Some time ago I bought 6 packs of blades based on the high scorers in NotTheStig's
excellent spreadsheet (see sticky), in order to try each using a controlled method (as far as possible). I am fortunate that, although having tough wiry growth, I can use any blade without irritation, cuts, weepers etc. With any soaps or creams that I have used, I always get a consistent lather whether face or bowl lathering (some just take longer than others). On this basis, I reckoned that any major difference in the performance of each blade would be the suitability of that blade to the razor and setting that I used (give or take the odd rogue blade). Really what I am tying to establish is that some blades just don't suit certain razors or settings. As I shave at the same time every morning, the growth was the same each day. I intend to do this again at a later date with other makes of blades.
For all the tests, I used Castle Forbes Limes cream and a Merkur Futur set at 3. Where a blade felt unnecessarily tuggy, I would alter the razor setting up or down during the shave to see if that made any difference.
Here are my findings:
Timor Stainless: Worst of the 6. Tuggy and draggy, lasted 2 shaves with the second shave quite poor.
Bic Chrome Platinum: Lasted 2 shaves, quite tuggy and did not feel sharp, not close shave.
Perma-sharp Super Stainless: Disappointing, not all that sharp, similar to the Bic.
Bolzano Superinox: Very poor, only slightly better than the Timor. Tuggy and draggy.
Lord Super Chrome. Really good. 3 really good close shaves, similar to Feather but just not as sharp.
Personna Super Med Prep: Outstanding. Sharp without being savage. 5 excellent smooth shaves, and could have had another 2 or 3 decent shaves from this blade.
I was interested in NTSs remarks where he rated the Bolzanos highly and then downgraded them when tried in a different razor, and I had the idea that, all things being equal, the razor type and setting are the major contributors to whether you find a particular blade good or bad. (leave Lazer and Derby out of that :icon_razz
Some of these findings are at odds with NTSs results, and I think this is mainly the fact that different razors were involved, so it's my guess that, in general, it's blades for razors. Like to hear if anyone else has tried a controlled test, and what their thoughts are.
excellent spreadsheet (see sticky), in order to try each using a controlled method (as far as possible). I am fortunate that, although having tough wiry growth, I can use any blade without irritation, cuts, weepers etc. With any soaps or creams that I have used, I always get a consistent lather whether face or bowl lathering (some just take longer than others). On this basis, I reckoned that any major difference in the performance of each blade would be the suitability of that blade to the razor and setting that I used (give or take the odd rogue blade). Really what I am tying to establish is that some blades just don't suit certain razors or settings. As I shave at the same time every morning, the growth was the same each day. I intend to do this again at a later date with other makes of blades.
For all the tests, I used Castle Forbes Limes cream and a Merkur Futur set at 3. Where a blade felt unnecessarily tuggy, I would alter the razor setting up or down during the shave to see if that made any difference.
Here are my findings:
Timor Stainless: Worst of the 6. Tuggy and draggy, lasted 2 shaves with the second shave quite poor.
Bic Chrome Platinum: Lasted 2 shaves, quite tuggy and did not feel sharp, not close shave.
Perma-sharp Super Stainless: Disappointing, not all that sharp, similar to the Bic.
Bolzano Superinox: Very poor, only slightly better than the Timor. Tuggy and draggy.
Lord Super Chrome. Really good. 3 really good close shaves, similar to Feather but just not as sharp.
Personna Super Med Prep: Outstanding. Sharp without being savage. 5 excellent smooth shaves, and could have had another 2 or 3 decent shaves from this blade.
I was interested in NTSs remarks where he rated the Bolzanos highly and then downgraded them when tried in a different razor, and I had the idea that, all things being equal, the razor type and setting are the major contributors to whether you find a particular blade good or bad. (leave Lazer and Derby out of that :icon_razz
Some of these findings are at odds with NTSs results, and I think this is mainly the fact that different razors were involved, so it's my guess that, in general, it's blades for razors. Like to hear if anyone else has tried a controlled test, and what their thoughts are.
