Shave 3 with the modified gem carbon steel blade. Either the blade is shot already or the angle is wrong. I did this shave riding the blade and with the guard adjusted opened more than the other shaves. I might as well have not shaved today. I'll go back to what worked for me tomorrow and see what happens.
Endgame Countdown Lather Bros. | Gauntlet Leo Frilot | Infinity Brush | MAC Metalworks Synthetic 28mm The New Improved Schick Injector Razor | Personna 74
Tabac Tuesday. Thanks to @Frijolero I had a new to me 1912 to play with. Great shave!! Video posted across the street. http://theoriginalsafety2.com/thread/3557/fuzzy-shaves-another-gem-1912
Williams Wednesday's Shave Cold Water Rinse Williams Mug Shave Soap Jayaruh #343 Synthetic Ever-Ready 1909 Vintage Gem Cutlery SE CWR Dove Men+Care Post Shave Balm My prep was just a cold water rinse. The Williams Mug Shave Soap face lathered well with Jayaruh #343 Synthetic brush. I did two passes with the Ever-Ready 1909 razor with a Vintage Gem Cutlery SE blade and ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Dove Men+Care Post Shave Balm. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...
Wed 24th April Omega 11126 Boar Mondial Tabacco Verde PAL Injecto Matic Schick Proline [ 5 ] Tuff Green A/S Lotion A much better Shave today when obviously the blade was past its best. The New to me Croap lathers very nicely and helps the shave go smoothly. The soap has an earthy smell and is different to the usual almondy scent of many Italian soaps. I think it will go well in my Travel Pack.
I don't think the VC1 was made to be adjustable. It should be all the way closed. The angle is more or less the angle of the head.
I decided to give the autostrops a rest until I get in the feather blades and decided to use a razor I am embarrassed to say I've never shaved with until today. Gem Micromatic Open Comb with a stainless PTFE blade. I am glad I did this maybe the best razor I own if this shave is anything to go by. The only other razor I remember being close to a shave like this was the bullet tip micromatic. This razor for sure is going to be put through the paces with different types of blades in the near future.
Instructions with these mention opening them up to adjust how they shave. The one thing I have noticed is the blade likes to shift around too much. Most likely due to the way I modified it. I also figured out a better way to keep it from wanting to shift unevenly and I have to modify the blade in such a way you don't nib off the tabs on the top of blade. I use a hand nibbler and can cut back enough so those tabs lock the blade in place but you loose some of the blade exposure as a tradeoff. It is a work in progress.
When you despine the Gem you'll notice a notch either side, they lock the blade in place. Put the blade in at a slant until the first notch is home, then pull the blade towards you and carefully push the blade home. Edit: There is no reason I can see for the notches (hidden) other than to steal some of the Valet blade sales, hence the "Valet" cut outs in later blades. Or am I just being cynical? I'm home now so can show you what I mean. From the left: a Valet blade, Gem, Despined Gem. There's no need to do anything other than despine the Gem blade.
Tabac Thursday's Shave Cold Water Rinse Tabac Jayaruh #343 Synthetic Ever-Ready 1909 Vintage Gem Cutlery SE CWR Tabac AS My prep was just a cold water rinse. The Tabac Shave Soap face lathered well with Jayaruh #343 Synthetic brush. I did two passes with the Ever-Ready 1909 razor with a Vintage Gem Cutlery SE blade and ended up with a close, comfortable shave. After a cold water rinse, I finished off with Tabac AS. I am clean, smooth, and refreshed...
Thanks, that saves a bit of work. I just reloaded the autostrop without nibbling the blade. It does work but those cutouts are a little bit smaller than the valet ones. They do affix the blade securely but it takes a little adjusting to get the blade even. I am going to give it another go in a few days.
The actual tang (ignore the cut out) is pretty much the same and they and the blade stops hold it securely. I'm convinced to steal blade sales from Valet was the reason for them being there, being under the spine they have no purpose.
Blackland Sabre L2 Gem PTFE First go on this blade, I normally use a milder razor for the initial shave, and it felt a little rough but no claret was spilt, so all's good. Happy Shaving one and all.
I do love the extreme curve of the top cap on this OC Dammy. When I rinse it under hot water and bring it back up to "ride the cap". That warm cap feels great! Also...can't explain it...but this perticular razor does shave better than any of my other Dammies did. I can't say if it's the ooen comb or the extreme curve of the top cap or what. But it is an extremly efficient, and comfortable shaver. Kind of in it's own class. I think I could recognize it blind-folded! Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
The purpose of the notches is to hold the spine in place. It's crimped into them. Some years ago my dad gave me a box of tools that he no longer used after he retired. Among them was this awesome pair of parallel-jaw duckbill pliers. They're perfect for all of the ways that we misuse Gem blades, like despining and inserting/removing from Autostrops.
