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geezerpaul
Joined: 04 Feb 2010
Posts: 2
Location: Northern California
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giammi
Joined: 14 Dec 2007
Posts: 880
Location: Zürich, Switzerland
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 Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:33 am Post subject: |
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| I think that the Merkur 1904 can be used for beginners, because they are mild shavers. What you have in the picture is the open comb version, which is more aggressive. So maybe the 1906 with the safety bar might be a better option.
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druphus
Joined: 28 Dec 2008
Posts: 1030
Location: Denver, Colorado
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:36 am Post subject: |
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| Welcome Paul. I have and use the open comb version of this razor, but it is normally advised that beginners use a safety-bar razor. The open combs tend to be more aggressive and require better technique in order to avoid cutting yourself. Merkurs are already adequately aggressive, so starting with the safety bar version is probably your best bet.
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Regards,
Andy
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gsgo
Joined: 25 Feb 2008
Posts: 1848
Location: Chicago, IL
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:54 am Post subject: |
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Paul,
Welcome to SMF. I think the Merkur 1904 w/safety bar would make an excellent razor for either a novice or expert. It is well made, has a very nice nickel plate finish and is set up geometry wise to be an easy shaver to use.
Good luck, and keep us posted on your results.
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Good shaving,
Gary
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Racso_MS
Merkur Man
Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Posts: 2659
Location: Mississippi
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 11:52 am Post subject: |
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Paul,
Use the saftey bar version until you are very comfortable with your technique. Like Gary said, Merkur razors are usually more aggrressive than other razors and for a beginner the safety bar style would be advisable.
Don't hesitate to ask questions. The answer can probably be found by conducting a search for posts, but that can be rather overwhelming, so "Ask Away".
WELCOME TO THE FORUM...
Come often and stay long...
_________________
Best Regards From the Deep South...
Remember; It's Not A Race, It's Your Face...
And As Always, Enjoy Your Shave...
(Racso) Oscar...
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desertbadger
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 2486
Location: Southern CA
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Welcome to SMF, Paul!
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Sheep "FAT" rules!
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geezerpaul
Joined: 04 Feb 2010
Posts: 2
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the welcome, and the responses.
I think special thanks for the advice to get the safety bar as a beginer! Safety first.
I have been using an Omega brush and Mach 3 for about ten years. I mostly just use regular bath soap, I bought a Williams shaving soap but haven't tried it yet.
I'd like to try the old fashioned way.
It's just a thing with me. I like lots of old fashioned things. I don't mind a little more effort.
Are any double edged blades available at the local drug stores? I haven't looked yet.
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function
Joined: 24 Nov 2009
Posts: 415
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 2:09 pm Post subject: |
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| geezerpaul wrote: |
Are any double edged blades available at the local drug stores? I haven't looked yet. |
You'll find DE blades at a good number of drug stores, but they seem to be overpriced and not the best blades you can get.
Likely you'll be able to find a sample pack at whatever shop you get your new Merkur from, unless you buy it from a B&M store.
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Nick
Chipping makes is fresher, hammier, tastier.
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alcx77
Joined: 23 Mar 2008
Posts: 389
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome to SMF
Since you are just starting out I would read up on prep
at our forum...
Alan
[Currently]
Slant
Croma Diamant Blade
Shaves so far 10
Boar or Omega Syntex brush
VDH & Trumpers Sandalwood shave soap
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mmortus
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Posts: 464
Location: Southern California
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Welcome to the forum, Paul!!!
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Regards,
Matt
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bernards66
Duke of Silvertip!
Joined: 27 Feb 2005
Posts: 22731
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome Paul. You should fit right in if you 'like old fashioned things and don't mind a little extra effort...'. While the Merkur '1904' with safety bar is a bit more aggressive than what I usually recommend for newcomers, give it a try and see how it goes. And as long as you're ordering, pick up some of the Israeli made Personnas ( often sold as 'Crystals' ), here's where that 'little extra effort' comes in. The DE blades you are going to find in the local stores range from very mediocre to genuinely awful, and it's not worth it to make this harder than it has to be. Starting out with a decent blade is important. So is a good, easy to use, shaving prep product. Cough up the extra money for a tube of Taylors cream, or similiar. Let's start off on the right foot.
Regards,
Gordon
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Racso_MS
Merkur Man
Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Posts: 2659
Location: Mississippi
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geezerpaul
Joined: 04 Feb 2010
Posts: 2
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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Well I tried my first shave today with a DE razor.
I was lucky enough to pick up a Gillette Fat Boy yesterday at a junk shop for $4. I got a few DE blades at my local drug store and tried it today.
I'm not one of the lucky guys who say "best shave ever" on the first try.
Still lots to learn. Luckily I had an old hocky puck shaving soap with the Old Spice ship printed on it. Nice and smooth lather, the aroma was reminiscent of some sort of fat, perhaps lanolin? That's what it smelled like.
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Racso_MS
Merkur Man
Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Posts: 2659
Location: Mississippi
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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| geezerpaul wrote: |
Well I tried my first shave today with a DE razor.
I was lucky enough to pick up a Gillette Fat Boy yesterday at a junk shop for $4. I got a few DE blades at my local drug store and tried it today.
I'm not one of the lucky guys who say "best shave ever" on the first try.
Still lots to learn. Luckily I had an old hocky puck shaving soap with the Old Spice ship printed on it. Nice and smooth lather, the aroma was reminiscent of some sort of fat, perhaps lanolin? That's what it smelled like. |
OK here's the rhetoric...
Preparation, Preparation, Preparation...
Technique, Technique, Technique...
No pressure, let the razor do the work...
Remember: It's not a race; It's your face...
Relax, Take your time, and...Enjoy your shave... 
_________________
Best Regards From the Deep South...
Remember; It's Not A Race, It's Your Face...
And As Always, Enjoy Your Shave...
(Racso) Oscar...
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Pureslab
Joined: 13 Mar 2009
Posts: 159
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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| geezerpaul wrote: |
Well I tried my first shave today with a DE razor.
I was lucky enough to pick up a Gillette Fat Boy yesterday at a junk shop for $4. I got a few DE blades at my local drug store and tried it today.
I'm not one of the lucky guys who say "best shave ever" on the first try.
Still lots to learn. Luckily I had an old hocky puck shaving soap with the Old Spice ship printed on it. Nice and smooth lather, the aroma was reminiscent of some sort of fat, perhaps lanolin? That's what it smelled like. |
Not sure anyone got the best shave on their first try with a DE |
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bernards66
Duke of Silvertip!
Joined: 27 Feb 2005
Posts: 22731
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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Not that I recall, no. Do take Oscar's mantra to heart and check in here often.
Regards,
Gordon
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Odio Barbillas
Joined: 23 Apr 2010
Posts: 143
Location: Nova Caesarea Orbis Terra (Sol III, Via Lactea)
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| Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Pureslab wrote: |
| Not sure anyone got the best shave on their first try with a DE |
Well I'll be a son of a gun, but I did. However, I had for some prior time been using soap-and-brush and was used to that part of it. I put aside the Bic Sensitive disposals I'd used for years after my dermatologist told me the twin-blade shavers were responsible for the bumps and patchy irritation I had seen him for.
Took the plunge, bought the 20-buck black-handled Feather and really took to heart all I'd read about letting the razor do the work. In my case, it paid off; I was grinning all that day. I got nicked the third shave (with the supplied super-sharp, scalpel-of-death Feather blade), but stuff like that happens to everyone now and again, no?
Now I own three DEs and am working my way through the samples I've been sent. So far, I like the blank Personnas I bought at my local RiteAid the best. Which is a little surprising, but not, considering all I have learned from fellow DE shavers.
Anyway, never discount a heaping helping of beginner's luck! 
_________________
Michael G.
I hate whiskers!
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bernards66
Duke of Silvertip!
Joined: 27 Feb 2005
Posts: 22731
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| Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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Michael, Well, you were fortunate, but you also were not starting from where most newcomers are at. Not only did you already have the brush and lather bit pretty well down already, but you had been using a fixed blade disposible, not the pivoting head 3,4, and 5 bladed numbers that most newbies are used to. So, you were ahead of the usual game in the razor department as well. Not to take anything away from your achievement....merely adding a little perspective if other brand newbies read this.
Regards,
Gordon
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Odio Barbillas
Joined: 23 Apr 2010
Posts: 143
Location: Nova Caesarea Orbis Terra (Sol III, Via Lactea)
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