RayClem's Blade Evaluations

RayClem Yes, they are different from the Premium. I was wondering about the Extras blue and green packaging. They seem to be the exact same blades.

The only Derby Extra blades I have seen in blue packaging have been 200 blade bulk packs. Although I initially assumed the two blades were similar, I am really not sure. I have seen some comments that state the blue blades come in packages of 200 while the green blades come in packages of 100, but otherwise are the same blade. However, the Derby Extra green blades have Derby's complex chromium, ceramic, platinum, tungsten, polymer coating similar to that used on Derby Premium, Bluebird,  and Parker blades. The Derby Extra blue blades only state that they are super stainless steel razor blades, so they might not have that same coating. However, I have seen some web sites that say they are coated, but the Derby greens state this so emphatically on the tucks that I wonder why they would leave if off the Derby greens.

As far as I know, the Derby Premium is  different than the Derby Extra.  I will know more after Wednesday's shave. I rated the Premium as 4.5 sharpness, 4.5 smoothness which is similar to some of my favorite blades. That is also how I rated the 1st shave with the Treet Classic carbon blades. I am assuming the Derby Extra blades will be less sharp, but I will wait until I use them to draw a conclusion. The Extra blades are less expensive, but that is not necessarily a good indicator of performance.

The only Derby Extra blades I have seen in blue packaging have been 200 blade bulk packs. Although I initially assumed the two blades were similar, I am really not sure. I have seen some comments that state the blue blades come in packages of 200 while the green blades come in packages of 100, but otherwise are the same blade. However, the Derby Extra green blades have Derby's complex chromium, ceramic, platinum, tungsten, polymer coating similar to that used on Derby Premium, Bluebird,  and Parker blades. The Derby Extra blue blades only state that they are super stainless steel razor blades, so they might not have that same coating. However, I have seen some web sites that say they are coated, but the Derby greens state this so emphatically on the tucks that I wonder why they would leave if off the Derby greens.

RayClem  This is why I asked. They are a 10 pack. TRC has them. It states in the description to have the same coating as the green, but you are correct the tuck does not state it like the green. It's curious.

I finally found a photo of the Derby Extra blue blades where I could read the side of the carton when enlarged. . The side of the package, but not the front or the individual tucks indicate the have the same coating as the Derby Extra greens. However, whether the blades are made to the same specifications is difficult to determine. The only way to find out would be to try them. If I place an order with TRC in the coming weeks, I will try to remember to include a tuck the Derby Extra blue. I do not want to pay more in shipping charges than the price of the blades.

Wednesday Shave- Derby Extra green

There are three blades called Derby Extra. The common one has green packaging. However, there is also one packaged in blue packaging and Sally Beauty Supply sells them in orange packaging. The all have a Chromium-Ceramic-Platinum-Tungsten-Polymer coating, but I have no idea if all these blade are made to the same spec. I tested the ones in the green packaging.


Update************************
I was able to order a few Derby Extra blades in both the orange and blue packaging. I will evaluate them towards the end of the thread,

Prior to 2016, Derby Extra blades were made from 0.1mm steel. The ones I used from that time were terribly dull. Since that time Derby has been using 0.09mm steel. The thinner steel is easier to snap if you want to use them in a half-DE blade shavette, but in a regular DE razor, the thinner steel is subject to chattering. Fortunately, the Karve razors clamp the blade close to the edge of the cap, so chattering is minimal. If you use them in razors such as the EJ DE89 that clamps the blade well back of the edge, you might get some chattering.

I started today's shave with the Treet Classic carbon blade from the previous shave. It was still very sharp and smooth. I could easily have used it for another shave. After a few strokes, I replaced the Classic with a fresh Derby Extra. I immediately noted a significant decrease in sharpness. While there was no tugging, the blade did have significant resistance. It did sharpen slightly during the shave, but it was not sharp enough to achieve a near-BBS shave; I had to settle for a DFS, When I applied witch hazel after the shave, I experienced significant feedback. While far from ideal, this is a far better experience than I had with Derby Extra blades years ago.

Based on the results of this shave, I am rating the sharpness as 3 and the smoothness as 3, The evaluation spreadsheet has been updated.

This puts the Derby Extra in the same class as Astra Superior Platinum. It is a good blade for those with a less coarse, less dense beard and less sensitive skin. While this is a blade that I could use, like the Astra SP, it is not a blade I would enjoy using. I would recommend the blade to a new DE shaver as it is not so sharp that you are likely to get cut.

We are nearing the finish line for the series. On Friday, I plan to shave using a Gillette Platinum in the new solid blue packaging with white lettering. I previously rated the Gillette Platinum blade in the white packaging with blue lettering as 4 sharpness, 4 smoothness. I am hoping the "new" blades might be sharper and smoother, perhaps something akin to the King C Gillette blades that I rated as 4.5 sharpness, 5 smoothness. I might do a face-off shave using both the older Gillette Platinum and the new ones.

Primarily for curiosity, the last two blades to be evaluated are older Gillette Rubie and Polsilver Super Iridium. I still have a few of each in my collection. AFAIK, the blades have not been made in some time. Availability in the marketplace is extremely limited, so I did not include pricing. Thus, the series should conclude next week. There are certainly dozens of blades I have not tried, but I believe I have covered most of the popular offerings and some less so.

While out running errands this morning, I visited two stores with pharmacies that carry shaving supplies. I was looking specifically for King C Gillette blades made in China. While both stores had spots on the shelves for KCG blades, both were out of stock. One of the stores had Van der Hagen ice tempered blades. However, from previous experience, these tug horribly at my beard, so I am not going to risk purchasing more of the blades. I will keep looking for the KCG Chinese blades and will add them to the evaluation thread whenever I am able to procure them.

I finally found a photo of the Derby Extra blue blades where I could read the side of the carton when enlarged. . The side of the package, but not the front or the individual tucks indicate the have the same coating as the Derby Extra greens. However, whether the blades are made to the same specifications is difficult to determine. The only way to find out would be to try them. If I place an order with TRC in the coming weeks, I will try to remember to include a tuck the Derby Extra blue. I do not want to pay more in shipping charges than the price of the blades.

Yeah, no one wants to pay that kind of shipping. I wasn't able to find other pics of the blue package but I didn't look very deep.

Friday shave- Face-off between Gillette platinum old version and new version.

I have already reviewed the Gillette platinum blades, the older version in the white packaging with blue and silver lettering. I recently obtained some of the "new" blades sold in blue packaging with white lettering. Today's shave compares these two versions.

I started the shave with the Derby Extra blade from the previous shave in the Karve stainless razor. The blade still was not sharp enough for my beard so there was significant resistance. After a few strokes, I replace that blade with a fresh Gillette Platinum blade in the new blue packaging. The blade was laser etched with Gillette on one side of the blade, but there was no reference to Platinum on the blade itself. I loaded an older Gillette Platinum blade into my Karve brass razor. The older blade has black printing with Gillette Platinum on the blade.

While both blade were sharper than the Derby Extra, the "new" version felt sharper with less resistance going through my beard. It also felt slightly smoother on my face. After my normal four-pass shave using buffing strokes on the clean-up pass I achieved a near-BBS shave with the "new blue" version while I only achieved a DFS using the older blade. Furthermore, when I applied witch hazel after the shave, the side shaved using the "new" version had only minor feedback vs. moderate feedback for the side using the older version.

Based on the results of this face-off shave, the older version of the Gillette Platinum blade in the white packaging with blue and silver lettering received a sharpness rating of 4 and a smoothness rating of 4. This is identical to the ratings from the earlier evaluation. The Gillette Platinum "new" version in blue packaing with white lettering provided a closer, more comfortable shave. Thus, I am rating it a 4.5 sharpness and 4.5 smoothness. The evaluation spreadsheet has been updated with both sets of results.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/71ttt15wy...qo8eb&dl=0

The blade was not quite as smooth as the King C Gillette blade made in Russia, but the sharpness was similar. If you like the King C Gillette blades but do not want to purchase individual tucks, you can obtain the Gillette Platinum-new blades in the blue packaging.

For Sunday's shave, I will use the Gillette Rubie Platinum Plus. This is a blade that has all but disappeared in the USA market. Then the final scheduled blade is the Polsilver Super Iridium. This blade as been replaced by Wizamet Super Iridium blades. Thanks to forum member Eric "ewk" I hope to be in possession soon of a few Suneko Amorphous Diamond coated blades. As soon as they arrive, I will add them to the evaluation list.

Are you talking about this new gillette platinum?:

adeliry 

Yes, those are the new blue version of Gillette Platinum. 

Some folks seemed to think that the King C Gillette blades were rebranded Gillette Platinums. I knew from experience that the KCG blades were sharper than the older Gillette Platinum blades I had used. I was hoping that the new blue version would be sharper. Indeed they were.

I am hoping I can obtain some of the King C Gillette blades made in China. If so, I will do a face-off shave between the KCG Chinese blades and the new Gillette Platinums. While I rated the KCG Russian blades as similar in sharpness, but slightly smoother than the new Platinums, the difference was small. Thus, they might be the same blade with differences being within specification tolerances.