush, and a stand can be recouped in about two years over disposable razors. And I don't think there is any disputing that it's a better shave overall.
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They just burn my face up using multiple blades. It works best for me to shave multiple times with a single blade. I shave with the grain, then across, then against. And no burn when I lather between shaves. Way closer shave than a multi blade for me.
 
chiefjason said:
They just burn my face up using multiple blades. It works best for me to shave multiple times with a single blade. I shave with the grain, then across, then against. And no burn when I lather between shaves. Way closer shave than a multi blade for me.
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Something like this?
He picks up the razor ~10 min in.
 
Doesn't or haven't any of you ever used a good straight razor with a good hot washrag good shaving cream with a good straight razor you can't get a closer better shave. I used one for years and just got tired of shaving.
 
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eddie0225 said:
Doesn't or haven't any of you ever used a good straight razor with a good hot washrag good shaving cream with a good straight razor you can't get a closer better shave. I used one for years and just got tired of shaving.
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Both my granddads did every day.
 
eddie0225 said:
Doesn't or haven't any of you ever used a good straight razor with a good hot washrag good shaving cream with a good straight razor you can't get a closer better shave. I used one for years and just got tired of shaving.
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Straight razors give the best shave for sure,, but its not something you can just pick up and know what you're doing. It takes practice and even then you can't just grab it off the counter and start shaving in the morning.

That is where the safety razor comes in. Nit as good as a straight but 1000x better than the modern plastic multi bladed monstrosity that is called a razor today.
 
cold1 said:
Straight razors give the best shave for sure,, but its not something you can just pick up and know what you're doing. It takes practice and even then you can't just grab it off the counter and start shaving in the morning.

That is where the safety razor comes in. Nit as good as a straight but 1000x better than the modern plastic multi bladed monstrosity that is called a razor today.
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true it has a slight learning curve so to speak,if you shave to close you'll realize it really quickly
 
WeepingAngel said:
That's one reason (among others) I avoid alcohol-based aftershave.
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I really like their classic beard oil , especially after a shave. I wet both hands, 3-4 drops rub hands together and rub face and neck. When sweating the salt doesn't burn around my eyes, in winter my skin isn't itchy and dry. It's better than any lotion I've ever tried. Plus my wife really likes the smell, her and my sons now use it. $12 at Wally World.
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Get Off My Lawn said:
Something like this?
He picks up the razor ~10 min in.
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Pretty much. Down with the grain. Ears to nose across the grain. Up against the grain.

Take it easy against the grain until you get used to it. You can cut yourself bad doing it. But I have some spots on my chin and mustache that will not get smooth without it.
 
My DIY aftershave oil based on an old barbers oil

10 ml avocado oil
10 ml almond oil
10 ml olive oit
10 ml vitamin e oil - get the thinner stuff
15 drops sandlewood essential oil
15 drop peppermint essential oil

Combine it in a dark glass jar of a couple ounces. I have a smaller dropper bottle that I fill up for every day use.

Rub the oil on your face. Then do a cold rag compress on your face. That takes care of almost all the small nicks on your face. I still use aftershave but if your face isn't sensitive you might not need anything but the oil.
 
Here’s my setup. The new soap is for the label. The bar in the cup is 6 months old. 3 shaves, 5 times a week and I get 6 months out of the bar and it’s the best stuff I’ve found. Better than razo rock xxx, mudder focker, and one blade cream.

IMG_5233.jpeg
 
I use a Rockwell 6C, Proraso soap, and a synthetic brush. Been shaving this way for 10+ years and will never go back. Shave right after bathing and the hair is already soft and cuts better.

Have had good luck with Feather, Astra, and Voshkod blades.

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@Get Off My Lawn

I have a couple synthetic from West Coast Shaving. I think they were around $25 each. Not fancy, but they work well. I think people tend to get carried away in this hobby (like any). I don’t need any more expensive hobbies so just found what I like and stick with it.

The one area I really splurged is my razor stand. I could not find anything I liked, so designed my own. It is stainless steel and weighs 2.5 pounds. Had a magnet in the bottom to store my spare blades and keep them out of site.
 
cold1 said:
Straight razors give the best shave for sure,, but its not something you can just pick up and know what you're doing. It takes practice and even then you can't just grab it off the counter and start shaving in the morning.

That is where the safety razor comes in. Nit as good as a straight but 1000x better than the modern plastic multi bladed monstrosity that is called a razor today.
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I tried a straight razor a few times. got the blade sharp enough to shave with, but at both ends where it started to curve back i could never keep sharp. anywhere those touched just bloodied me up.
when i do have to trim up now, i use a bulk pack of dirt cheap disposable 2-blade razors. the blades are a lot firmer than the 4,5,6 blade beasts, and a lot less of a head to have to drag around your face hoping you didn't miss any spots.
once they start missing hairs or doing any kind of pulling/irritating, they're outta there.
but i do grow a very thick dark beard, and unless i heat, moisturize, shave against the grain, and accept the inevitability of razor burn and ingrown hairs, it still looks like i'm stubbly.
I gave in and just started using clippers to keep a presentable beard. then i gave up on that for the last year or so. hair too. now when i walk down the halls at work people just think a samsquanch got into an ink bottle.
 
What would be a good price for a vintage Gillette Fat Boy? Any particular years or models to go for or avoid?
 
DannyStayzHome said:
Here is one of my razor display boxes. In the middle row center you can see the Curve razor. If I could find blades for it I would have a few bucks there in value. Bottom right are two of my Gillette. I believe bottom right second from corner is the Slim Boy which I am seeking a Fat Boy to accompany it. There are some valuable razors in there all of which I have picked up mostly from Ebay and Flea Markets.

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I also collect and use safety razors and have a handful that all work great. Way closer shave than the multi blade disposables.

I hate to rub it in, but I picked up an excellent condition fat boy about a month ago at an estate sale for $2. It was a good day!
 
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Chasgee said:
I also collect and use safety razors and have a handful that all work great. Way closer shave than the multi blade disposables.

I hate to rub it in, but I picked up an excellent condition fat boy about a month ago for $2. It was a good day!
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Congrats man. I can safely say that was not on Ebay as they are always crazy high when I check there. My wife actually has a business now that sends her to a lot of antique markets and shops. She will run across one sooner or later. I never shave with any of my collector razors because I have have not found a razor that will shave like the Leaf Razor. It's a modern old school razor. You can use 1.2 or 3 blades in it. It uses single edge shaving blades..
 
Chasgee said:
You’re right, it was at an estate sale.

I haven’t tried any of the newly manufactured razors. Maybe some day.
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Leaf has a lifetime warranty and they are good for it. I wore one completely out. I called them willing to pay for another if they would rush it to me. They refused payment and rushed it to me. I ordered it on Monday and got it Wednesday.
 
I shaved with Dad's that he had from WWII.

Nice shave, but I'm ever so glad I didn't just pick it up and start shaving without first looking at the blade set up. I could see where it would have been easy to shave an entire strip of flesh off with it if you weren't careful.

I think one of my older brothers has it now.
 
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