When to upgrade

I've been shaving with. DE Mercur 34c for a month I have two questions;

1- when I started I bought a blade sample pack and was told " start with the Derby Extra then go from there but don't use the Feather because it's very sharp"
I've done two rounds with the other four samples ( I love the Wilkerson SWORD)

Question: when is it safe to try the Feather blade?

2- When will I be experienced enough to enjoy the benefit of a " better" Razor?

Thank you

Tony

Technically, you don't ever have to upgrade that Merkur. "Upgrading" is just a figment of the hobbyist's imagination. There's hundreds of thousands of guys (maybe millions) that just use that everyday for their entire lives.
Regarding the Feather blades. The 34C is a pretty forgiving razor. I would try the blade as soon as you feel you're getting relatively nick free shaves with whatever other blades are working for you and you're feeling confident in your technique.

Thank you for the reply, yes I've been pretty nick free since the second shave.
I'll give the Feather a try.

Thank you for the reply, yes I've been pretty nick free since the second shave.
I'll give the Feather a try.

BTW, whenever I do use my 34c, it's loaded with a Feather blade.

Hi Tony - Ive never used the Merkur 34C or if I did I've blocked it.  I know that I initially started with a Merkur of some sort but it was not good.  Lots of red and irritation so I stopped. I went back to the mach 3 using brush and soap.  After a few months my then 17 year old son asked if he could try it and I said sure - he made it work and so as his father I was suitably challenged to try again.  I did some research and the consensus at the time was that the Edwin Jagger DE89 was a good razor to start with so I got one and a sampler pack and had a more successful go the second time around.  The EJ DE89 is great razor and not just for beginners.  In the notes that I kept on my experience with the various blades from the sampler pack, all I wrote down for the Feather was "ouch".  Its a few years down the road and I've used several different razors from ikons, to vintage Gillettes to Wolfman  and a few others and I've found that every razor has blades that work better or worse.  My current favourite rotation is the Rockwell 6s and the Aylsworth Drakkant and the Feather is my favourite blade in those razors and several others as well.  I still won't put a Feather in the Ej DE89 or the Wolfman.  As far as when to upgrade that is up to you.  I think if I had bought the Rockwell 6s as my first razor I might never have bought any others - for me it's that good.  6 different plate/aggression settings so there really is something for everyone.  You can hone your technique on 1, 2 or 3 and then take it up a notch on 4, 5 or 6.  The thing isn't the most aesthetically attractive razor out there but polished it can look pretty sweet. I also have one in the matte black which is nice too.  For me the Rockwell with a Feather blade on plate #4 is a great shaver.  The Drakkant with a Feather also does a very nice job.  I just ordered the + plate and the Open Comb plate just to see how that smooth shaver will feel with those plates.  I recommend that you get in on some pass arounds when they happen.  It's a great way to try out a razor with no financial commitment.  Thats How I tried out and ended up buying the Aylsworth Drakkant.

Enjoy the ride

Thank you Marko , it's great to have place with folks willing to help.
I might give a Rockwell 6s a try

Thank you Marko , it's great to have place with folks willing to help.
I might give a Ej DE89 a try.

I use Feathers in an EJ DE87, which is the same head, and it's perfectly fine for me. 
Also a Henson AL13 Mild, or a Slim set to #3 or #4.

2- When will I be experienced enough to enjoy the benefit of a " better" Razor?

Just beware of buying "jewelry". A higher price does not automatically mean a better (or easier) shave.

Absolutely true John Rose  price doesn’t equate to a better shave. The DE89 is a great razor and it’s around $45 and the only way to know if a particular razor and blade combination works for you is to try it yourself. Other people’s experience on that point will have little bearing on your own experience. Check out the favourite blade thread, I think it’s called The One under DE razors or blades but you will see that there is no blade universally loved or hated. That’s why getting blade sampler packs is a good idea. There’s a website called www.tryablade.com where you can by single blades if buying a whole 5 or 10 pack is too much. Good thing blades are so cheap. Even the expensive ones are only expensive relative to the cheaper blades. Like 50 cents instead of 15 or 20.

Tony, these are all good points you have been given.  I might also toss into the mix something that is unique to you, that is... you.  By that I mean your skin type, your hair type, and the particular growth of your beard.  For example, I have what I think is a fairly average beard and not overly sensitive skin so I get on with a multitude of razors, blades, and combinations of the two.  However, there are some razors that just don't work for me or that I just don't get a close shave from.  The Gillette Fat Boy comes to mind.  For me, I believe it has something to do with the curvature of the head because I never get a particularly close long lasting shave from it.  Others will tell you it's their favorite.  When it comes to blades, two come to mind that I just won't use after trying them.  One is a Zorrik as they give me some of the roughest and most uncomfortable shaves I have ever had.  The other is (drumroll, please) a Feather.  No matter which razor I use one in, I feel like it's slice and dice time and just get too many nicks or have to watch myself so carefully that the enjoyment of the shave is gone.  Another reason I don't care for them is that they die after just two shaves and become rough almost immediately. 

Keep in mind these are my experiences and yours may be completely different based on your skin and beard type or shaving style.  I think Marko hit it on the head when he stated that no blade is universally loved or hated.  I would say the same of razors.  Just enjoy the journey and let us know how you get on.  We're here to help as well as to enjoy each other's experiences.

Thank you all, Clearly what I've learned is as unique as my hair and skin are so too are the tools.