Thread: Gem SE blades ?

Indeed, Connaught is the way to go. I bought about 8 boxes from them. As I use them mostly when travelling, I imagine they should last me a life time.

My intro to classic shaving occurred when I received OneBlade as a gift. The oneBlade folks were charging $1 per blade for Feathers that lasted only one or two shaves. You couldn't get them from other sources if you lived in the US.

Someone discovered that you can take a GEM blade, remove move the spine by squeezing the corner with a pair of pliers and get a great shave with the GEM in the OneBlade.

Everyone made the point to get the one with PTFE coating. Having said that, sometimes conventional wisdom isn't correct.

I'm glad to know there are other sources than Ted Pella. As has been shared, they aren't easy to work with and they add every possible service offered by the post office which makes shipping for a small package far too expensive.

As some of you may know there are 3 or 4 new SE razors that have come out which utilize Gem blade. Above the Tie, Rocnel, Blackbird, and another that I can't recall. So I had a few Ted Pella coated stainless blades and got out my old Gem G Bar and shaved.

It had been a long time since I had shaved with a Gem, years as a matter of fact, and I did so a couple of weeks ago to see if I wanted to look into one of these new SEs. The results were alright, but not good enough to stimulate me to buy another Gem type razor.

The shave reminded me of a straight that had been honed on a coticule. The edge being gentle, sharp enough, but not as efficient and long lasting as a DE with a Kai, Feather, or Gillette Yellow for example.

If you like the shave you get from a Gem that is fine, but for me there are better options. YMMV.

I have tried a variety of SE razors, and they do vary greatly. My two favourites are the Gem Micromatic and the Ever-ready Streamline. I find they shave much closer and better than any DE razor I have tried.

Originally Posted by Badgister

I have tried a variety of SE razors, and they do vary greatly. My two favourites are the Gem Micromatic and the Ever-ready Streamline. I find they shave much closer and better than any DE razor I have tried.

I had a Micromatic and a Gem 1912 that I gave away. As the old saying goes ......... YMMV .........

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

As the old saying goes ......... YMMV .........

Not sure how old it is, but it most definitely is overused.

Originally Posted by Badgister

Not sure how old it is, but it most definitely is overused.

Still works great for me ........

Jimmy,

It may be that the GEM's aren't a good fit for you. Having said that, here are two things that can make a big difference.

The specific GEM blade that both myself and other folks I know like is the PTFE coated stainless blade. Ted Pella sells all of GEMs blades, thus you may have a different one.

Next, Gems are a bit rougher for the first 2-3 shaves unless they are palm stropped.

I also know guys that have done both of these things and still don't like them.

Originally Posted by Pete123

Jimmy,

It may be that the GEM's aren't a good fit for you. Having said that, here are two things that can make a big difference.

The specific GEM blade that both myself and other folks I know like is the PTFE coated stainless blade. Ted Pella sells all of GEMs blades, thus you may have a different one.

Next, Gems are a bit rougher for the first 2-3 shaves unless they are palm stropped.

I also know guys that have done both of these things and still don't like them.

Those are the blades I have. I don't say they are not a good shave, just that I get better with other SEs and DEs. I learned a long time ago, when it comes to shaving, what is good for the goose isn't necessarily good for the gander. We all end up using what works for 'us' once we figure out what it is. If I'm shaving with an SE I'd opt for a Mongoose or ATT SE-1 with a Feather Pro blade over a Gem. Different strokes for different folks.

I totally agree that we all decide what we like and no one is wrong. Plus, we all have different skin, whiskers, facial structure, etc...