Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2018 12:46:36 GMT -6
This seems a good place to post. Many of the SE guys on here love the MMOC and MMCP. I have never got a comfortable shave from the micromatics. They have a reputation for being aggressive and I agree. Ive tried different blades, angles and pressures and cant get an enjoyable shave out of one of these. Any tips on what Im doing wrong? How do you get a comfortable shave from a micromatic? People blame technique. So whats the proper technique? Am I the only one having problems with these razors?
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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 Dec 27, 2018 13:27:49 GMT -6
Lots of folks have problems with them. Technique... no pressure and the cap should be sliding on your skin, or lift the back of the cap just a bit. In use the cap portion closest to the blade makes contact with the skin. That's what works for me anyway.
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Post by ordinaryshaver on Dec 27, 2018 13:29:36 GMT -6
My piece of advice is something I kind of stumbled on. I noticed, watching your "nifty fifty" shaves (which by the way are awesome) that with the unmentionables you seem to take long sweeping strokes. I did as well when I went from there to SE. What I did was lather one side of my face, say from ear to nose on the left side. Then I would take much shorter strokes. I would also overlap my strokes. Similar to mowing the grass. Over lapping as you go. You already have the skin stretching skills in place, which is good for the MM. Another idea may be to "cork" the blade. Fuzzy will come out of the woodwork when I say that, but I think it works. Since the MM is on the higher end of efficiency, corking the blade seems to settle down the blade and allows for more smoothness to come out. I think however, the shorter strokes may be the ticket. At least it was for me. I will happily do a video or two on some ideas if it will help.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2018 13:47:03 GMT -6
My piece of advice is something I kind of stumbled on. I noticed, watching your "nifty fifty" shaves (which by the way are awesome) that with the unmentionables you seem to take long sweeping strokes. I did as well when I went from there to SE. What I did was lather one side of my face, say from ear to nose on the left side. Then I would take much shorter strokes. I would also overlap my strokes. Similar to mowing the grass. Over lapping as you go. You already have the skin stretching skills in place, which is good for the MM. Another idea may be to "cork" the blade. Fuzzy will come out of the woodwork when I say that, but I think it works. Since the MM is on the higher end of efficiency, corking the blade seems to settle down the blade and allows for more smoothness to come out. I think however, the shorter strokes may be the ticket. At least it was for me. I will happily do a video or two on some ideas if it will help. Ill try shorter strokes. Maybe that will help. Thanks!
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Post by jayaruh on Dec 27, 2018 14:17:00 GMT -6
@vintagelife, I don't understand this idea that "They have a reputation for being aggressive." Maybe I have just developed some great technique. I have learned that "riding the cap" will tame just about any razor. The OT unmentionables used to be aweful for me until I learned about riding the cap. Now, I use that on all my razors. Like ordinaryshaver said, try shorter strokes, too. Light touch, ride the cap, short strokes. That should tame it down for you.
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Post by ordinaryshaver on Dec 27, 2018 14:34:33 GMT -6
Jim, his technique is better than most. I was thinking the long stroke was at least partially to blame. Ride the cap, and those two things should get you close. Hang out a while to wchnu comes around.
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Flintstone
Lather Catcher
Scraper Blade Shaver...
Posts: 908
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Post by Flintstone on Dec 27, 2018 15:53:05 GMT -6
Just a couple of thoughts/tips that have also helped me: choking up on the handle (finger tips right under the cap/head) which for me forces a lighter touch and seems to also force the "ride the cap" angle; and secondly, not going ATG on sensitive areas until at least the last past. That last one is probably well-known to many folks, but going ATG with an unmentionable (even on a first pass) never seemed to be an issue for me, but with injectors and SEs my lower neck would light up with irritation if I attacked it without a WTG and/or a XTG pass.
I'll also echo the shorter strokes, light (although I'd say "no") pressure, and all of the other great advice here. I treat the Micromatic (and it's brethren) like a straight or the oldest unmentionable you can think of. Once muscle memory kicks in, you can fly around your face at lightspeed; but until then, I would make it a super-slow shave.
Good luck and keep us posted.
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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 Dec 27, 2018 15:59:46 GMT -6
Corking the blade... I forgot taming the blade! I don't put a GEM SS ptfe blade into any aggressive razor until it has AT LEAST 3-4 shaves on it.
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riverrun
Lather Catcher
sɐǝɹpu∀
Posts: 888
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Post by riverrun on Dec 27, 2018 16:41:24 GMT -6
Corking seems such a harsh procedure. I find that palm stropping helps.
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rayr
Blade King
Posts: 427
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Post by rayr on Dec 27, 2018 16:48:00 GMT -6
@vintagelife , I don't understand this idea that "They have a reputation for being aggressive." Maybe I have just developed some great technique. I have learned that "riding the cap" will tame just about any razor. The OT unmentionables used to be aweful for me until I learned about riding the cap. Now, I use that on all my razors. Like ordinaryshaver said, try shorter strokes, too. Light touch, ride the cap, short strokes. That should tame it down for you. I don't understand this reputation for being aggressive either. All GEM style razors have a built-in angle guide-the cap. When all else fails- read the directions
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2018 17:06:49 GMT -6
Thanks everyone for the good advice. Ill practice more on these.
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Post by jayaruh on Dec 27, 2018 17:22:41 GMT -6
@vintagelife, a bad blade can ruin a Gem shave. Make sure you have a blade for shaving and not for scraping. Those industrial blades can ruin your face.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2018 17:25:31 GMT -6
Critiques welcome. I like the razor, but always end up either cut or irritated.
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Post by ordinaryshaver on Dec 27, 2018 17:36:43 GMT -6
I will watch once I get to wifi.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2018 18:24:16 GMT -6
Just a couple of thoughts/tips that have also helped me: choking up on the handle (finger tips right under the cap/head) which for me forces a lighter touch and seems to also force the "ride the cap" angle; and secondly, not going ATG on sensitive areas until at least the last past. That last one is probably well-known to many folks, but going ATG with an unmentionable (even on a first pass) never seemed to be an issue for me, but with injectors and SEs my lower neck would light up with irritation if I attacked it without a WTG and/or a XTG pass. I'll also echo the shorter strokes, light (although I'd say "no") pressure, and all of the other great advice here. I treat the Micromatic (and it's brethren) like a straight or the oldest unmentionable you can think of. Once muscle memory kicks in, you can fly around your face at lightspeed; but until then, I would make it a super-slow shave. Good luck and keep us posted. That's where all my trouble is. ATG on the neck and jawline tear me up. Ill do fine for the 1st 2 passes and the last always is a bad one. Cant even consider ATG on the moustache with these. I refuse to do a 4th pass though.
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