How do you test blades?

Shave #4 on the Baili Platinum+ was also very good (DFS). Although I can get one more out of it, I feel the blade is slightly more resistive than previous shaves. Same experience with Gillettes, Astras and Rapiras, which I toss after 4 shaves.

Just an observation. I noticed the steel is more springy than other blade brands I have. I tighten the Fatip with these Bailis more than usual. Might actually be OK chatter wise with TTOs and Merkur Futur.

I'll titanic the 4 remaining Baili blades I have and see if the quality is consistent.
 
naughtilus said:
My (loose) criteria to judge blade performance.

- efficiency: several days growth vs. daily shaving
- smoothness: first experience on the blade vs the follow-up shaves
- longevity

If I don't fuss about comparing, they all feel the same to me. I'm guessing it's all smaller nuances rather than night and day differences.
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Good call. I currently have 9 different blades that I'm going through. I've pretty much shaved for a week with all of them now so am about to start the rotation again. This time round I'm making notes on each as I go along, am about to crack open a tube of T&H Lime cream and so will be using that and the same razor (DE89) throughout, so no other variables. Yes there are subtle differences between some of them, whilst others stand out as being particularly good or bad for my face. I'm using each blade for a week, or 3 shaves, whichever comes first. I'm also trying to pinpoint as I go along the source of the itching I sometimes get late in the day after shaving, or the next day; this could be as simple as my face just not liking the ATG pass, the blade/coating itself, frequency of shaves, etc. Anyway, I'll do at least 1 ATG pass with each blade and see how I am after it, how many nicks I get, etc, compared to cutting out the ATG pass.

Count of Undolpho said:
I just shave with them until I have used at least 5 blades in a row by which time I've got used to them and learnt their 'quirks'.
Other than that I try not to change anything else in my routine.
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chris.hale said:
I agree in principle with the caveat that if it's uncomfortable and a second blade is the same I bail at that point. Once could be a bad blade, but if two feel like they're tearing my face off I won't suffer through another three.
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This. I don't see much point in punishing yourself if you can tell after a couple of shaves each with say 2 blades of any given blade, that it is wrecking your face. There's a couple of blades already that I'll try again just to make sure, but am prepared to bail on FFS (For Face Sake!) rather than feeling I have to finish the whole tuck. From once round the rotation so far, I'd say that most of these tucks will get finished off.

Enough blades here to keep this going for several months, in theory the rabbit hole is boarded up, nailed down, and protected with barbed wire and an electric fence for this duration! After this I plan to bulk buy perhaps my favourite 2 or 3 blades.
 
Follow-up on the Baili blades.

I honestly think these are rebranded Russian blades. How they shave, the wrapping, the heavy application of wax splotches... Including their price, which isn't overly cheap for something coming out of China. $9 for 100 blades is the lowest I could find. They go as high as $17 delivered. Conclusion, if you like St. Petes Platinums, you should like these.
 
So I am still testing blades and making notes. . . So far in my time DE shaving I have tried (or am about to try) the following blades. Whilst I have no intention of trying every single DE blade in existence, I want to have tried a good selection before I buy anything in any kind of bulk (ie more than a sampler tuck). I know there are 'marmite' divisive blades out there, and some that should generally be avoided (Treet, BIC, Shark, Derby, Lord, Merkur, etc that get a lot of negative press) so is there anything you think I should try beyond these that I already have experience of:

Feather
Wilkinson Sword Classic
Gillette 7 o'clock Sharpedge (Yellow)
Gillette 7 o'clock Super Stainless (Green)
Gillette Nacet
Gillette Silver Blue
Astra SP
Astra SS
Perma Sharp Super
Polsilver SI
Polsilver Lodz (just been gifted 2 and about to try)
Super Max Blue Diamond Titanium

Are the likes of Rapira, Personna, Voskhod worth trying, or any others you can suggest? I have sensitive skin so don't really get on with the uber sharp stuff like Feathers, 7'OC Yellows, Perma Sharps, also anything Platinum coated doesn't seem to get on with me. Thanks!
 
dave79 said:
...I have sensitive skin so don't really get on with the uber sharp stuff like Feathers, 7'OC Yellows, Perma Sharps, also anything Platinum coated doesn't seem to get on with me. Thanks!
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I think your problem is that you are using perhaps a razor that is too aggressive for your face and/or your technique is not honed yet. These latter blades that I highlighted in the above quote are all top shelf. Platinum coating is not causing your problem(s). Irritation is caused by too aggressive a razor, bad prep and/or technique 99.99% of the time. Bank on it. ;)
 
I always use my Tech when trying a new blade, if it doesn't work for me in a Tech its got no business being a DE blade. Latest one i've tried was the Gillette 365, very disappointing, binned it after 2 very unpleasant shaves, damn thing shredded my neck something awful.
 
Michlaustn said:
Blades are blades to me, they all generally work the same. The only thing I judge is whether I can go against the grain on my to lip.

Sent from my Swift 2 using Tapatalk
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I generally agree, but some are sharper, some last longer, and Feathers are made to tighter tolerances, which makes them a better choice in a three pin style razor,... they need little or no manual alignment.


.
 
dave79 said:
So I am still testing blades and making notes. . . So far in my time DE shaving I have tried (or am about to try) the following blades. Whilst I have no intention of trying every single DE blade in existence, I want to have tried a good selection before I buy anything in any kind of bulk (ie more than a sampler tuck). I know there are 'marmite' divisive blades out there, and some that should generally be avoided (Treet, BIC, Shark, Derby, Lord, Merkur, etc that get a lot of negative press) so is there anything you think I should try beyond these that I already have experience of:

Feather
Wilkinson Sword Classic
Gillette 7 o'clock Sharpedge (Yellow)
Gillette 7 o'clock Super Stainless (Green)
Gillette Nacet
Gillette Silver Blue
Astra SP
Astra SS
Perma Sharp Super
Polsilver SI
Polsilver Lodz (just been gifted 2 and about to try)
Super Max Blue Diamond Titanium

Are the likes of Rapira, Personna, Voskhod worth trying, or any others you can suggest? I have sensitive skin so don't really get on with the uber sharp stuff like Feathers, 7'OC Yellows, Perma Sharps, also anything Platinum coated doesn't seem to get on with me. Thanks!
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Rapira, Voskhod, and other Russian blades work well for me, Personna blades aren't sharp enough, but they work. The top two on your list are really all you ever need. Try Kai blades however, especially if any of your razors leave the blade somewhat unsupported, they are stiffer, either from the alloy they use, or heat treating, they can eliminate chatter and skipping.


.
 
Rapira Platinum Lux and Voskhod are, for me, the best of the non-Gillette produced Russian blades.

I'd also recommend giving Lord blades a try. Connaught do a sampler pack of them so it won't necessarily cost the earth to try them out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Bogeyman said:
I think your problem is that you are using perhaps a razor that is too aggressive for your face and/or your technique is not honed yet. These latter blades that I highlighted in the above quote are all top shelf. Platinum coating is not causing your problem(s). Irritation is caused by too aggressive a razor, bad prep and/or technique 99.99% of the time. Bank on it. ;)
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+1. I've tried some of those and don't notice any real difference between them.
 
Michlaustn said:
Blades are blades to me, they all generally work the same. The only thing I judge is whether I can go against the grain on my to lip.

Sent from my Swift 2 using Tapatalk
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I wish I could see the world of blades in the same light but unfortunately I Don't. I find quite a gross difference between blades and the quality of shave received.

In general I just see what works and what doesn't and if I have a shave where better results could be obtained using course sandpaper then I Don't go there again.

I can see the sense in using a level playing field but I find different blades perform different in different razors which only adds to the minefield. I find the whole game is a Mish mash of trial and error.

However I seemed to have settled on the Polsilver Lodz which covers most sins and so far a very consistent blade in terms of quality. Hence I haven't tended to look too hard lately.

On the SE side of the story I am tending to find the quality is very level across the brands I have used to date and not too tasking on testing.
 
Bogeyman said:
I think your problem is that you are using perhaps a razor that is too aggressive for your face and/or your technique is not honed yet. These latter blades that I highlighted in the above quote are all top shelf. Platinum coating is not causing your problem(s). Irritation is caused by too aggressive a razor, bad prep and/or technique 99.99% of the time. Bank on it. ;)
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I didn't say that they were bad blades as such. I said that my skin doesn't like them. All over the internet's shaving forums you will find someone loves a given blade and someone else doesn't like the results it gives. At time of posting I was using a DE89, supposedly one of the mildest razors out there, so I very much doubt that it's too aggressive for me. I'm using an iKon OC mainly now anyway. I believe this is relatively mild for an open comb too.

I get some irritation whatever hardware I use. I did with carts too, but with ingrowers added into the bargain. I must say I find it incredible when people say “I had a perfect shave with no irritation whatsoever.” Some of you must be model material if your face really is that easy to shave!

The key for me is to minimise the irritation. Along with @Satanfriendly I don't buy the whole ‘all blades are the same, your technique / prep is at fault' thing. It's subjective, remember. The results speak for themselves. If the same shaving technique with the same cream, same prep, same blade angle and same passes with a Gillette Yellow produces a red raw face that takes ages to calm down, and with a GSB produces very mild irritation which disappears very quickly, then I know which of the two blades I'll reach for next time. It's that simple, really.
 
One question is whether you use an efficient razor and one pass and a little cleanup does it, or a mild razor which needs more passes. I'm trying to decide this myself. I have a selection of DE razors and without doubt the efficient ones do a better job first time - you can audibly hear them cutting the hairs. Assuming that you have the angle right and not too much pressure this looks like the way to go, or is it?
 
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