When you think about it, it's not really surprising that different blades perform wildly differently on people. Hair, especially facial is not homogenous, the beard is stronger denser in different parts of the face and individuals vary so much.
Technique and lathering may play a role but certain blades suit certain beards. What has puzzled me is why does it CHANGE from time to time? For around 10 years Feathers were my watchword, nothing else performed as well but then about 2 years ago they started to feel coarse, close shave yes but raw and nick strewn. Have they changed the quality I asked or has age altered my beard? I prefer Astras now, smoother more reliable but not so close, nor do they last long but they're cheap.
Therefore I was very interested in
David Martin
and his suggestion for blade stropping. Never occurred to me and I'm still a little uncertain how it's done...do you hold it in the clip and run each side along a strop?? Angle?? I was also very taken by the ice-cold water idea, will be trying that in the morning on a 2 day growth!
I feel I need a new razor too, my various Merkurs have all begun to shed plate after the years and are giving a scratchy performance. One Merkur is silver plated rather than chrome and this is better but despite being Open Comb it's rather mild, won't get close enough. Tried an Edwin Jaegar but far too mild, on the other hand some MĂĽhle I bought is so ferocious it can really skin you! A NOS Gillette would be good but I suppose they cost a mint..?
As for creams/soaps I liked your American Colonel Conk but it's become hugely expensive or impossible to get from the US due to shipping costs, pity it worked really well. TOBS was good but they've messed around with the formulas plus it too is very expensive to get here in Europe after BREXIT. So, Italian creams/soaps such as Proraso and Cella Almond work excellently.
OK that's enough for now! Thanks, Will