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Post by mikekim on Feb 16, 2013 18:27:40 GMT -6
So I have been using. PAL adjustable for the past few weeks and love the results. It led me to purchase a Schick Injector, a G1 in awesome condition. In both I am using Schick Chinese blades. I have been wet shaving for years, so I wasn't going to assume that the PAL's newer technology or stainless construction automatically meant it would be a better razor. I have some old DE's the beat the pants off of modern specimens many times more expensive. But sad to say, though the G1 appears to be in mint condition, it shaves horrible. Again, a brand new blade in both injectors; two passes with the G1 with and across the grain and its as though there is no blade (though all the tugging and pulling are evidence there is one). One follo-up pass with the PAL and my beard is swept away. As I understand it, the spring under the blade bed isn't supposed to be moved to load the blade. But on my head, and on many heads of the G series that I have seen pictures of, there is a quarter round scar in the head exactly where' the spring would travel if it were pushed towards the left side of the head, away from where the injector key goes. I've heard a few folks say that fussing with the spring is a recipe for a goofed up shave, and I don't have instructions for the razor to the contrary. So what's the real deal? Is the spring supposed to be moved aside to load and unload or to clean? What could be the reason for such a horrid shave from this little beauty? Most folks praise the G1 for excellent two pass shaves but I am not so fortunate. Blades are fine in the PAL, and it was a fresh one in the G1. What am I missing?
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Post by HoosierTrooper on Feb 16, 2013 19:24:26 GMT -6
Don't try to open the frame of that one, it wasn't designed to be opened. I believe that mark is made during the assembly process because every single G I have has that mark.
I get good results with all of my G types except one, and it's a mint condition one G4 that tears my face up every time. I can't see anything wrong with it but for some reason it irritates my face something fierce, and I'm at a loss to explain why that one razor performs like it does.
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Post by razorx on Feb 16, 2013 20:00:57 GMT -6
My quick answer is I'd throw in another new blade and see what happens.I assume you watched for this,but are you sure the blade went in smoothly..... it doesn't take much to completely trash the blade's edge if it catches a little bit of a blade stop as it's inserted.
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Post by mikekim on Feb 16, 2013 21:16:19 GMT -6
I hadn't made an attempt to move the spring. The idea that the scar is a result of the assembly process would be supported by my observing the same scratch on so many specimens.
So maybe it's just the runt of the litter. And further, maybe its poor shaving manners are why it has stayed in such good shape. Who knows.
Marc, I didn't give the blade install much thought, having done it the same way in the PAL so many times. I'll try a fresh blade before I declare defeat.
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norfolkdick
Master Shaver
Captain of the Razor Blades
Posts: 1,601
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Post by norfolkdick on Feb 17, 2013 3:51:04 GMT -6
Greetings
I too strongly suspect that through no reason other than bad luck, you have a 'bad one'. I only possess one G type a G8 and it shaves as smooth as silk and that is with the Personna Stainless Coated blades which most folks say are an inferior blade to the Chinese Schick's you are using.
I suppose like any item that is (or was) mass manufactured every now and again there will be a bad one. I think I would just put it down to experience and watch out for another G type.
Regarding the spring and the mark on the head I have read articles saying it is caused during the assembly/construction process. Most persons who have tried undoing the spring, I think you will find ,have ruined the razor, a member on this forum has tried and failed, but I cannot remember who it was at the moment.
Regards Dick.
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Possum
Master Shaver
Cast Iron Marsupial
Look out you "Fuzzy" wabbit!
Posts: 1,274
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Post by Possum on Feb 17, 2013 4:47:44 GMT -6
I've got a G1 as well. One of my best shavers no doubt about that. BUT, I do sometimes get a louse shave and I can tell almost from the start that it will be lousy. Each time I have had a bad or too soon dulled blade.
Try the tip from razorx and put in a new blade. I have had new blades, SE, DE and Injector that have been bad right from the start so this could be your problem.
Good luck and I hope you get things worked out with the G1
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Post by mikekim on Feb 17, 2013 18:51:51 GMT -6
Well.. The fresh blade did it. Actually, I took the week old blade out of the PAL and loaded it in the G1... And put the G1's supposedly fresh blade in the PAL... the G1 performed wonderfully. I didn't bother with any additional testing. The G1 will get a fresh-fresh blade tomorrow.
So what are the points to watch for when loading the blade?
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Post by wchnu on Feb 18, 2013 1:20:32 GMT -6
Glad to hear that fixed it. I love an easy fix.
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norfolkdick
Master Shaver
Captain of the Razor Blades
Posts: 1,601
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Post by norfolkdick on Feb 18, 2013 3:42:10 GMT -6
Greetings
I am glad that I was wrong and it was the blade and not the razor.
It is very easy to do. It is always easier loading a blade into an injector that already has a blade in it rather than an empty razor, but it is still possible to push it across the nearest blade stop.
What I have not mastered is removing a blade from an injector without dragging it across the far blade stop and ruining it; which of course does not matter a jot if the blade has reached the end of it's shaving life.
I suspect Schick and PAL never intended the blades to be removed other than when 'dead' as a result I now leave them in the razor for their shaving life. It is however nice on occasion to give the razor head a good clean without a blade in it and for this purpose it a a good idea to keep and old worn up blade to load in first.
These of course are just my thoughts other injector users may have better ideas.
Regards Dick.
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Post by mikekim on Feb 18, 2013 7:22:45 GMT -6
Good idea in the old blade...
I may have lucked out since I did a three way blade change and what ended up in the G1seems to have done so unharmed.. Having said that, once I load a new blade (one that hasn't been swapped) I hope for a pleasant surprise and a sweet two pass!
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Post by HoosierTrooper on Feb 18, 2013 17:39:04 GMT -6
I keep a Schick dispenser with three or four old blades in it just to load into an empty razor before loading a fresh blade. Not all of them need it, but a couple are definitely easier to load with a blade in place.
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Post by Alan on Feb 18, 2013 20:32:02 GMT -6
I do the same. It seems a lot of times when I load a fresh blade in an empty injector the blade gets goofed up.
On a side note, I hardly find any razors in the wild but the two that I have found were injectors that had been sitting for years with an old blade in them. After I cleaned them up I submersed them in hot soapy water and ran about 10 used blades through them to be sure the area that holds the blade is crud free. Seems to help.
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norfolkdick
Master Shaver
Captain of the Razor Blades
Posts: 1,601
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Post by norfolkdick on Feb 19, 2013 2:33:02 GMT -6
I do the same. It seems a lot of times when I load a fresh blade in an empty injector the blade gets goofed up. On a side note, I hardly find any razors in the wild but the two that I have found were injectors that had been sitting for years with an old blade in them. After I cleaned them up I submersed them in hot soapy water and ran about 10 used blades through them to be sure the area that holds the blade is crud free. Seems to help. Greetings Another method that also seems to work is to use about 1 foot or so of dental floss with one end tied to the tap (faucet ;D) and slide this into and under the injectors head and pull the razor up and down on the floss. Regards Dick.
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