Ok so I got a DE for Christmas today. Not to bad for the first shave. I did not get a good lather with the soap, at least not as good as I hoped. Anyway I used a Derby and I am wondering what the 1 2 3 4 was printed on the blade for. Anyone have a clue?!
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Derby Blades and Lather
- Thread starter deruitem
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from everything I have read the numbers are just there for quality control in the plant, nothing more.
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Well you could try here or watch some of Mantic59's youtube videos. Mantic59's videos and blog are my go to places for shaving questions and where I learned most of what I know. I have only been wet shaving for about 9 months myself.
Gollnick
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The nice thing about learning to lather is that you can do it as many times per day as you like. Just experiment.
One tip I use is to splash hot water onto the soap and then immediately pour off the excess leaving the surface of the soap wet; this is the first thing I do when starting to shave. This film of water on the surface of the soap will, in just the few minutes that it takes to soak your brush, soften the surface of the soap. I have heard this called, "waking up the soap." Especially for a brand new cake of soap, this can be very beneficial.
One tip I use is to splash hot water onto the soap and then immediately pour off the excess leaving the surface of the soap wet; this is the first thing I do when starting to shave. This film of water on the surface of the soap will, in just the few minutes that it takes to soak your brush, soften the surface of the soap. I have heard this called, "waking up the soap." Especially for a brand new cake of soap, this can be very beneficial.
thanks for the tips. Had my 3rd shave this AM with EJ89L and a Derby blade using Col Conk soap. Got a better lather for sure and a decent shave. Still a little irritation on the neck but I am getting a lot better already. No nicks on the face just a couple on the neck area. Takes some practice for sure!
Gollnick
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A little "razor burn" is typical for the first week or two. It's your skin adapting to the new regime and you dialing in your technique. If it gets sever or doesn't seem to be subsiding, you may need to try some aftershave products. You may even need... a balm.
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Thanks again, today was my 4th shave and I didnt skip a day. Still getting better, less irritation and I did you both col conk soap and some proraso cream together. Best lather this far and not to bad. Still not sure how to get closer to my noise. I seem to always have stuble there. I did also get a sample pack of blades. I think I will keep using the Derby for now.
Rick in KY
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If by "noise" you mean "nose", 
, I find that if I shave horizontally under my nose while pushing my nose up with my free hand (like a kid would if he wanted to show you how a pig looks) makes for a clean shave.
Stick with it. Soon you'll have your technique down and will be enjoying a smooth, comfortable daily shave. :thumbup:
, I find that if I shave horizontally under my nose while pushing my nose up with my free hand (like a kid would if he wanted to show you how a pig looks) makes for a clean shave.Stick with it. Soon you'll have your technique down and will be enjoying a smooth, comfortable daily shave. :thumbup:
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I asked the same thing some time ago and was told that it is new packaging and old packaging. They both are still around so I am unsure of that.
Gollnick
Musical Director
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I've never seen gray. As far as I know, the back label is the same blades as the yellow label except that there are only five blades in the package; yellow label has ten blades per package.
I don't like plastic blade boxes. It just galls me to throw away that plastic box. I'm not an environmentalist whacko, but I am an Oregonian and one of the things which appeals to me about DE shaving is how environmentally-friendly it is. DE blades are high-grade steel and I collect my used blades in a steel blade bank box which, when it's full, will be simply places as a whole into my recycle bin. A block of steel like that is highly-recyclable; steel is one of the most recyclable materials out there and recycling steel is a huge savings over making making new steel. But the multi-blade cartridges are commingled nightmare of steel and plastic that are not easily separated. Furthermore, multi-blade cartridges always come in plastic trays which are then way over-packages in over-sized boxes with glossy and metalic inks. DE blades are wrapped in small bits of paper and then can come in small cardboard boxes (such as BIC uses). But some DE blades come in these plastic boxes. Now you have a plastic box to throw away which is entirely unnecessary. And the worst of those plastic boxes, Feather included, have a slot in the back which they encourage you to put your used blades in thus creating a commingled nightmare of steel and plastic that are not easily separated. It just galls me! Oh well...
Anyway, if they do have to use those annoying plastic boxes, the least they can do is put ten blades into each box. If they'd leave out the horrible used-blade compartment, they could maybe get 12 or even 15 blades in a box.
I don't like plastic blade boxes. It just galls me to throw away that plastic box. I'm not an environmentalist whacko, but I am an Oregonian and one of the things which appeals to me about DE shaving is how environmentally-friendly it is. DE blades are high-grade steel and I collect my used blades in a steel blade bank box which, when it's full, will be simply places as a whole into my recycle bin. A block of steel like that is highly-recyclable; steel is one of the most recyclable materials out there and recycling steel is a huge savings over making making new steel. But the multi-blade cartridges are commingled nightmare of steel and plastic that are not easily separated. Furthermore, multi-blade cartridges always come in plastic trays which are then way over-packages in over-sized boxes with glossy and metalic inks. DE blades are wrapped in small bits of paper and then can come in small cardboard boxes (such as BIC uses). But some DE blades come in these plastic boxes. Now you have a plastic box to throw away which is entirely unnecessary. And the worst of those plastic boxes, Feather included, have a slot in the back which they encourage you to put your used blades in thus creating a commingled nightmare of steel and plastic that are not easily separated. It just galls me! Oh well...
Anyway, if they do have to use those annoying plastic boxes, the least they can do is put ten blades into each box. If they'd leave out the horrible used-blade compartment, they could maybe get 12 or even 15 blades in a box.