My last SE razor was nearly 40 years ago, a Shick injector and I "think" I liked it. For some bizarre reason I'm interested in a Gem micromatic or similar but blades in Australia are, as far as I'm aware hard to come by. Internet purchase from the US is very steep as far as postage for blades. My dumb [ish] question is this: -- if a box of 100 hardware store blades is advertised at .009" could they be used if honed on leather first or is there no real difference? Anyone use an industrial type blade? On a scale of mild to agressive how would you rate the Gem SE type razors? Lots of questions - so little time Thanks Steve
NO! The shaving razor and the utility razor blades are not the same. The hardware store one will tear up your face, even if you strop it.
Unfortunately, they are right. Much as you would like to use your SE, maybe you would do better with a DE, if those blades are available to you.
Check out www.connaughtshaving.com for excellent prices and worldwide shipping on the GEM coated stainless SE blades and Personna injector blades.
Don't do it! A 10 pack of SE generic GEM blades can be bought at Rite Aid for $4.99. They are made for shaving. The utility blades are not.
Speaking of generic blades, I was shopping around and it seems that every shop I went in today had their own brand of blades. Rite-Aid, Kroger and Walgreens each had a self-branded blade and they were all made in Israel. I've heard tell that some of these sorts of blades are Personnas but how can you be sure? Just try 'em out and see if they work for you? I did find some Wilkinson Swords at Bi-Mart for $1.99 for 5 so I grabbed those for a trial run.
Us Comonwealth country's inhabitants have the same issue.... Rite Aid, Kroger, Walgreen, et al are not available to us. I second the Connaughtshaving. I purchased both injector and SE blades from them, and the shipping was not unreasonable, and they came in a timely manner. If I remember correctly, the cost was as inexpensive as it would have cost me ordering from the US, with cheaper shipping....
Have you asked the store where you saw the hardware blades(what brand of blades are they?) if they could possibly order you some shaving blades under that brand name? They might do it for you for good customer relations(shouldn't cost you much if anything in shipping) and it just may give them another customer base. Have you tried amazon?
