Thread: SE Safety Razor advice please

I just purchased a vintage Gem SE Safety Razor on ebay and was wondering which blades are the best to use ... or are they all the same? I realize that this is a subjective question, but the SE razor is a new venture for me. Have been DE shaving for a year or so, and SR shaving for about 4 months.

Not as many options for SE blades. I've used Persons stainless blades and I liked them. What kind of Gem is it?

A GEM of any year is a good shaver. That said, most new users tend to try to use it like a hoe...not good! When shaving the top of the shaver should be almost parallel with the skin surface. That means to glide the razor along with the handle well away from the face.

Think of blade angle, important to any shave. The ideal is to have the bevel of the blade almost against the skin add then the edge cuts of the bristles cleanly.

Ok...now to blades! Buy teflon coated "stainless Steel" GEM blades made in Israel or Germany. Do not buy carbon steel blades. There are various sources for them.

Do a Google search for "Stainless steel single edge blades"
Get some at Walgreens for a starter and then if you are like me buy a 100 for very little money when you like shaving with a SE.
Above all, go slowly and literally feel your way to a good shave.
and...have fun!
~Richard

Originally Posted by BeJay

Not as many options for SE blades. I've used Persons stainless blades and I liked them. What kind of Gem is it?

I bought two:

Vintage Gem Micromatic Gold Tone Open Comb Single Edge Safety Razor | eBay

Gem 1912 Style Silver Tone SE Safety Razor | eBay

Nice. You'll find they are both very different shavers. The 1912 is pretty mild and the micromatic will be more aggressive. Be sure to steer clear of any hardwear store SE blades. They're not meant for shaving.

If you just want a few blades to try these razors out, look up your local CVS or Walgreens. They sometimes have SE blades.

Make sure you get the blades from the shaving section. If they're somewhere else in the store the blades will not be meant for shaving, and you'll get really uncomfortable shaves with them.

If you're not used to very aggressive razors, hold off on the Micromatic for now. Use the 1912, it's a nice, efficient shaver.

Originally Posted by yohannrjm

If you just want a few blades to try these razors out, look up your local CVS or Walgreens. They sometimes have SE blades.

Make sure you get the blades from the shaving section. If they're somewhere else in the store the blades will not be meant for shaving, and you'll get really uncomfortable shaves with them.

+1. The CVS blades in my area are GEM Blue Star blades. They are identical, right down to the stamp on the spine. They are carbon blades, but I get 4 or 5 shaves out of them if I dry them and put a light coat of mineral oil on them, the same as I do my straights. I could probably get more, but have a habit of binning a blade before they start feeling dull. They are very smooth, and my favorite SE blade.

I shaved with my Micromatic for the first time last week. Used GEM Stainless by Personna.

It was a great shave.

Originally Posted by SRNewb

+1. The CVS blades in my area are GEM Blue Star blades. They are identical, right down to the stamp on the spine. They are carbon blades, but I get 4 or 5 shaves out of them if I dry them and put a light coat of mineral oil on them, the same as I do my straights. I could probably get more, but have a habit of binning a blade before they start feeling dull. They are very smooth, and my favorite SE blade.

A couple local stores no longer carry the GEM carbon steel because a lot came through that were already rusted in the dispenser.
So if you do buy, open and check the blade on top and if you hit a rusty one return the dispenser and card for a full refund.
YMMV
~Richard

Originally Posted by Geezer

A couple local stores no longer carry the GEM carbon steel because a lot came through that were already rusted in the dispenser.
So if you do buy, open and check the blade on top and if you hit a rusty one return the dispenser and card for a full refund.
YMMV
~Richard

Ewww. Never had that happen before, but I always check, precisely because they are carbon.