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Post by mpf9ret on May 16, 2015 1:39:09 GMT -6
Have over the last few days, been trying out a newly acquired Gem Junior Bar. Initially used a shim to alter pitch/blade angle. I personally found this rather tuggy,and did not get good results.
I have for two days been using a Gem S/S on its own,and found that the shave was very mild, but with extra finishing passes achieved a very good shave.
I wonder whether other users of this razor use a modern blade, and what results they get ? Also, do others use a shimmed blade to get a more aggressive shave ? Mike B
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Post by PJGH on May 16, 2015 3:11:31 GMT -6
I consider the GEM Junior Bar to be the absolute best razor I have ever used!
I use a modern GEM without shimming. Happy one pass shave, I do two just because ...
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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 May 16, 2015 9:16:44 GMT -6
My results with the 2 GJB I have owned have been completely reversed from Pauls experience. I found it to be extremely mild, even milder than a FW. Since I don't collect razors I've sold both. I was using a modern SS blade.
Yet I have read of folks who absolutely love the things. Clearly YMMV.
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Post by drumzalot on May 16, 2015 10:27:16 GMT -6
Yes, the Gem Junior Bar is very mild. I honestly think that it's more mild then a Gillette Tech DE! No shimming and I only use modern blades. The Gem Junior Bar (along with my ASR LC) are my favorite lather catchers.
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spidey9
Lather Catcher
All SE all the time!
Posts: 641
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Post by spidey9 on May 16, 2015 15:38:03 GMT -6
It's been a while since I've used one of my Junior Bars, but as I recall it was milder than an Ever-Ready Lather Catcher, and a whole lot milder than a Kampfe Star with a modern blade. Still, I wouldn't call it Featherweight/Pushbutton mild. A most pleasant shave, actually.
Lately I've been experimenting with a shim on a Damaskeene, but have yet to try one on anything else.
--Bob
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fergie
Shave Master
Posts: 122
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Post by fergie on May 16, 2015 16:02:35 GMT -6
I also find the Junior Bar to be milder than the Ever Ready Lather Catcher....It also took me more than a moment to find the sweet spot on the Junior Bar and was having mixed feelings about it.....With some practice and perseverance I managed to improve my technique and, I like Paul, think its one of the best shaving tools around..... I am currently using a Shimmed Modern Blade with the Junior Bar, but that took me a moment to master the sweet spot all over again and it does become slightly more aggressive......With the Shim Mod the shaving angle needs to 100 % spot on as these blades are not as rigid as the older ones and will suffer from some chatter and or tugging because energy is coming back through the razor....... Billy
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Post by mjclark on May 17, 2015 23:18:47 GMT -6
Very interesting - how do you guys make your shims?
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Post by PJGH on May 18, 2015 4:02:12 GMT -6
The 'Ferguson' Shim: www.theshavingroom.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=32513Billy (Fergie) has made some precise measurements of modern GEM/Personna blades versus the old GEM, Ever Ready and Star blades from around the 1910s and found that the old blades, Damaskeenes, Cru-Steel and the like, had a thicker spine and so, the dynamics of the razor were actually quite different to the shaves we experience today with modern GEM/Personna blades. To remedy, he found that half of a modern GEM/Personna spine slipped underneath was just right. Here's how ... First, de-spine an old blade by squeezing at each end of the spine and wiggling it free: Now, using flat blade screw drivers and a good hard edge, like a metal ruler, open up the spine ... ... close it up and repeat a few times until it snaps: Take your razor, say a 1912, and load in the half spine and the blade on top: Voila! Shimmed! You can do the same with, say a GEM Junior Bar, loading in the blade and then slipping the shim under: Voila! Shimmed! ... that's how
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Post by mjclark on May 18, 2015 14:43:01 GMT -6
That's brilliant! Thank you Paul...and thanks Mr Ferguson too
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Post by drumzalot on May 18, 2015 20:19:41 GMT -6
Kudos to Billy & Paul for adding this valuable information. When you go hands on you'll learn a lot and discover a few things.
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shave7
SE Super Freak
Posts: 2
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Post by shave7 on May 22, 2015 14:12:19 GMT -6
My results with the 2 GJB I have owned have been completely reversed from Pauls experience. I found it to be extremely mild, even milder than a FW. Since I don't collect razors I've sold both. I was using a modern SS blade. Yet I have read of folks who absolutely love the things. Clearly YMMV. Are we talking about the Gem Junior New Bar SE lather catcher style razor circa 1907? If so, here is my experience. With a CVS blade it was a dud that gave an extremely MILD shave. I was ready to toss it. But then I installed a Ted Pella SE blade and it gives outstanding smooth and close shaves! I suggest trying different blades before giving up.
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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 May 22, 2015 14:59:05 GMT -6
I used a Ted Pella in both of mine. Clearly it's a case of YMMV.
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Post by fram773 on May 22, 2015 15:20:52 GMT -6
My results with the 2 GJB I have owned have been completely reversed from Pauls experience. I found it to be extremely mild, even milder than a FW. Since I don't collect razors I've sold both. I was using a modern SS blade. Yet I have read of folks who absolutely love the things. Clearly YMMV. Are we talking about the Gem Junior New Bar SE lather catcher style razor circa 1907? If so, here is my experience. With a CVS blade it was a dud that gave an extremely MILD shave. I was ready to toss it. But then I installed a Ted Pella SE blade and it gives outstanding smooth and close shaves! I suggest trying different blades before giving up. Welcome to the board.
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fergie
Shave Master
Posts: 122
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Post by fergie on May 22, 2015 15:59:32 GMT -6
Yeah, we all have a different experience with these razors, but it took me more than just a few shaves to master the GEM Junior bar Lather catchers.....It had to put in some shaving time with them......I am constantly surprizing my self with the GEM Junior bar.... Its my technique that's improving over time..... These are on the milder side of the spectrum for sure, no doubt about it...But, I am managing to get a really close BBS shave with them and pretty darn close towards what I would expect from a more aggressive Ever Ready 1914......I can only speak for myself here, but Ye Canny Whack Shaving Time = Shaving Experience = Improved Technique ...... Billy
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