SE Shaving doesn't get enough attention

Going to continue the "breaking in" of my Gem Heavy Flat Top in the morning. These guard bars just seem to get in the way and I tend to use more pressure with them than I do an open comb. So while it's not as easy to use for me as the MMOC, I still can get a very good shave with it. I see some complain about the handle, but I actually find it easy to hold. And. I. Just. Can't. Stop. Looking. At. It! I've heard others say that SEs look like hoes for midgets. I, on the other hand, think they are the best looking razors out there. While the Heavy Flat Top is beautifully plated, I most enjoy the warmth of the brass micromatics. I have 2 plated MMOCs and 1 brass; the brass one gets most of the action. Hrmmm, TSD ISZ wheat cream, Vulfix 2234, Gem HFT, and my face.... what a great start I'm going to have to the morning. I wish you all nothing less!

As borrowed from another SE aficionado.... May the Gem be with you!

 

Thanks for the heads up, I will pick up some SE blades on the way home tonight.
Appreciate the help.

 

I personally prefer the treet carbon steel blades over the GEM stainless. Different strokes for different folks, but you never know until you try them all. I picked up a pack of GEMS from Walgreens and got my Treets off of Amazon. I haven't tried the feather SE blades yet, so that will be my next purchase when I need to restock.

There are a few good youtube vids instructing on how to use the GEM SEs. I don't anticipate that you will have any issues figuring out the angle of your new OMM. It's a very user friendly razor IMO. Good luck!

 

Thanks for that, I will look up the video's when I get home. I appreciate the help.

 

Actually your brass MM is gold plated, as all of the Gems are I believe. I have a Flying Wing that the gold plating has peeled off in a couple places.

Here is a page from a 1947 catalog and you can see in the description of the Flying Wing, Peerless Micromatic set and the Gem Junior under it all say gold plated. I think they goofed on the Gem Junior picture because the description says it has a plastic handle, that is clearly a metal one.

I don't think they came in unfinished brass.

 

Me too. I also like the Gem Blue Star and CVS blades, which I think are identical to the Treets.

 

Wow, then all of the plating is completely stripped as I can find no clue that it was once plated gold.

 

Here's pictures of the Flying Wing that is losing the gold plating. I suppose yours was doing the same and a previous owner took it all off, or ASR made some that weren't plated in gold or chrome but every one I have looks like gold plating. Would it have made them much cheaper to have skipped the plating process and sold bare brass models?

 

Interesting, neither my Clog Pruf nor my OC show any signs of gold plating and I found them at 2 different locations. My Gem Junior 1912 though is definitely gold plated and holding up pretty nicely.

 

Iradke/Crackstar, where can I order Feather SE blades? I picked up a nice Autostrop razor for $4.00 US at a flea market in GA. It uses the blades with the cutouts, so I can't use "despined" Gem SE blades.
I'm dying to try it, because I love my Gem travel razor, Gem Junior, and Gem Micromatic bullet tip.
I've found the Micromatic bullet tip razor to be a fantastic shaver. Never tried an open comb MM but I love the bullet tip.
My first shave with it left me wondering why they quit making them and why more people aren't using them.
BTW, hoosier trooper, my flying wing/bullet tip is nickel plated with average plating wear resulting from a previous owner using it regularly.
I'd love to get it chrome plated or black chrome plated.
Hard chrome would be sweet.

 

I get the Feathers at www.razorbladesandmore.com
As far as I know that's the only place to get them. I used one this morning in a VAS.

 

Hate how much they cost, but it's still a lot cheaper than Gillette cartridge blades.

 

Did you get the message I sent?

 

Yes, just now I did. I replied.
Seems like all the flying wings I see are gold plated, except for mine.
My VAS is gold plated.

 

Man, this thread is beginning to make me feel regret for selling all my SE's. I love the way a GEM OCMM shaves, and the Featherweight is pretty gosh darn good too.

 

Jaymo! How about I send you some so you can try them our before you go ahead and order? Just shoot me a PM and I can get them out in the next day or two. I don't mind doing stuff like this as my brother sends them to me by the case whenever I want them (he lives in Japan). I use a brass AutoStrop that only takes blades with the VALET cutout.

I am sure you will love them...the blades are great! (Now I just need to figure out how to fit them in my 1914 VAS...they're a bit too thick).

 

I just couldn't get into SE shaving for some reason. It wasn't a bad experience but I just get better shaves with my superspeed. Maybe it would have been a diffrent story if there were more blades avaliable.

 

You are a great example on how to build good shaving karma. Very kind of you

 

I was digging around EbayClassifieds (think Ebay version of Craigslist) and saw a 30's Gem Micro-matic w/original Case for $35. Being new to DE's and not really looking to get into SE (at least not yet), I have no interest. I also have no clue if it's worth the price. But I thought I'd share it with those of you that love the SE's just in case. http://centralny.ebayclassifieds.co...-w-original-case/?ad=13268519&msg=OUT_OF_AREA

Is this a good find?

 

$40.00 shipped? That's more than what I would pay for a Micro-matic, they just never seem to have much demand, although it has grown some of late.