I have had a few SE razors for awhile but only use them once every two months or so. I decided today to give them full attention in the month of May. I will be using only these two SE razors in random order and stropping the blade after each shave. I want to see for myself how long the GEM stainless will last and if I can learn to shave as well or hopefully better than with my DE razors. I have a few questions for SE users before I get started. How many shaves do you usually get out of an SE blade with and without stropping? How are the carbon blades and what is a good brand to try in them? When stropping the blade how many times should I strop it?
I would use the blade until it starts to tug. When that happens, bin it. With the Gem SS PTFE blades, I would normally get about 5 shaves and pitch them. If I pushed them, I could get another shave or two, but didnt see the sense in it. I don't strop SE blades at all. I have used Gem Blue Star blades in the past. They were nice and comfortable, but would go south after a couple shaves. A month is about the right amount of time to get acclimated to an SE razor. Just use a light touch and take it easy. I didn't much care for lather catchers or 1912 style razors and much preferred the OCMM when wanting a SE shave. Have fun with it.
As far as I know there are only a handful of options for SE blades. Gem makes two versions, a stainless and a carbon. P.A.L. makes carbon ones, or at least did, not sure on their availability. There are the Ted Pella SEs and then feather SEs which are made for Valets and are hard to find. Gem Stainless can be picked up at your local walgreens or cvs. Razorbladesandmore.com has a good selection of SEs I'd check them out. Have to wait for the SE die-hards to answer your other questions and confirm my answer.
I'm not sure about CVS but Walgreens doesn't carry them anymore. Luckily, I found a local mom and pop drug store that carries GEM Stainless and Blue Star. Cheaper than they were at Walgreens too.
You are a brave man. That first shot looks like a mini-meat cleaver! I'll wish you well in May. Edit: I think I picked some a few years back at a paint store. They use them to clean paint residue off of glass.
That first shot is actually an Ever Ready Lather Catcher. Great razor. The part that looks like a meat clever is actually what you use to hold the blade so you can strop it. The blade comes out, of course and the part that is holding the blade fits inside the rest of the handle. The handle then screws onto the head of the razor.
Thanks for that clarification! Edit: You faked me out with the shaving brush in the shot. Still I should have figured that one out! Wait that is a shaving brush isn't it?
Yeah.....It is an old Ever Ready as well. It looks kind of odd because it has the original nylon knot.
I use an EverReady 1928 "shovelhead" and enjoy it "VERY" much..One thing I've done with my EverReady is mate it to a Greistshaving "NEW" brass fat handle(111 grams), this makes for a nice heavy SE razor..I can usually get a solid week(7+) shaves out of a Gem SS. I get mine locally from Walgreens. Be careful of using store branded blades,they are many times "made in Korea" Dorco I think and in my experience are not nearly as good as the Gem SS blades.... I like that stropping handle you have....
All you need to do is go to a hardware store and get a 10/32 set screw or cut down a regular screw. Then you can use it to connect the head and handle.... If you like SE it really opens up a new world being able to mate SE heads to DE handles..
A big +1 Dorco DE blades aren't the best, but their SE blades are awful. I tried one for about half a shave before the rest of the pack was relegated to scraping paint.
Nice plan, Weeper Warrior! I really like that Ever Ready lather cather. I guess I'll have to lay my hands on one for myself someday! I've got a few SE's myself (GEM OCMM, Star 1912 and Valet Autostrop) I enjoy them all very much. In the GEM and the Star I've only used GEM stainless blades so far. They last me about 7 to 10 shaves. A few weeks ago I got some NOS Star blades (package of 5). Haven't tried them yet, but I will soon!
I have easy access to Gem and Treet blades at ShopRite and our local grocer respectivley. I much prefer the Gem and wouldn't give Treet to my worst enemy.
Thanks for that, I was thinking of giving Treet a go but since I read that I will have to check out the Blue Stars.
I predict and hope that you're gonna love May....Maybe I'll do it with ya... Keep in mind that all of our opinions are YMMV....I tried my first Treet blade a few days ago and the first shave was great, but it was rusting by the end of it...but not the edge....But I have 5, and since that shave was so great I will try another...this time I might put a drop of baby oil on each side before the shave....I believe Hoosier Trooper is a fan of Treets....But since I can't buy SE blades in Turkey, I believe the Gem SS coated blades will in up being my stock-pile choice... Be sure to keep everyone at the SE party up to date on your progress in May....http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/injector-se-party.23113/page-70
Thanks for the kind words, BL. I will keep the party updated, I plan to use this thread as blade journal. I will put overall thoughts in the SE party. Treets are easily accessible and cheap here, They can be found at most local gas station. So I will probably give them a try if I don't like them I can just bin them. Maybe the stropping will keep the rust at bay.
