Thread: I got my first SE for Christmas...now what?

Thanks for the info and the encouragement Will.I'm not gonna give up.I enjoy the challenge of it.It will see limited duty for now since I'm just starting straight shaving.I dont think my face,or brain,can handle the stress of two learning curves at once.I hear a lot of talk about those Ted Pellas.Might have to get me some.

Oh yeah,I wouldn't dare use the vintage rblades that came with it.I actually cleaned and oiled them very well,then repackaged them neatly away.Too much history there for me to be bleeding all over.I used Gem brand blades i got at Walgreens.My CVS didnt have anything

shinyribs,

Using a GEM/Star/Ever-Ready SE safety razor is not like using a conventional DE safety razor.

If you have the safety bar of the ClogPruf against your skin, then you will need to have the razor almost vertical (as shown in Mr Guy's YouTube video) to avoid 'over-blading'.

Start with the razor at right angles to your chops, then slowly lower the angle until the blade starts cutting. When the blade starts cutting the safety bar will probably not be in contact with your face. Generally it is the flat portion of the head that is contact with your face.

Take some time look at the razors head from the side etc, and the alignment and angles of the blade, the flat portion of the head and the safety bar; you will see what I am on about

Good shaving

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Originally Posted by shinyribs

Thanks for the info and the encouragement Will.I'm not gonna give up.I enjoy the challenge of it.It will see limited duty for now since I'm just starting straight shaving.I dont think my face,or brain,can handle the stress of two learning curves at once.I hear a lot of talk about those Ted Pellas.Might have to get me some.

Oh yeah,I wouldn't dare use the vintage rblades that came with it.I actually cleaned and oiled them very well,then repackaged them neatly away.Too much history there for me to be bleeding all over.I used Gem brand blades i got at Walgreens.My CVS didnt have anything

I am certain that the Gem blades you bought were the ones that you want as long as you got them with the shaving blades! Ted Pella is just a medical / lab supply company and the Ted Pella blades we all talk about are Gem for the stainless blades and Treet i think for the carbon ones they carry.

Will N.

Not to contradict you Will, because I'm not 100% certain, but I believe the Ted Pella sold blades are GEM, but are PTFE coated. What I'm not sure of, are the CVS/Walgreens blades coated?

Thanks again for the help guys. Russ,I understand you loud and clear! Will,well...its getting better.The Gem blades from Walgreens are stainless,but the container says nothing of any coatings

Originally Posted by medicevans

Not to contradict you Will, because I'm not 100% certain, but I believe the Ted Pella sold blades are GEM, but are PTFE coated. What I'm not sure of, are the CVS/Walgreens blades coated?

You certainly could be right about that, I do not know for sure if they have the PTFE coating as the package doesn't say. I can say that I don't feel anything different from one to the other and the look is identical. The carbon blades I bought from Ted Pella are Pal though not Treet, I had to go and look at the package. Good blades, but a completely different feel and don't last long.

I do think that the drugstore Gem blades are good enough to let you know if the SE shave is something that someone wants to look further into.

Will N.

Drugstore blades are fine, and certainly good enough to get an idea of things, IMO. I have only ever sued them, tbh. By all accounts they are very close to the pella blades.I could wish that they were sharper, but I have an especially tough, wirey beard, and suspect that I would feel the same about pellas.

In terms of cleanup, i would go the toothbrush route for any possible "gunk" , then boil or Barbercide it to sterilize. After that, I would apply copious amounts of Brasso. I have a similar model, but in open comb, and it is solid brass, not plate. I used some Brasso and it really did look a lot better. it is possible, I suppose, that yours is plated, but I would be very surprised, and, honestly, single edge razors are so inexpensive that it is safe to gamble, IMO. YMMV, of coruse.

Incidentally, if you don't like it, don't give up on Single Edge razors. Try a 1912 variety sometime. They really are amazing razors, and can be had for a pittance.

I havent given up on it.Im still devoting most of my efforts to my straights.That was job one.The SE is something that just happened along.It has been cleaning up nicely what i leave behind with the str8s.Two shaves and the blade is gone,though.