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Comment by pcunite | Hacker News Reader

I'm interested in getting this type of razor. Is there a standard? Interchangeable blades?

Most razors are for double edged blades. All double edge blades are interchangeable.

My understanding is that there are also single edged razors that don't work with double edged blades, but they are way less popular. /r/wicked_edge has a guide here [0] basically, buy a Vintage Gillette Super Speed Razor on ebay (or really anything you want, handles can't be that different, they're just 3 pieces of metal) and a pack of sample blades on tryablade.com

[0] https://www.reddit.com/r/wicked_edge/wiki/de_kit

https://www.reddit.com/r/wicked_edge/comments/4exeep/beginne...

Excellent first link, which led me to their "to avoid" list. It mentions that "Soapworks Ltd" is now making shaving soap for various companies, including Trumper, and that this soap does not lather.

I've always found the reviews for Trumper soap incomprehensible as it never lathered and if by miracle some lather was produced, it would not stay longer than half a minute...

The only single edge razors I know of are the old straight edge razors (think the old west razors, http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Straight-Razors_c_9.html) and the newer shavette (https://www.amazon.com/Dovo-Shavette-Straight-Razor-Handle/d...) which is basically the straight edge razor but with a removable blade. I haven't heard either being refered to as a single-blade razor, though.

You can buy single edge razors for craft.

Here's some for window scraping: https://www.amazon.co.uk/BOHLE-Spare-Blades-Laminated-Scrape...

Here's some that claim to be single edge and for shaving: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gem-Personna-single-stainless-blade...

I have one that I purchased some years ago. Basically they all use the exact same type of blade, which looks like this: http://www.techsnippets.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/best-...

Basically the old razor blades that appear in movies when people have to cut themselves :)

The biggest difference from modern razor blades, other than taking up much less space, is that they are manufactured by different companies and so there is real competition, which makes them massively cheaper.

That said I still haven't been able to get near as good a shave with them as I do with the Gillette power thing that I have, which annoys me.

Strange that no one has mentioned Rockwell [1]. I use the original model in the shower without soap. I use Shark blades and they have been better than the Astra I had. [1]: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/rockwell-model-t-razor-bl...

Interesting! I have an old Gillette which has the exact same design. I picked it up for $5 at some thrift store. Cleaned it, sterilized it and it's been great for years.

My current razor (seldomly used as I'm bearded now) is a Weber DLC coated DE razor. It works nicely and doesn't get gummed up with cut hair.

I bought a handle from eBay for $1.50 shipped from China. The most expensive thing was the brush, which is (or, at least claims to be) badger hair. That was $12 shipped.

My understanding is that different blades suit different complexions. For example, the platinum blades I've tried are too sharp and irritated.

Get a sampler with a few dozen blades for $10-$15. Then get the blade you like for $20 for 100 blades.

I would have to caution against a cheap safety razor handle. The gap between razor and the guards around it are very key. Once I switched from a cheap handle to a [$30 Merkur](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NL0T1G/ref=oh_aui_sear...) the experience was much improved. I still use the cheapest blades I can find at [$8/100 blades](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NL0T1G/ref=oh_aui_sear...)

I have this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011L8WJIA/

I'm very satisfied. Not coming apart is a significant feature. The case is nice too; I've used it several times to look at the back of my head.

I haven't found any blades that don't work. As far as I know they're all the same.

I love my butterfly too! It's a different brand with a similar mechanism.

That's the great thing about double-edged razors: you can recognize the correct blade on sight. The box is distinctive as well. Meaning you'd have to try really hard to buy the wrong blade. I mean really hard, given that a blind person could buy the right blades by feel.

Yea, nothing could go wrong in that scenario....

Yep, you want "double-edged razor blades."

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