My first shave with my Ever-Ready 1914 SE

I had my first shave with the Ever-Ready 1914. It certainly is more aggressive than the Ever-Ready 1912 but still very nice. It reminded me of shaving with my Muhle R41 (2013). In some places on my beard it felt like it was pulling my whiskers out instead of cutting them. I use to get that feeling with the R41. I used a new GEM stainless steel blade.
I’ll know better the next shave as I try to find the best angle to use. Right now I prefer my Ever-Ready 1912 but I'll see after a few more shaves with it.

 

Every time I try to upload a picture it tells me it's too big. Help me.....

 

If you are using a Mac and Flickr I might be able to help.
Tom

 

I find I have to be very careful and work on my technique with the ER 1914. That is why it only comes out on the week of March 24.

 

Since you don't have pictures, I will post one of mine.

 

I use the Snipping Tool in Windows to make pics smaller for upload. Bring up the pic, snip a smaller portion and save it. Then try that be pic.

 

The 1914 is a lovely razor...Its got a subtle sweet spot and can take a moment to master it...I use the 1914 with a shim to replicate the thickness of the spine of the original stropping blade....Here is a link on how to do it Sir...
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...fqUc3iuxtGDULhmE4ZYxGA&bvm=bv.105454873,d.bGQ

Billy..

 

The Billyfergie Shim..

Billy (Fergie) has made some precise measurements of modern GEM/Personna blades versus the old GEM, Ever Ready and Star blades from around the 1910s and found that the old blades, Damaskeenes, Cru-Steel and the like, had a thicker spine and so, the dynamics of the razor were actually quite different to the shaves we experience today with modern GEM/Personna blades.

To remedy, he found that half of a modern GEM/Personna spine slipped underneath was just right.

Here's how ...

First, de-spine an old blade by squeezing at each end of the spine and wiggling it free:




Now, using flat blade screw drivers and a good hard edge, like a metal ruler, open up the spine ...




... close it up and repeat a few times until it snaps..



Take your razor, say a 1912, and load in the half spine and the blade on top..





Voila! Shimmed!....

You can do the same with, say a GEM Junior Bar, loading in the blade and then slipping the shim under...





Voila! Shimmed!

That's how ...

Billy...

 

I will have to try that next March.

 

Thanks Billy Fergie I always wondered how it was done.

 

Excellent, thank you!

 

Nice. I just pick up a later 1912 and will have to try that.

Greg W.

 

The Shimming method works well..The original blade spines were twice as thick as the Modern Gem blades and the Shim replicates that to perfection...The angle of the blade is now spot on as the manufactures intended...The angle will feel different and the razors shave closer to the face...A lot of folks are using the shim with good results although its not for everybody it would appear....

Billy..

 

Thanks Billy, I'm gonna try the shim on my 1912. If only I could find blades for my Auto Strop, the blades I have for it need to be rehoned

 

I will add that I find the GEM stainless to be a harsh blade. I can use them, but like them a lot more after the second or third shave.

 

Folks use a Feather SE blade in it Sir...


Billy..

 

Thanks Billy