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I am a Straight shaver at heart but have decided to add an SE or two to my rotation for those days where I need to shave in a hurry and when traveling. I have purchased an old GEM 1912 as well as a GEM 'Junior' and was wondering if someone could tell me which SE blades are worth buying and where to buy them. I understand there is quite a variety..
Thanks in advance!
Being reasonably new to this forum I'll pass on the standard, and really great, piece of advice on DE blades. Get a sampler pack from Westcoastshaving.com and try them. It is an inexpensive way to try a wide variety of blades. Enjoy.
Have a look at this thread for discussion of blades for the SE razors.
Good blades make all the difference. You'll love your 1912!:rolleyes:
I love my Gem 1912!
I use the Gem Personna blades from the local Walgreen's drug store.
I get up to 4 shaves per blade.
I've also tried several other versions of the 1912. (ever ready, junior, ect.) The origional Gem 1912 seems to just shave the smoothest for me.
John
Thanks, John
I have also ordered a few packs of Personna blades as they come well recommended!
Jeff
The "Ted Pella" blades discussed in that thread are the best blades.Quote:
Originally Posted by Klopstick
The GEM Personna blades often available at the big chain drug stores are also good. Or get them from Amazon: Amazon.com: Gem Personna Single Edge Super Stainless Steel Blades with Used Blade Vault - 10 Pack: Health & Personal Care
Many of the GEM 1912/GEM Junior users, including me, thought those were the same blades as the Ted Pellas but someone on Badger and Blade has a high-powered microscope and posted pictures of the two and they are indeed different -- much to my surprise.
But the ones I link to at Amazon are the ones I started with before I bought a lot of 200 from Ted Pella and I honestly didn't notice a difference, although I never did a back-to-back comparison. It's been a few months since I switched to a straight so I never did go back and do a better comparison.
Thanks, Bob
I was also looking at the link in that thread and have just ordered 3 boxes of the Ted Pellas. It is then that I figured that they actually come with 200 blades.. oh well, I am set now for about 3 years with blades, I guess. Can I ask you how many shaves or passes you are getting out of each blade please?
In the meantime, I came accross another supplier here. They are not Ted Pella blades but still PFTE coated. Have not tried those blades yet but SE users active on another forum speak highly of them. I wanted to order one of those for trial as well but they are noticeably more expensive then the Ted Pellas.
Jeff
Already been done. They are exactly the same thing. Ted Pella is just a retailer as is Electron Microscopy Sciences.Quote:
Originally Posted by Smoothy
Pellas are too agressive.
The Walgreens blades are all you will need. I have used both in Gems and Everreadys. UK and American versions. 1912 and later. I can truely say stay away from the Pellas. They are meant for sectioning specimens, not shaving. True you could buy an Enders Razor, but the only blades available are for cutting carpet. Would you use those?
The same for Feathers. Sharp as hell, but the company makes surgical supplies so they are too sharp.
Everyone can have their own opinion, but that one is in a minority, at least based on GEM/SE threads over on B&B and in my own experience.Quote:
Originally Posted by singlewedge
As a gentleman I will forgo any arguments about the validity of material at the B & B. Start at The Shave Den at least the material there is not censored by the owners.
All I used before Str8s is SEs, Schicks, Gems, ERs, Rolls, Wedge Type Safety. Minority or not, the fact is that:
1. They are expensive and who needs 200 blades.
2. They are too sharp because they are meant for LAB WORK!!!
I would not shave with a scalpel. If that is your thing, then hey its your face. Have all the razor burn and weepers you want. The rest of us that do not drink the Ted Pella Kool-aid will be over here with a better feeling face.
JMHO.
Well they can be had elsewhere in 100-blade lots. As to the expense, I bought a the big lot to save money! 200 blades should last about 100 weeks, or two years. That seems a reasonable advanced buy. They are considerably cheaper this way than buying piecemeal from the drugstores. But shortly after buying them I transitioned to 100% straight razor shaving. So I do have a big left over supply!Quote:
Originally Posted by singlewedge
I have not had any troubles shaving with them but should also add that I didn't notice a big difference between them and the GEM Personna Super Stainless available in many big chain drugstores. For a while I even thought they were actually the same blades just packaged differently -- until I saw a microscopic comparison picture of the edges! Not having done a back-to-back comparison, I didn't even know I had something different until after I had been using them for a while.
I get (got) great effortless shaves from them. I at first used a GEM 1912 then moved to a GEM Junior 1900/1901 Lather Catcher.
Quote:
Originally Posted by singlewedge
I am currently in the process of restoring my first straight razor. I have not shaved with a straight yet, but my thought was to learn as much about the art as I could while I was fixing up my new/old razor and collecting all the different things that go with straight shaving. ie. strops, hones ect.
In the meantime, I shave with a Gem (I got several of the different types)
While I may not need a stockpile of 200 blades, it would cost me *significatly less* to aquire a decent SE razor and all those blades as opposed to *one* decent straight razor in a shave ready state and the assorted supplies. Not to mention the learning curve that goes with straight shaving.
Why am I doing this? For the fun and enjoyment of the shave. Because it's neat and cool, and because I have found some forums that are full of open minded gentlemen who appreciate taking a bit of time to enjoy a good shave.
Yes, I am a member over at B&B.
No, I have never tried Ted Pella Kool-aid
Yes, even if I fall head over heels for the Wade & Butcher on my bench right now, I will still use my SEs, especially when I'm travelling.
No, I don't have any weepers or razor burn tonight after my shave, and my face feels *wonderful*
fraternally,
John
Here ya go -- enjoy! And happy shaving!Quote:
Originally Posted by shutterbug
:beer2:
Quote:
Originally Posted by TexasBob
:y
woo hoo, I love kool-aid.
I think that a seasoned straight user calling a Feather or a Pella blade too sharp to shave with says it all about the timeless hours spent trying to duplicate said sharpness in a straight blade.:boohoo::boohoo:S/E razors produce absolutely wonderfull shaves and a lot of wet shavers love the Merkur Slant Feather combination.:confused:Less snobbery please.:rant: