Merkur Model 180 Long Handled Safety Razor
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List Price: Our Price: $28.00 You Save: $9.00 (24%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Health Care See more product details |
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Customer Reviews of Merkur Model 180 Long Handled Safety Razor
Customer Review: Most important...
Summary: 5 Stars
Might as well make it an even 90 (reviews)...
The first step of this journey started when I noticed what appeared to be my dad's old razor in a high-end gift catalog...
The journey ended at one of the world's oldest & best razor makers, Merkur.
I also learned that I'm not the only one who resents the price of disposable blades.
Most important facts/lessons learned:
*Budget a minimum of $75-$100, if you are planning a switch to (real) wet-shaving.
The shave is only as good/comfortable as the weakest-link.
"In for a Penny, in for a Pound"...might as well go all the way now, so you can really judge/decide accurately, for yourself if real (old school) wet-shaving is for you.
*If you've been using a modern disposable, then this is the perfect replacement, due to it's longer handle it will feel familiar & natural.
The "Open Comb" model for those with heavy (hairy-guy) beards.
The acclimation to these types of razors is simply the time it takes the user to stop freaking out about the possibility of cutting themselves with such a hefty piece of quality hardware.
No worries. Use your usual shaving method/stroke, just don't press so hard. You won't have to.
You may need to double-check if the hair is actually being shaved off since the shave-glide is so smooth...like the first time you used (snuck) Dad's...w/o a blade!! Oh sure, like I'm the ONLY one that's ever done that...
*The design & quality of this Merkur (straight bar) razor has stood the "Test-of-Time", the only real test of anything really.
Do some more razor research & read more reviews of actual customers. Nuff' said.
*The only way to get a closer shave is with a straight-razor (feel lucky?) or with the older/original razor design that uses a torque-type head which really brings the blade close to the skin. Both are better suited for the younger/tighter skin set.
*Find a nice Badger brush (start @ $20) & Stand (start @ $4), keep shipping charges in mind (sic).
Yes, Badger (vs. Boar or Synth.) is a difference you can feel/distinguish. No need to spend more than on the razor though.
*Select one of the many great shaving soaps (Col.C, Pros., Omega, etc.) (start @ $2) & bowl (start @ $7). Mug optional.
*Merkur, Feather, & Derby are the blades of choice. All great! Go for price/deal.
The way to make (all) blades last a long time is to dry them (blades) or store them (razor w/blade) in mineral-oil.
This prevents micro-rust & hard-water deposits from forming on the blades.
You didn't think your hair was actually dulling the heat-treated laser-polished/layered stainless-steel blades so quickly?
Yes, stainless-steel rusts and hard-water particles can cut/nick skin. Oh, it's true...
Dad's can try using a baby-food jar & baby oil, since they're generally abundant in the house, to store the razor (w/blade).
FYI-Wipe-off oil with TP (vs. rinse-off), prior to shave to avoid build-up in sink drain/plumbing.
If you find that this shaving method/hardware is not for you...The Gillette Fusion really does live up to the marketing hype and you can get blade refills online (start @ $2).
Shower-Shavers:
*All mirrors will fog, condensate, or get wet during shaving, to some degree.
Magnified mirrors (x5) are a great upgrade/accessory.
Mirror attachment-integrity (how well the mirror stays attached) is everything!
Rarely will one feel more vulnerable than when wet, butt-naked, now hurried, in a shower (floor) covered in broken glass.
Hope this helps in your decision/research making.
Enjoy da shave!!
Customer Review: What an excellent product!
Summary: 5 Stars
Short review: This razor is awesome. Buy it. Now!
Long review.
I got this product because I was sick of three things: paying too much for the cartridges, polluting the environment and getting ingrown hairs. I paid less than $40 for the razor and for the top of the line Merkur blades and I am never going back to any multiblade cartridge system ever again. Extremely well made Merkur blades run me about 50 cents while my next door general store sells Mach-3 cartridges for around 2.50 dollars per unit. Cheaper blades are available for 9 cents and just the math alone makes this razor a no-brainer.
Then there is the great shave factor. Merkur blades are quite sharp and you really feel the edge dragging against your skin. This allows me to change the angle of shave without pressing on the razor like I used to do with Gillette Mach 3. The fact that there is only one blade makes this razor clog less and I can use thicker shaving creams that add to the quality of shaves. Also one blade means less irritation and my sensitive skin thanks me for that.
Finally, razor blades can be recycled without any issues. Since the razor is hard to clog I go with heavier shaving creams and soaps that are not coming out of an aerosol bottle. Minimal packaging leads to less pollution. So does the fact that a good brush can reduce the waste of shaving products which now last longer.
Cheap. Reliable. Environment friendly. What else do you need?
I read a review where somebody did not like the razor because it did not offer a good shaving angle. The person tried to alter the angle by unscrewing the head of the razor -- bad move! This is a non-adjustable razor and it means that for the best results you have to screw the head all the way down. If you're looking for an adjustable version of Merkur, they're available on Amazon as well. I appreciate the simplicity of this particular model and that's why I did not get an adjustable one. But check out Merkur Solingen Futur Adjustable Double Edge Safety Razor if you want a razor that lets you change the angle of the blade.
Finally, I cannot stress enough the importance of other accessories that will make this razor even more enjoyable.
1. Get shaving soap or think shaving cream. Search for O.C. Bigelow, Taylor of Old Bond Street or Proraso on Amazon. These companies make really terrific shaving creams. If you like soaps, check out Colonel Conk. Many of these products costs less than $15 but don't be fooled: They are great. The Art of Shaving has guts to overcharge for its shaving products but they are not bad either.
2. Invest money in a nice shaving brush. Too bad Amazon does not offer brushes by Rooney or Vulfix. A silvertip or super badger will run you for $100+ but it is well worth it. With proper care it will last for years without shedding. If you opt for cheaper brands sold at grocery stores or Bath and Body, you'll end up replacing them quite soon. Get good stuff from the very beginning and save some money. I know, spending $100 on a shave brush sounds a bit Wall Street in this economy, but the fact is that even with all the investment today you'll end up saving money in a long run.
3. Learn how to recycle the blades and get only the best ones you can afford. Merkur leads the pack for me.
Oh, and welcome to the world of real shaving. Next step -- straight razors.
Customer Review: Merkur Again-
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been shaving with Merkur for more than 30 years. I bought my first Merkur in 1978 when I was in college; I still have it. It is the slant-bar model with the shorter handle. I have reviewed it on its page.
The big difference between the slant bar and this straight bar model is that the slant bar puts a torsional twist on the blade, causing it to shave very, very close. As I am now in my mid fifties and on aspirin and Plavix, a couple of years ago I purchased this long handle straight bar model.
This Merkur exhibits the same ultra-high quality that my seventies Merkur does. As stated in that review, after Heaven knows how many thousands of shaves, it could be repackaged and sold as new. For buyers out there now wondering about the expense, my older Merkur has had no bubbling, no separation, no dulling of the chrome finish. I see no reason with this newer one to expect anything different.
I have seen other reviewers grouse about the mechanism on this Merkur; it's why I bought one in the first place! I learned how to shave on the traditional Gillette of the sixties with those little 'bay doors' that open on the top, then close down on the blade. The problem with those razor mechanisms is that they tend to accumulate dried soap or shaving cream around the mechanism, and it's nearly impossible to get them truly clean. That's why people just pitched them back then every year or two and bought another one. This Merkur has a one-piece top that unscrews completely. The blade is set on the main body, the top is replaced and screwed down. While it may not provide mechanical entertainment and appear high-tech, what it does is allow the user to simply take the top off and use a toothbrush or other firm brush with a little dishwashing liquid and it's back to new again. Perhaps I shouldn't say so, but I've periodically just tossed the two parts in the silverware part of my dishwasher and it does a great job also! The other advantage to this one-piece top is that cut hair can't clog it. I use a twin-blade on occasion when I'm camping; if I don't shave for a few days, hair will get in those tiny recesses and it's near-impossible to rinse or blow out. I can cut a multiday beard with this, just loosen the top a little and all the hair rinses away. I brought up this hair trapping to a friend who is using one of those umpteen-blade things. He went home and looked, and sure enough, he had trapped hair in his. Couldn't be hygienic!
I have used just about every brand of blade available to me, including the drugstore brands. It is true that investing in better blades will certainly bring rewards in longer blade life and less beard friction. I won't join the Merkur versus Feather debate; I have both and have found them to be equally capable.
It has cost me roughly $1 per year to enjoy the quality of a Merkur razor for 30+ years. I can't estimate how much money I have saved by using double edge blades over all those little plastic cartridge things, and also saved filling landfills with them. If you want a razor for the long run, this one will stick with you.
By the way, when that 5-blade Gillette came out, a friend bought one for me for grins. Felt like I was sandpapering the beard off, irritated the hell out of my skin, and that was that-
Customer Review: One Amazing Razor!
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been shaving for just over 10 years now, so I started with the good old Gillette Sensor Excel. Switched over to the Mach3, then Mach3 Turbo, M3 Power, Fusion and finally Fusion Power. In that time, I had also tried 2 Schick razors, with limited success. Clearly, I had always been drawn towards Gillette and it's ever "improving" technology. I did enjoy the shaves (i.e. the closeness/smoothness) I got with my Fusion, and even my Mach3s for that matter, but what I hated was the irritation, or razor burn, that I would suffer with for the next day or two. Though smooth, was face always had an irritated feel. I just assumed that this was normal, as I was shaving using the proper technique, and was not driven to do anything about it. On a search for a nicer, classier, version of the Mach3 or Fusion, I came across an article about Double Edged razors and decided to research further. It eventually led me to the Merkur razors, which I had read some reviews about, as being good razors. After some reading about the technique and products required, I decided to make the investment, and I must say, I was/am impressed!
I decided to purchase the Long handled version, along with 100 Derby blades and a badger hair brush. I already have a decent aftershave, which I will continue to use. After watching some youtube videos by mantic59, I decided to try it out. The first couple of shaves were a bit rough, with some nicks and, I must say, some razor burn. What I realized, however, was that the cuts were being caused by my habitual pressure application, that is, I was applying too much pressure, as I was used to doing with the Gillette cartridge based razors. You don't have to apply any pressure with this razor, as the weight of the razor applies enough pressure for the shave. The razor burn, on the other hand, was a result of taking multiple strokes on a single lathering. This was easily corrected. The difference with these razors being, you can't expect to get all the hair in a single stroke. Take your time, as it will pay off in the end.
I've only been shaving with the Merkur for about 3 weeks now, and I am loving it! The lathering part is fun, I must say, and quite relaxing. Some say that it takes too long to shave, and I won't lie, it does take longer than a Mach3, but the shave is more enjoyable. Plus, it forces you to slow things down a bit, in an otherwise rushed day, which can be very relaxing. My face feels cleaner as well, probably because I'm using shaving soap (in my case Proraso), instead of the usual shaving gel "goop" from a can. No more irritation! I can even shave the next day, if I want to, which I couldn't do before. Definitely a good choice for a beginner. Just remember to take it slow and easy.
Customer Review: Great Razro - Long handle not tht long
Summary: 5 Stars
Have been using this razor for several months now and it has already paid for itself a couple of times vs the cartridge (3 blade) razor that it replaced. The cost of those replacement blades was ridiculous and they didn't give me a closer shave.
Other reviewers have said that the long handle isn't really that long... just longer than the standard handle Merkur razor. They are right. The handle on this is about the length of a typical razor you find in the store. The other is a full inch shorter than this one so I can't imagine shaving with it. Maybe if you have small hands.
In order to get a decent shave on my old razor I had to make several strokes. The same is true with this one. My shaving time is probably just slightly faster with this razor since it is so easy to clean. I also haven't had one case of razor burn with this razor using Derby blades.
The final result for me has been a slightly closer shave for a lot less money. If I want an even better shave I take the time to use a good quality shaving soap which you have to foam up and apply with a shaving brush. For day to day shaving, however, I still use cheap foam from a can and the results are good enough.
I haven't figured out how people who cut themselves are doing it. I get fewer nicks with this than any razor I've had in the past. My only guess is that they are pressing too hard. Tip: Don't press a sharp piece of stainless steal hard into your skin.
The other complaints I have seen tend to be from not learning how to use the razor. Unlike the disposable with a floating head you have to hold it at the right angle so the razor contacts your beard/skin. If the handle is parallel to the skin you are shaving you are holding it wrong. It definitely is not hard to do but may take some people a bit of practice. My tip is to listen for the difference while shaving an area near your ear.
I can't think of any reason I would go back to the cartridge razor they carry in the store. I get a better shave with no more time/effort and at around $0.25 per blade after shipping. (vs as much as $3-$4 per blade.)
One place this razor really shines is when shaving thick or longer beards. I let my beard grow in every now and then and shave it down when I get tired of it. The cartridge razor would clog up repeatedly and I'd have to clean it. That is despite trimming most of the beard off with an electric razor first. Last time I shaved off my beard I used this razor and didn't even need to pre-cut it first. I had a fresh blade in it and it lathered up good. I was able to get a clean shave without clogging it once. I'd estimate it took me 1/2 the time it used to.