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Post by mjclark on Jan 20, 2014 14:28:03 GMT -6
The encouragement members have given me (especially Drumzalot) to perservere with SEs has finally paid off and I just got BBS from an SE for the first time! A generic 009 RD in an OCMM delivered a really satisfying shave and also showed me where I'd been going wrong. It's one of those "mysteries of the easily explained." I'd been surprised at the previous poor results I had with SEs since I get great shaves from straights and shavettes which require equally careful attention to angle. But it turns out that the issue wasn't angle, it was actually blade management. I was using dull blades!! For me, double edge blades will normally go for three shaves and I've now realised that, although some people can push 6 shaves out of a GEM carbon, for me these SE blades are one and done. As long as I stick to just one shave from each blade, I can at last get the smooth close shave that I've been reading about for so long. MAGIC!! Also some do not like the generic Personnas and find them unsuitable for shaving, but for me they have delivered a BBS on the first shave. They are also so cheap that this isn't a problem at all and I do the same for DE blades in shavettes and the R41. At last my Micromatics shave as good as they look.
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Post by drumzalot on Jan 20, 2014 17:52:16 GMT -6
Talk about ironic, I can also push 6 or 7 shaves out of a carbon or stainless steel SE blade but I generally don't do it. There might not be as many various SE blades out there as there are DE blades but we have a few to choose from. One brand (type) of blade might work for someone but it can be terrible for somebody else.
In my area I can obtain CVS Pharmacy carbon blades easily. They do tend to pull & tug a bit but they are sharp enough and can last for 6 shaves. The Gem Blue Star blades (for me) are very smooth but don't last too long after the second shave it's dull. A long while back I decided that I would rather have a better shaving experience and trash my blades after the 2nd or 3rd use rather then push them to the extreme and have rough shaves.
You might like to experiment with just about every brand (type) of SE blade available. You will probably find the SE blade that works well for you and lasts for a couple of shaves.
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Post by mjclark on Jan 21, 2014 2:01:11 GMT -6
Yeah - I've currently got generic 009 RDs and GEM carbon which both go for one really good shave only, GEM SS which stay consistent for longer but for me aren't as sharp or smooth as the carbons, and some NOS Micromatic blades which have a scalloped finish on the metal and say "Hold razor flat against face" on the packet. And I agree that these blades are cheap disposable items and it suits me to go for quality with on or two shaves then bin it. 12 hours on, I still have a fantastic shave from the OCMM and I finally understand what all the fuss is about. Attachments:
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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 Jan 21, 2014 3:13:13 GMT -6
Try putting mineral oil, at least that's what we call it, on the carbon steel blade when it's installed. 2 drops top and bottom is plenty. Don't remove the blade between shaves, but add another drop top and bottom right through the comb on a loosened head to replenish the oil. Unless you have heavily chlorinated (acidic [HCl] ) water it should lengthen the life of the blade. BTW, don't remove it from the razor and don't dry it off. Just give it the oil treatment. When I did this I actually used Skin So Soft, but that's a mineral oil base, the rest is just foofoo stuff to make it smell like a French lady of the night. Think Pigalle. (for those who don't know google it, you might need to add Paris to the search)
What is Mineral Oil on the other side of the pond? I have no idea, but you'll get it at a chemist. We can find it even at a supermarket; it's pretty benign. It isn't a prescription or anything like that. It's clear, and taken for the bowels. Or at least I think that's the general use. Avon scents it up and ladies use it on their skin (Skin So Soft).
When I treated my CS blades this way I couldn't believe the long life I got out of them. I just found it tiring and switched to the SS blades.
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Post by mjclark on Jan 21, 2014 3:56:39 GMT -6
That's a great tip! I've got loads of mineral oil which I use on my oilstones - I just buy generic baby oil which is £1.00 for 500ml. And I know all about Skin So Soft - my girlfriend is an Avon rep Just shaved with a NOS Micromatic blade in the Clog-pruf and it was way way sharper than the modern GEM carbon. I'm quite confident I could get at least two shaves from it, but tomorrow it's time to revisit the PAL adjustable unless my bakelite Souplex arrives. And yeah - a great BBS from the Clog-pruf with a 60 year old blade. I am so pleased to get in tune with SEs. Injectors grabbed me right from the start, but these GEMs take time to know.
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Post by birdlives on Jan 21, 2014 5:33:42 GMT -6
Congratulations,....another SE connoisseur is born...Time to pop the cork on a magnum of menthol and celebrate... I love both the Carbons and SS's...I was rinsing the blade with medicinal alcohol, drying with a 3 stroke palm strop on each side and putting one drop of baby oil on each side of the edge and putting back in the razor....Seems like alot of pomp and circumstance; but it's nothing compared to Str8's... With that routine I'm getting 3 great shaves from a Treet Super...Of course I do notice a slight difference after the first shave, but still better than any DE shave...lol....of course YMMV...
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Post by PJGH on Jan 21, 2014 17:52:37 GMT -6
So far I've only really used the GEM coated blades (we get them from Connaught, here in the UK) and I can happily get 5-6 shaves per blade and still feel like it's performing as per the first shave.
I have gone through one 009 RD and it was proper blunt after three shaves, so blunt I could happily run my finger along it. I have a PAL blue which I've used once now, so we'll see how that fairs.
The GEM coated are good for me - I'll get a box of 100 next order I place. I still have a fascination with vintage Gillettes, so my face swaps back and forth between SE and DE and so that box of 100 at 4-5 shaves per blade, shaving every other day with a mx of DE and SE it will last a good, long while. That's "my" blade; with DE shaving, I'm down to three that I really like.
Good luck with the PAL, mate - each time I come back to a razor I've had a poor experience with, it seems better each time. It seems some are just more difficult to really get to know than others. Like people, really.
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Post by drumzalot on Jan 21, 2014 19:02:36 GMT -6
What is Mineral Oil on the other side of the pond? I have no idea, but you'll get it at a chemist. We can find it even at a supermarket; it's pretty benign. It isn't a prescription or anything like that. It's clear, and taken for the bowels. Or at least I think that's the general use. Avon scents it up and ladies use it on their skin (Skin So Soft). I've always wondered what mineral oil is referred to in the UK. It might be know as white oil or maybe white mineral oil. In some countries it is also referred to as paraffin liquid though I am uncertain if paraffin liquid is the exact same thing. Definitely, baby oil works just the same the only difference is that it's scented. I've used it on my carbon Blue Stars but even if helps the blade from not rusting quickly the shave performance degrades generally after the second use.
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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 Jan 21, 2014 21:11:34 GMT -6
It was just a stab in the dark that micro rust might be causing the early demise of the blades. That was one of the selling points of the "new" SS blades more years ago than I care to remember. :-) Yes, I remember the advent of SS blades and the advertisements for them on TV.
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Post by mjclark on Jan 22, 2014 0:15:28 GMT -6
This thread is so useful for comparisons - I too have the GEM coated stainless from Connaught. I can only really get two shaves from them and much prefer the feel of the carbon blades. The generic 009 RDs only give one shave but it's a great shave and I can get 100 for <£6.00.
Are there any good UK sources for the GEM or Treet carbons - the only place I've seen them is Amazon and the postage makes it unfeasible.
Ok, wish me luck guys - I'm off to try the PAL adjustable again!
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norfolkdick
Master Shaver
Captain of the Razor Blades
Posts: 1,601
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Post by norfolkdick on Jan 22, 2014 1:30:54 GMT -6
This thread is so useful for comparisons - I too have the GEM coated stainless from Connaught. I can only really get two shaves from them and much prefer the feel of the carbon blades. The generic 009 RDs only give one shave but it's a great shave and I can get 100 for <£6.00. Are there any good UK sources for the GEM or Treet carbons - the only place I've seen them is Amazon and the postage makes it unfeasible. Ok, wish me luck guys - I'm off to try the PAL adjustable again! Greetings Your research is correct, both Treet and GEM Blue Star Carbon blades can only be purchased in the UK from Amazon or E-bay and in both cases they are shipped over from the USA. No seller at all sells PAL SE blades in the UK. Regards Dick.
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