Well today I went for it. My first plan was to just do a WTG and then finish with a DE. Figured I would get the technigue down before complete shaves. It went so well that I did the whole shave. Only had 2 small weepers. Problem is I don't think these blades are as sharp as most of my DE's. I used a brand new GEM blade purchased at Walgreens. The razor itself looks fine and may have never been used. The finish looks like it is new. I did like the very audible feedback you get while shaving. I don't know how anyone shaves with music playing.
I've had the same experience with those blades. I think the carbon steel SE blades are sharper to start with, maybe even sharper than most DEs, but they do not last at all. I stick with the GEMs for SE shaving. I wish one of the common DE blade makers, say Personna or Derby, would make a platinum coated SE. I'd buy 'em.
I had the same experience. The stainless blades are very sharp and as you progress your technique will improve. Like your DE razors each different model Gem shaves slightly different. You will get used to it. SE blades are very sharp and have to compensate for having only one edge. Happy New Year
Glad to hear it well for you. Don't be fooled into thinking those SE blades aren't as sharp. Like magic and RocketMan said, they're plenty sharp. So much so I only use my SEs on the weekends. More than two days with an SE and it feels like I've taken off just a bit too much face. Those two shaves are exceptionally close. I feel smoother later into the day than I do when I use my DEs. I think you did right with the Gem blade. I've tried Treet blades and now only keep 'em to scrape things other than my face.
SE handles n blades r amazing!!..try se stainless steel blades..all I do is wipe em clean and they aernt much $$ either!! http://www.emsdiasum.com/microscopy/products/preparation/blades.aspx#71950
First, cork the blades, evens out the blade edge. Treets are carbon steel, and will rust if not at least wiped off, a quick dunk in denatured alcohol is even better, because when the alcohol evaporates, no water is left. Gem Personnas are stainless, and don't need the maintenance. Carbon steel is just a little sharper than stainless. I use both, depending on how I feel about it.
Tried my first 2 shaves with Gem (razor and blade) this week. A very close shave indeed. I am smoother at 5pm today than with any other razor/blade combo I have tried yet. No weepers, but such a close cut I found myself reaching for balmy aftershaves to sooth the skin. I could see alternating the days with this to preserve the face. Next I may experiment and use this for fine finishing (the ATG and touch up stages only), and not waste its sharpness on the first passes.
I'm planning on having my first SE shave tonight. I'll be using the Featherweight that Noob Shaver sent me. I pick up some blades at CVS this morning. Wish me luck!
My first ever true BBS was with a Gem 1912 and a GEM blade. Just play around with the angles a little. I've got over 100 razors and my GEM 1912 is in the top 3 in shave quality.
that is one super cool link! thanks! I'm really curious about the single edge razor blades for clean rooms- surgical steel...
GEM SE razors I have been using Walgreens, GEM blades, in a well worn, GEM 1912 Travel razor (short handle) for about a week now. I have received the best shaves of my life. So far I have shaved 6 times with the same blade. It feels like it is starting to drag a little, but still acceptable this morning. I am going to try for the 7th. shave on Sun. I just ordered 400, #121-3 coated blades from TedPella.com ($35.00 per 200, $15.00 shipping). They are supposed to be the best coated, SE blade available. They seem to have the best prices, although their shipping is a little high. They did not list their shipping charges when I placed the order, so I phoned them and spoke to a very helpful lady. She informed me that the shipping charges are higher because they only ship FEDEX with a signature required. They prefer to ship to a business. It does not make sense to me because they could ship the 400 blades for around $6 or $7 by US Mail. I know! I know! 400 blades at 6 shaves per blade, equals 2400 shaves. Six or seven years of shaves. Don't worry, I am shareing them with a friend. It's cheaper to split the high shipping costs.
I've been using Treet blades from Rite Aid in my Gem 1912 travel and Micromatic bullet tip. They give me a BBS shave that lasts all day. Hard to ask for better than that.
I am doing my initial SS Gem Blade experiment using the 5 pack SS from TSD, at $2.25. I have just completed my 3rd shave on one blade and it is performing at a level well beyond many other DE blades I have tried. They are putting my Derbys to shame,and I was quite happy with my Derbys. I plan to restock with the same SS Gem, or perhaps try the coated SS ones recommended above if I can find a sample quantity I can add to an order. I was planning on trying many, many different DE blades. This Gem experiment may substantially slow down my additional experimenting. Hard to beat excellence when you find it. PS: It turns out that the 5 blades I bought from the TSD Store ARE the SS coated ones!
My 1912 gem arrived today. It was in great condition, especially for the price (6 bucks shipped ftw!) I wiped it down and put in a walgreens "gem by personna" blade and had a blast. They are a LOT louder than a DE, which is pretty cool, and it seems to be really nice for touch up in particular since it seems to be a lot milder than my usual DE choices but still very close. I'm a fan already. I can totally imagine using a de for early passes and an se to finish up, or even switching to primarily se down the road. we'll see. The blade is MUCH less sharp than my usual DE blades, but that doesn't seem to be an issue, and even has advantages in touch up.
