I'm back with some questions about handle fit and a recommendation request

[Miro]

Ahoy good men (who appreciate a good shave).

You helped me a lot last October with stepping into this world of shaving from cartridges. Back then, i bought an adjustable baby futur (??) replica and a cheap razor (claimed to be Gillette) from Aliexpress.

Time goes by and after a few cuts in the first shavings i got used to DE shaving and very happy with it.
I wasn't sure about the $3 Gillette clone and had more hopes from the baby futur clone. BUT.. the cheap Gillette clone is amazing and i enjoy it very much. Yet, the baby futur is much heavier, much less comfortable, much more dangerous (it easily cuts) and show corrosion signs. Simply put - i don't like it.

As expected, a $3 razor doesn't age well and i'm afraid the plastic handle will die soon.
I think about 2 things.

1. buy another razor which will shave like the Gillette clone: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004641776005.html
2. buy a handle for the Gillette clone


Questions
1. Can you recommend a razor from Aliexpress that will shave like the clone but it will have a rotating handle that will open doors on top of the razor to replace the blade instead of removing the handle (English is not my first language, sorry if i don't explain well)

2. are handles universal? can i just buy a handle and it will fit the head i already have?

Thank you

 

[adrian ivanovici]

Ahoy good men (who appreciate a good shave).

You helped me a lot last October with stepping into this world of shaving from cartridges. Back then, i bought an adjustable baby futur (??) replica and a cheap razor (claimed to be Gillette) from Aliexpress.

Time goes by and after a few cuts in the first shavings i got used to DE shaving and very happy with it.
I wasn't sure about the $3 Gillette clone and had more hopes from the baby futur clone. BUT.. the cheap Gillette clone is amazing and i enjoy it very much. Yet, the baby futur is much heavier, much less comfortable, much more dangerous (it easily cuts) and show corrosion signs. Simply put - i don't like it.

As expected, a $3 razor doesn't age well and i'm afraid the plastic handle will die soon.
I think about 2 things.

1. buy another razor which will shave like the Gillette clone: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004641776005.html
2. buy a handle for the Gillette clone


Questions
1. Can you recommend a razor from Aliexpress that will shave like the clone but it will have a rotating handle that will open doors on top of the razor to replace the blade instead of removing the handle (English is not my first language, sorry if i don't explain well)

2. are handles universal? can i just buy a handle and it will fit the head i already have?

Thank you

Baili is what you are looking for.

 

[adrian ivanovici]

Another good choice would be a nice butterfly with same design as the old Gillette: yintal shop on AliExpress

 

[adrian ivanovici]

Ahoy good men (who appreciate a good shave).

You helped me a lot last October with stepping into this world of shaving from cartridges. Back then, i bought an adjustable baby futur (??) replica and a cheap razor (claimed to be Gillette) from Aliexpress.

Time goes by and after a few cuts in the first shavings i got used to DE shaving and very happy with it.
I wasn't sure about the $3 Gillette clone and had more hopes from the baby futur clone. BUT.. the cheap Gillette clone is amazing and i enjoy it very much. Yet, the baby futur is much heavier, much less comfortable, much more dangerous (it easily cuts) and show corrosion signs. Simply put - i don't like it.

As expected, a $3 razor doesn't age well and i'm afraid the plastic handle will die soon.
I think about 2 things.

1. buy another razor which will shave like the Gillette clone: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004641776005.html
2. buy a handle for the Gillette clone


Questions
1. Can you recommend a razor from Aliexpress that will shave like the clone but it will have a rotating handle that will open doors on top of the razor to replace the blade instead of removing the handle (English is not my first language, sorry if i don't explain well)

2. are handles universal? can i just buy a handle and it will fit the head i already have?

Thank you

Handles are universal with one exception: Fatips.

 

[Miro]

Thanks, i will look at these stores on Aliexpress

 

[slapo]

As for your first question, they are called "butterfly" or "twist to open" (TTO) razors. Baili has some relatively inexpensive and nice enough ones. Weishi 9306 are also decent. As @adrian ivanovici mentioned, Yintal sells some, too, but I haven't tried them myself. QShave also has what looks like rebranded Weishi 9306.

Regarding handles, there are a few standards for the threads (mostly M5 and 10-32), but if you were to buy a M5 handle, it should fit most Tech clones.
Lemonwald has some handles that should do the job and aren't too pricey. I have a few of these and they're quite nice (and not just for the money): https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002918718321.html .

You also mentioned you have the "baby futur" clone. Mileage may vary, but I had it and found it almost impossible to cut myself with it. Perhaps you'd want to re-examine your technique when using it.

As you mentioned corrosion - how do you maintain your razors?

 

[Estariol]

@slapo
I think he'll need a bit lighter handle, that Aliexpress Tech clone is pretty light with that plastic handle, and those Lemonwald handles, althogh excellent (i have two myself) are pretty hefty and will move the balance point of the razor significantly.
@Miro
Where are you from? Maybe we can find some other solutions for you similar to Aliexpress, but from somewhere else?

This is also a well regarded razor:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001426049750.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.23.736960ed9OxQ5v&algo_pvid=06f57756-93b9-41d0-a6b5-46fe4c93964d&algo_exp_id=06f57756-93b9-41d0-a6b5-46fe4c93964d-11&pdp_npi=3@dis!RSD!191.86!157.56!!!!!@0b0a558a16874707763551757d0778!12000016063471011!sea!SRB!906415562&curPageLogUid=VgtLNYEDmTDO

And here is the same model with a metal handle:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...!sea!SRB!906415562&curPageLogUid=3GkJbv4P7KpT

And this is the lightest handle i could find to to replace your plastic handle, 26 grams
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001426049750.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.23.736960ed9OxQ5v&algo_pvid=06f57756-93b9-41d0-a6b5-46fe4c93964d&algo_exp_id=06f57756-93b9-41d0-a6b5-46fe4c93964d-11&pdp_npi=3@dis!RSD!191.86!157.56!!!!!@0b0a558a16874707763551757d0778!12000016063471011!sea!SRB!906415562&curPageLogUid=VgtLNYEDmTDO

 

[slapo]

@Estariol It's true the Lemonwald handle would change the balance, but that plastic handle means the stock balance is fairly strongly tilted toward the head and isn't really well balanced in the first place, so changing the balance might not be a bad thing.

 

[Miro]

... You also mentioned you have the "baby futur" clone. Mileage may vary, but I had it and found it almost impossible to cut myself with it. Perhaps you'd want to re-examine your technique when using it.

Maybe i'm not using it perfectly, i can accept that. but personally, it is less comfortable for me to use it, maybe because it is too heavy

As you mentioned corrosion - how do you maintain your razors?

Maintain? i had no idea they require that?
I just keep them in the shower room when i need to shave and on the bathroom's windowsill afterwards.

as for it's quality, it looks like something happened to it below the color, i'll add a photo to show.

 

[Miro]

Where are you from? Maybe we can find some other solutions for you similar to Aliexpress, but from somewhere else?

I'm from Israel, Aliexpress is very convenient for me to use so that's why it is my first choice

Thanks for the recommendations, i'll take a good look at them too and appreciate everybody's efforts to help

 

[Miro]

It's true the Lemonwald handle would change the balance, but that plastic handle means the stock balance is fairly strongly tilted toward the head and isn't really well balanced in the first place, so changing the balance might not be a bad thing.

I'm not experienced enough to understand about the balance change as the current handle is very very lightweight and the razor "head" (top parts) are light too.

Frankly speaking, i didn't have high expectations from a $3 razor and i was quite sure it will have a way below average performance.
I can't express how surprised i am to see what a great razor it is (for me).

it's so easy to shave with it, i get a perfectly smooth shave so easily and i even used it for shaving the head - no cuts at all (after the first 2 shaves)

one thing i noticed though about DE shaving is that blades don't last like cartridges.
with cartridges, i could shave for 5-6 times (and even more) and not get the feeling that they are not sharp anymore.
with DE razors, i barely get 3 decent shaves (with different blades)

 

[slapo]

Maybe i'm not using it perfectly, i can accept that. but personally, it is less comfortable for me to use it, maybe because it is too heavy

Fair enough.

Maintain? i had no idea they require that?
I just keep them in the shower room when i need to shave and on the bathroom's windowsill afterwards.

as for it's quality, it looks like something happened to it below the color, i'll add a photo to show.

Razors usually do benefit from being taken apart (if possible), gently wiped and dried to prolong their life, even brass, stainless steel and titanium ones.

I've seen similar plating loss on a geniune Futur, mostly on spots where there was limestone buildup and removed by means of a barbicide bath.
However, that doesn't really seem to be your case, so it was probably just plating loss (and subsequent rusting) over time with use.

I'm not experienced enough to understand about the balance change as the current handle is very very lightweight and the razor "head" (top parts) are light too.

Frankly speaking, i didn't have high expectations from a $3 razor and i was quite sure it will have a way below average performance.
I can't express how surprised i am to see what a great razor it is (for me).

it's so easy to shave with it, i get a perfectly smooth shave so easily and i even used it for shaving the head - no cuts at all (after the first 2 shaves)

If the balance changes, you might need to change your grip to adjust.
However, if you really like the razor being lightweight, plastic and aluminium handles are probably the way to go.

one thing i noticed though about DE shaving is that blades don't last like cartridges.
with cartridges, i could shave for 5-6 times (and even more) and not get the feeling that they are not sharp anymore.
with DE razors, i barely get 3 decent shaves (with different blades)

It depends on the blade - I've had some DE blades last me 5-7 shaves, but that's fairly individual.

I find that fair hydration matters more with DE blades than with other blade types (although it still matter with those, too). I get my best shaves after I finish working out - I figure sweating for over an hour is difficult to beat as far as hair hydration goes, although I'm not sure where the point of diminishing returns starts there for me.
It might well be that the thicker blades usually used in carts last longer just because of the different thickness and grind.
I would suggest experimenting with your lather a little and hydrate it as much as you can while maintaining slickness and shape. I found that when I whip up mine with enough water so that lather peaks get just a little droopy, I usually have an easier shave. However, some soaps lose slickness at that point, so it's a matter of trying it out (and water hardness probably matters here).

 

[Cheesepiece]

Maintain? i had no idea they require that?
I just keep them in the shower room when i need to shave and on the bathroom's windowsill afterwards.

It's not a requirement. My grandad has the same maintenance routine as you do and his Fatboy I got him ten years ago is still as good as the day it came out of the factory.
Fairy liquid, water and nail brush every so often go a long way. An ultrasonic cleaner may take out more debris than you could imagine but if it's still shaving...

 

[Miro]

Razors usually do benefit from being taken apart (if possible), gently wiped and dried to prolong their life, even brass, stainless steel and titanium ones.

Oh, well.. i do clean it from time to time when changing the blade. i wash it while scrubbing it with an old, used toothbrush and then shake it to dry.

If the balance changes, you might need to change your grip to adjust.
However, if you really like the razor being lightweight, plastic and aluminium handles are probably the way to go.

okay, i'll have to see if i'll need to change my grip.
and yes - it's sure seems like lightweight is more comfortable than the heavy one for me.

As far as the blades replacement interval. i'll try to add a few drops of water to lather and see how it goes

 

[R181]

Regarding plating loss on razors, plating loss on razors made of pot metal/Zamak/zinc alloys is much more serious than plating loss on razors made from carbon steel. Plating loss on the first can lead to horrible and severe corrosion rather quickly when compared to the latter.

Generally, razors made of stainless steel or titanium are not plated as there is no real need for it.

Bob