Double DE blade Shake Sharp gives me the most enjoyable shave of any razor I own or have ever used. I can't yet tell if it's as close a shave as the Injecto-matic, will evaluate this evening. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
May 6, 2017- Mystery SE Blade Razor: Gem 1912 (pass 1), Gillette Sterling Tech (pass 2) Blade: Annie Beauty Supply #5107 SE (1), Dorco ST-301 (6) Brush: Razorock Plissoft 22 Cream: KMF fragrance-free Post: Alum, Listerine, WH Well, this was unexpected... I didn't realize that today was Brian's disposable Kamisori day. So, inspired by several recent posts about Gem razors and in sympathy for Brian's team, I decided to pull out the 1912 and the mystery blade a couple of days early. The blade is a No-name, Chinese-made blade which is distributed by the Annie Beauty Supply Company as a hair shaper blade. This can not bode well for our hero. This is not my first time with a dubious Chinese-made blade or with a non-Gem SE blade, so I was prepared for pretty much the worst. Needless to say, I was shocked to put razor to face and feel... nothing! Hmm.. smooth glide, loud feedback, only one problem... no reduction at all! When I put hand to face, it was as though the blade had done nothing but make the whiskers stand up straighter. FWIW, I don't have a particularly heavy beard, especially if I shave every day, so this is pretty much an ineffective blade. I'm not sure how to class this on the "Bad/Chinese Bad/Tiger Bad" scale as those imply some attempt at reduction and the resulting pain/irritation. To salvage the day, I pulled out the Sterling with the week-old ST-301 that I originally planned to use today. I ended up doing a quick ATG pass (my normal second pass) and ended up with a CCS and no blood or irritation. A good place to stop for the day.
Some new open blade shavers today! Based on what I've read so far, I will have my barbers hone and pasted strop ready when I shave this afternoon.
Sexto de Mayo SOTD: Stirling Synthetic Brush Stirling Electric Sheep SS Sayuri Disposable Kamisori Stirling Unscented PSB Fine Platinum AS It sounds like my experience echoed a few others. After one pass with lots of tugging, pretty much no reduction occurred. I started and ATG pass which was worse and gave up. I pulled out the Schick G3 and finished for a CCS. It was fun to try, but not too successful. I hope everyone has a great day!
Did you glue to shim to the GEM blade or just place it under? I glued the two injector blades together and then put it under the spine and closed the lid. Haven't shaved with it yet but will a little later today.
Thanks, Clint! I would have pulled out a straight but I didn't plan ahead for a possible poor shave. It still worked out. Have a great day!
When I shimmed with an old Gem blade spine, I just placed it under the fresh blade's spine and closed the lid. No need to glue to hold things together. The shim worked great on a 1914 and 1924. The effect wasn't as pronounced with a 1912, because the shave with the modern blade was pretty decent to begin with, but it was still there.
Lots of guys told me it would go better than I thought, Chris. They were right. Hoping your first straight experience goes as well as mine. Granted, it was one WTG pass with a not so close shave result, but I was happy to finish uninjured and learning something. Lot's of practice ahead if I want to get any good at it, but not nearly as scary and injurious as I thought.
Well, I managed to draw blood with the little lily razor......sort of.. like the others I lathered up and made a couple of strokes and nothing happened. I pulled the blade out of the holder and thought this looks like a slightly oversized half DE blade. I have some half DE blades for my shavette, so I pulled one out and loaded it into the holder. It moved around a little but I thought. "What's the worst that could happen?" I made a stroke and removed a nice swath of whiskers. I made another stroke and the blade slipped and opened up a nice inch long gash on my cheek. Took forever to get the bleeding to stop and afterwards I didn't even finish my shave. I did learn that at least sometimes size does matter.
The good news, Chris, is this puts you in the lead for the "Worst Shave with a Japanese Pain Stick" Shavy. Extra points for breaking new ground by swapping out the blade. The day is young, so who knows, but we should have a winner announced tomorrow. Good luck!
A 400 brush handle made by @twhite is coming my way. The handle comes with two ferrules, so he's sending me a 25 mm (to accept a 24 mm knot) and a 27 mm (to accept a 26 mm knot). All my brushes, aside from the one I'm currently using, are shown below. I will need a larger doily once I receive my 30 Day Crew LE and my 400 brushes. I realize that I probably just lost my Man Card by telling you my brushes sit on a doily. Anyway, I'm pumped about my new brush acquisitions! @Norcalnewb, let your Bride know I will eventually have 9 brushes (or 10 if you consider the 400 handle can be matched to two knots), and that you'll be ordering a custom CH2 immediately. This will be my rotation: Edwin Jagger XL Synthetic STF V2.0 JR #160 with Omega 10098 boar knot Figured Maple 30 Day Crew LE handle with a 24 mm APShaveCo Tuxedo knot Kent BK4 Silvertip Kent BK8 Silvertip Rudy Vey Custom Chubby Shavemac Two-band Silvertip Simpson Chubby 2 Super Semogue Owners Club Two-band Finest twhite 400 Aluminum handle with 25 mm and 27 mm ferrules
