What's a good SE for a first timer?

Discussion in 'Safety Razors' started by ChrisB, Mar 18, 2023.

  1. gorgo2

    gorgo2 geezerhood

    1. Yep. Gem stainless and China made Schick injector blades are generally regarded as the best in current production.

    2. Depends on whether you're a collector or a user. There's a big sliding scale there but a vintage beater can shave as well as a mint edition. Depends on what you want.

    3. Dunno.
     
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  2. BBS

    BBS Well-Known Member

    As far as blades goes for injectors you have 3 to 4 major types of blades to choose from.

    1. Chinese Schicks - you can buy these at ebay, walmart, amazon, etc.

    2. Japanese Schicks - these differ from the Chinese ones and include regular injector blades, Schick II twin blades and the Proline B-20 blades

    3. Supply injector blades - these are made in Japan and may either be a rebrand of the Japanese Schicks or their own custom made edge either way the place to buy these are from Supply Shave Co.

    4. Personna blades and rebrands like Ted Pella, Taconic Shave, Parker, etc.

    There are other companies that make these blades like Kai but far as I know they are strictly for medical use and not sharp enough to use for shaving.

    As far as Gem blades goes there used to be 4 suitable for shaving but the only ones easily found these days are the stainless steel PTFE coated blades.

    Connaught shaving even with the international shipping is one of the more competitive vendors on price that carries all these blades except for the Supply and Chinese Schicks.

    https://connaughtshaving.com/
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2023
  3. BBS

    BBS Well-Known Member

    You don't have to ride it exactly flat, you only start there and slightly angle it out until you find the best working angle.
     
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  4. ShaversRUs

    ShaversRUs Well-Known Member

    1. They are readily available now. Always? Only time will tell.
    2. Your choice. If you want it to look new, then buy near-mint. Since you are going to shave with it, don't buy NOS still in the packaging since you will pay a premium for packaging you will just rip open anyway. I'm pretty much talking about the later Schick injectors in blister packs. Personally, I would go for user-grade in decent condition. That's what I did and it didn't break the bank. You should be able to get a really nice condition vintage Schick injector for less than $30.
    3. I've never used AC. The blades are pricey.

    The advantage of fleabay is that many sellers don't know what they are selling! That's how you get the good deals. There are tons of Schick injectors and Gem-style razors there. Those vendors you mention above I've seen on the bay, and they charge premium prices. Avoid.
     
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  5. BBS

    BBS Well-Known Member

    I did some digging on the Gem blades. The ones suitable for shaving usually have a 3 facet cut. The part numbers are the following for packs of 100

    Stainless Steel coated PTFE - commonly used for shaving
    62-0165

    Stainless Steel uncoated - not recommended they are very tuggy
    62-0167

    Carbon steel- super smooth but the blades rust if not dried between shaves
    62-0161

    Carbon steel blue blades - some guys like these never did see why myself and prefer the regular Carbon Steel blades
    62-0163

    razorbladeco.com carries all these blades.

    You can find smaller quantities but they will cost more for the blue blades on amazon sold as Gem Blue Star blades in packs of 10 with a blade bank. The other also but you'll have to look around on that.
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2023
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  6. BBS

    BBS Well-Known Member

    The Gem PTFE coated stainless steel blades and Personna injector blades are used extensively in the medical industry, they are not going anywhere anytime soon.
     
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  7. ShaversRUs

    ShaversRUs Well-Known Member

    I just realized the OP is in Australia.
    Not sure how common these U.S. made vintage razors are there locally. I suppose you need to pay shipping from the U.S. then on the bay.
     
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  8. BBS

    BBS Well-Known Member

    On condition, most razors tend to look worse in the picture than in person and most clean up nicely, what you want to keep away from are obviously rotted and/or broken razors. As long as they are in good working condition a little TLC goes a long way with vintage stuff.

    Since the O.P. is in Australia the way to go initially on single edge razors is find vendors in the US selling lots with at least 1 to 2 razors you do want and if you can get those razors for the equivalent of $20 USD or less when you spread the cost per piece your shipping cost also drops per piece to the point if you get the scragglers cheap enough you might be able to resell them locally and make back what you paid for the lot plus shipping without selling the razor(s) you actually wanted.
     
  9. ShaversRUs

    ShaversRUs Well-Known Member

    Looking at completed sales in the U.S., I see a bunch of Type Es in decent (nowhere near bad) condition that sold for less than $5 USD.

    Looking at my purchase history on the bay, I paid $22 for an E3 in good condition with a lousy-condition original case 2 years ago.
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2023
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  10. BBS

    BBS Well-Known Member

    @ChrisB if you want these 3 razors to get started for the price of the shipping pm me. It should cost me somewhere around $15 - $20 USD to ship them your way. If you don't take them they will eventually wind up as TSD raffle items. You got one good aggressive razor in the micromatic open comb, the other Gem is milder and the Schick Type I Hydro-magic is a beater but a good working razor.


    3se.jpg
     
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  11. swarden43

    swarden43 "It's your shave. Enjoy it your way."©

    Nice!
     
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  12. ChrisB

    ChrisB Well-Known Member

    @BBS
    Too kind! I agree with Steve: super generous offer! PM sent.
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2023
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  13. ChrisB

    ChrisB Well-Known Member

    :confused:
    Still waiting for some blades I ordered from Connaught shaving a while back, as well as some other stuff from overseas, hopefully should be here soon after the Easter break. Even stuff ordered from over East in Australia seems to be taking ages to get here. Meantime the excitement builds.
     
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  14. ChrisB

    ChrisB Well-Known Member

    Update @BBS your package arrived earlier today :thanks:

    :happy036:it feels like Xmas just after Easter! :santa

    All well wrapped, you will be relieved to know all three look to be in great working order after their long journey.


    11 Apr 23 BBS 800-100.jpg 11 Apr 23 BBS 1056-90.jpg

    Super cool gesture.

    Now just need to decide which to play with first!
     
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  15. ShaversRUs

    ShaversRUs Well-Known Member

    The injector.
    :)
     
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  16. sidpost

    sidpost Active Member

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  17. ShaversRUs

    ShaversRUs Well-Known Member

    They sell on eBay. I have always passed on their listing for the simple reason that I could pay less from other sellers. I'm not doubting their quality, but they pretty much want top-dollar.
     
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  18. BBS

    BBS Well-Known Member

    Thought I'd add on modern Gem SE razors these are the following I found are still being produced.

    For budget razors PAA as it turns out is still producing the Starling SE razor. The current iteration is a V2. These run about $50 now.

    In the $100+ range you have
    Wolfman
    Blackland Sabre
    Shield Gem razor

    If you want to make your own plenty of 3D printed designs out there on the thingiverse.
     
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  19. ShaversRUs

    ShaversRUs Well-Known Member

    But how much are 3D printers?;)
     
  20. BBS

    BBS Well-Known Member

    Xometry is cheaper usually and no need for anything but the open source print files.
     
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