First Shave with GEM Micromatic

Tried my hand at SE razor shaving today. Wasn't too bad. I had been putting it off after reading a few disaster stories with GEM razors. I must say I was obviously well prepared as I didn't seem to have any problem with nicks. Had some stinging and probably won't try for BBS tommorrow but its 8:00 and barely getting the shadow now. I can see that pressure and angle are supremely important with the my GEM though. Thanks for all the info and good shaving.

 

If you give time to learn the proper angle/pressure with a GEM will give you close BBS shaves everytime that you use it.Glad that you liked it
as somebody who is greatly missing here used to said:
VIVA LA REVOLUTION!!!!

 

Congrats on a great first time out!!

My first S.E. shave was with a Gem Open Comb Micromatic. I had heard the horror stories too, but like you I had a wonderful shave the first time out!!

 

Glad you got it to work. The MM is the worst SE razor I've ever used.

 

Yes this is critical; it's the difference between loving or hating this razor.
It's a mighty razor, and it's aggressive, but it can be tamed. It's a nice solid piece of steel.

 

is it,how come?

 

I normally use a 1912, but I've tried the micromatic a few times. It's a slightly different angle needed on the MM, but I'm getting better with it.
I used the clog-pruf MM for a full week about 3 weeks ago and liked the shave.

Just then I used the open comb for the first time, great shave, probably the closest shave I've ever got out of a 3 pass shave. I usually need 4 passes with a DE or 1912.
I like the aggressiveness of the MM

 

I really have a hard time figuring out why even amongst hardcore Gemocrats the Micromatic seems to take a lot of hits. I own two bullet tips and both consistently deliver fantastic shaves. I really like the weight and the feedback of the Micromatics. Coming off a week with double edge, I can't wait to shave with one tomorrow morning. 3 passes and your BBS, 5 o'clock shadow at about 5 o'clock the following evening. It's a beautiful thing.

 

After a couple weeks shaving with DE I shaved today with a 1912 fat red bakelite handle and got a supreme shave,but I paid the price of not using it for those 2 weeks with some small nicks on my throat.And I agree with you,SE shaving seems to last more than a DE shaving;with a DE shaving I can have a 5 oclock shadow after 13 to 14 hours but with a SE shaving almost 20 to get the shadow,why is it?I dunno but I guess that the SE razor cuts the hair even closer than the DE.Ill have to try the slant against the open comb MM.

 

I like SE razors because they shave really well and also for the great sound they make when cutting whiskers. It's almost what a hollow ground straight sounds like. I've got a few rescued 1912's that I need to test drive. I'll have to load one up in the morning and have a great shave!

 

Well they may be a few differences between your bullet tips and the normal handled types (which I have).

There may be differences between either of my early MMs (my clog-pruf and my open comb), which are the earlier 1929-1930 versions, and the later versions that other people may be trying too. It could be the blade they tried as well, treets and pals do not work for me, and maybe they tried the walmart GEM blade which isn't the same as the GEM by Personna.

But to me they were never hard to shave with, just required holding the head flatter to my face than the 1912s angle needed.

I hear you about looking forward to using SEs again. I had to use DEs for the past week as I was out of blades for SE. I could not get good shaves for 7 days, trying a NEW, and NI, a rocket HD and a 1948-1950 USA aristocrat.
I hit pay dirt though when I switched to the red tip superspeed, now that is a DE that works for me.
But now I'm going to do a week of MM open comb as I've got 200 SE blades just delivered.

 

Hey Pablo,I am with you in that journey.I wanna do a whole week of MM open comb too,when are you gonna start?next monday?

 

Well I had a shave with one just then

as above:

It was 10am sunday mornng when I posted that here.

 

where are you,Australia?

 

Good work!
Yes, west coast australia.

 

that explains all....happy102:happy102

 

There can never be too much Micromatic love.

 

I don't know. I just don't like the shaves with it. I like a few of the "regular" Gems- the 1912s and Featherweight- but I just can't get a smooth shave with the MM.

You know how it is- if we all liked the same thing, the world would be a boring place. By me not liking the MM, I'm giving someone else the opportunity to buy one on E-bay.

 

Thats definitely true!
I find the featherweight really underestimated.Its a great SE razor and usually the cheapest ones on ebay.

 

I like my Comb-MM too. It gives a good shave, as long as I don't use those paint-scraper PAL blades. I should get more...