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Post by mrdapper on Oct 28, 2014 14:34:57 GMT -6
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RobinK
Lather Catcher
Posts: 505
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Post by RobinK on Oct 28, 2014 15:32:33 GMT -6
How nice. I have a Louis which is missing its cap, too. If its not too much hassle, I would greatly appreciate a copy of yours. I have wedge blades to spare in return Personally, I have tried using GEM blades in lather catchers with very mixed success. In general, they turn aggressive razors into something closely resembling a cutthroat honed on high grit diamond hones. Personally, I find them completely unusable. Some people seem to manage, in which case you will end up with the world's sharpest shaving instrument. But sharp does not equal comfortable.
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Post by prometeo on Oct 28, 2014 15:47:32 GMT -6
Beautiful razors. I hope you enjoy them!
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Post by fram773 on Oct 28, 2014 16:56:12 GMT -6
Interesting. Never heard of these razors. I am currently searching for a lather catcher now that I have some hones. You're not the least curious about using the original wedge blades?
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Post by mrdapper on Oct 28, 2014 17:13:01 GMT -6
How nice. I have a Louis which is missing its cap, too. If its not too much hassle, I would greatly appreciate a copy of yours. I have wedge blades to spare in return I still need to ask my friend to make one, I will ask for two but no need for blades. If he agrees I will PM you once I have them. Thanks for the views regarding use. I guess that it can be changed from aggressive to maybe less by placing the Gem blade either if front of wedge or behind it, as this will change the angle. I may even have a go at finding the best angle and trying to cobble a purpose made blade holder for it.
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RobinK
Lather Catcher
Posts: 505
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Post by RobinK on Oct 28, 2014 17:25:55 GMT -6
Thank you very much. I doubt whether GEM blades will ever make a good match for a lather catcher, visually or performance wise. But maybe I am just too weak for them...
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Oct 28, 2014 22:30:03 GMT -6
I use GEM blades in all of my lather catchers with great success.
Good luck with yours no matter how you choose to use them. Interesting razors BTW. Please keep us updated.
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Post by wchnu on Oct 28, 2014 23:32:12 GMT -6
Beautiful razors. I hope you can get them to shave well. GOOD LUCK!!
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RobinK
Lather Catcher
Posts: 505
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Post by RobinK on Oct 28, 2014 23:33:22 GMT -6
Interesting. Never heard of these razors. I am currently searching for a lather catcher now that I have some hones. You're not the least curious about using the original wedge blades? You're in the UK, aren't you? If so, I can send you my Louis. It's nothing to write home about, really. As I said, it lacks its cap, and is therefore less stable than it should be, but is otherwise in fairly decent nick. The blade is gone, but I kept it because it's an original Louis blade. I can send you NOS Heljestrand wedges. Unfortunately, ever since we liberated the European market of a few dozen lather catchers, prices have gone through the roof. I bought my Heljestrand seven day set for €25 (in really nice condition), and friends paid something like €35-45 for theirs with strops. My NOS Allegro stropper was something like €20, too. And that is not mentioning the NOS seven day sets of Heljestrand wedges which we got for, well, very little. If you bring some patience, tradera.se is probably still your best best for them.
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Post by drumzalot on Oct 29, 2014 9:32:07 GMT -6
Some lather catchers that originally employed wedged blades tend to become aggressive with modern SE blades. I steer away from wedge blade catchers. There were LC razors that were made to be used with modern blade such as the Gem Junior/Gem Junior Bar. IMO re-plating in nickel is not expensive and the finish is durable. As for trying to accommodate a modern SE blade into your LC, experiment as much as you can. I have had great success in accommodating modern SE blades into rare razors that used proprietary blades. A double edge blade can be curved down by the top plate lessening it's aggressive bite. In a SE blade, the more the sharp edge of the blade is tilted down on the guard the less aggressive it becomes. I have experimented with the blade angles with one of my Star 1902 models (that has worn down blade stop). The way that the blade is angled in the picture below yielded a very mild shave from the razor. The only way you are going to find out if the sandwiched wedge blade and modern SE blade will work is by using it of course. Best of luck.
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Post by mrdapper on Oct 29, 2014 11:42:50 GMT -6
Hi drumzalot that is very good, clear and very useful information thank you. I plan to take a shave now so will give the blade pointing down and back slightly a whirl and report back.
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Post by drumzalot on Oct 29, 2014 13:58:17 GMT -6
Darron, I hope it works out well. The shave might be end up being a bit too mild but anything is worth a shot. Maybe someone might have the proper blade to spare? If you ultimately can't resolve the blade incompatibility issue, at least you have a neat razor in the den collection.
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Post by mrdapper on Oct 29, 2014 15:29:54 GMT -6
Thanks Drumz, well it was extremely close, I nicked myself twice but it was not aggressive as I thought it might be. No burning or irritation of any kind, so i think that could be scratched up as a success. I do have many of the original blades, I'm just using GEM's for convenience really. SOTD
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Post by mjclark on Oct 29, 2014 23:42:09 GMT -6
If you have the original blades, it is utterly worth the effort to try them - as with the Rolls, Empire and my Bayard lathercatcher the wedge blade safety razors give a shave you just can't get any other way. I've honed those blades for myself and several other members, and would happily do the same for you, with very good results. Using GEMs works of course but for me it is a vastly inferior experience - those blades are for Ever Readys and GEMs and in them they shine, but in lathercatchers etc the OEM blades reveal the true excellence of those razors
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Post by mrdapper on Oct 30, 2014 4:50:16 GMT -6
If I was to use them then I should learn to hone the blades myself. The problem is I have tried in the past with kitchen knives and they always seem to be more blunt than when I started.
Any good tips to better my lacking skills?
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