Best Budget Safety Razor

[les24preludes]

Take a vote. You'll probably find that you're in the minority. Most people don't want someone's first wet shave to be their last wet shave.

It doesn't worry me being in the minority. Why - does it worry you?

Mild razors are boring, boring, boring, boring, boring, boring, boring.....

 

[Zhang Doe]

Big question - how do you know which razor is going to suit you? Well, several ways to do this. An adjustable or a Rockwell should give you some idea, though you might end up selling either or both. But rather than start mild you could start with a R41 and if that's too efficient, them go slightly milder. It's a perfectly valid way of finding out your preferred level of efficiency and I wish I'd done that from the start.

I agree with this approach. Better to start with an aggressive razor that you have to be careful with rather than a mild razor that can't do its job.

 

[Missoni]

I find mild razors often require more skill, focus and time, especially in relation to angle and pressure, to get a close shave. Aggressive razors require only a basic technique not to cut yourself and will often shave through a wider angle. You will see from various threads that many members go through a full circle with razors, from mild to aggressive and back to mild. Familiarity with one razor and technique are my friends for getting a close shave. In response to the OP's question I think many of the offerings from the Chinese manufacturers are great with stand outs for me being the Yaqi double open comb or the Baili TTO, but I think it is worth paying more for the Razorock Gamechanger (both .68 & .84) it is a steal for a fully CNC machined razor that has sound geometry - I tend to agree with Andreas Muller of Muhle, 30 degrees is the ideal angle at which safety razors should shave.

 

[Steve]

I will take a moment to try to enlighten @les24preludes. The R41 has the distinct reputation of being the most aggressive razor on the market. On a scale of 1 to 10, it's a 12. Why you would recommend a razor like this in good conscience to a beginning wet shaver eludes me. Angle and technique are everything when using an R41. If the angle ain't right, nothing's right, and I don't know anyone, since I've been on this forum, who's picked up a Widow Maker and found love at first sight, first time around. It's usually blood, alum, bandages, and taking a hiatus from shaving until the wounds heal. But hey, YMMV.

One more point, the current version of the R41 is the milder version. The original was mainly used by the Mongol hordes under Genghis Khan to terrify Europeans.

 

[Deleted member 1881]

I find mild razors often require more skill, focus and time, especially in relation to angle and pressure, to get a close shave. Aggressive razors require only a basic technique not to cut yourself and will often shave through a wider angle. You will see from various threads that many members go through a full circle with razors, from mild to aggressive and back to mild. Familiarity with one razor and technique are my friends for getting a close shave. In response to the OP's question I think many of the offerings from the Chinese manufacturers are great with stand outs for me being the Yaqi double open comb or the Baili TTO, but I think it is worth paying more for the Razorock Gamechanger (both .68 & .84) it is a steal for a fully CNC machined razor that has sound geometry - I tend to agree with Andreas Muller of Muhle, 30 degrees is the ideal angle at which safety razors should shave.

The Scalloped one is great too. Shaves better than an EJ.

 

[Deleted member 1881]

I will take a moment to try to enlighten @les24preludes. The R41 has the distinct reputation of being the most aggressive razor on the market. On a scale of 1 to 10, it's a 12. Why you would recommend a razor like this in good conscience to a beginning wet shaver eludes me. Angle and technique are everything when using an R41. If the angle ain't right, nothing's right, and I don't know anyone, since I've been on this forum, who's picked up a Widow Maker and found love at first sight, first time around. It's usually blood, alum, bandages, and taking a hiatus from shaving until the wounds heal. But hey, YMMV.

One more point, the current version of the R41 is the milder version. The original was mainly used by the Mongol hordes under Genghis Khan to terrify Europeans.

If an R41 is on 12 the Yaqi Slant is 20.
R41 is indeed a special razor I only enjoy it with a damn Feather loaded or a Nacet, I don't know why.

 

[Steve]

If an R41 is on 12 the Yaqi Slant is 20.
R41 is indeed a special razor I only enjoy it with a damn Feather loaded or a Nacet, I don't know why.

There are many who agree with your feelings about the Feather in an R41 -- myself included.

 

[Zhang Doe]

I don't know anyone, since I've been on this forum, who's picked up a Widow Maker and found love at first sight, first time around. It's usually blood, alum, bandages, and taking a hiatus from shaving until the wounds heal. But hey, YMMV.

One more point, the current version of the R41 is the milder version. The original was mainly used by the Mongol hordes under Genghis Khan to terrify Europeans.

You Mongol-fearing Europeans are so adorable. In Mongolia, the R41 is known as Butter Knife.

 

[vates]

K.C.G. is a perfect budget safety razor. Mild and affordable, good quality and engineering.

 

[les24preludes]

R41 is indeed a special razor I only enjoy it with a damn Feather loaded or a Nacet, I don't know why.

Yep! Love it with a Nacet.

I'm completely sold on an efficient razor which cuts. It just does its job, which is to cut. I believe Van Gogh used an R41, and you can't have a better recommendation than that.

 

[Steve]

Yep! Love it with a Nacet.

I'm completely sold on an efficient razor which cuts. It just does its job, which is to cut. I believe Van Gogh used an R41, and you can't have a better recommendation than that.

I think you'll find he only used it once.

 

[Steve]

Just had a go with my old nemesis -- R41. Bloody miserable even with a Feather.

 

[les24preludes]

Just had a go with my old nemesis -- R41. Bloody miserable even with a Feather.

Well, in the interests of science I pulled out my R41, fitted a new Nacet, and had a shave with Arko. Perfect close shave in one pass with cleanups.

You must be buying your Feathers at a Traktorfest in Uzbekistan. The Uzbeks are a fine people, of course, but things get a bit out of hand at their Traktorfests.

 

[Deleted member 1881]

Just had a go with my old nemesis -- R41. Bloody miserable even with a Feather.

Why's that Steve?

 

[Wayne]

Beginners razor? Well you will not find a better choice than the Rockwell 2C. Easily adjustable, cheap and readily available. If I were starting again I'd want someone to put me on to a Rockwell. If someone recommended an R41 I'd be soon cursing them that's for sure.