Gem SE fear

"SORRY, THIS WAS A DOUBLE POST FROM MY PHONE!" And I am yelling 'cause I am not sure how far away you are.

Ok, I have been using a DE, then a straight for the last several months, and today I decided to bust out the GEM SE. I'm not sure about anyone else's experience, but I found it much scarier than even straight razor shaving, as the blade touched my skin, I could feel the bite. I used no pressure whatsoever, ans was totally unnerved at the entire experience. Is this just me, our are they really that aggressive? Now, I didn't cut myself, but the whole time I was anxious because it felt like the razor was going to eat me. There was a tiny bit of razor burn, but I did end up BBS.

I don't know when I may try this again, but it may be a while. Back to the straights for now.

A to the type, it was the tensioned GEM. Not the flip down, that one scares me even more. Anyone else unnerved by these things?

Ok, I have been using a DE, then a straight for the last several months, and today I decided to bust out the GEM SE. I'm not sure about anyone else's experience, but I found it much scarier than even straight razor shaving, as the blade touched my skin, I could feel the bite. I used no pressure whatsoever, ans was totally unnerved at the entire experience. Is this just me, our are they really that aggressive? Now, I didn't cut myself, but the whole time I was anxious because it felt like the razor was going to eat me. There was a tiny bit of razor burn on my lower neck, but I did end up BBS.

I don't know when I may try this again, but it may be a while. Back to the straights for now. I can end up well shaved and not trembling by the end.

A to the type, it was the tensioned GEM. Not the flip down, that one scares me even more. Anyone else unnerved by these things?

Don't be skeered! What Gem are you using is it a twist to open or a manual, spring loaded affair? Pics would help but practice, practice, practice would be my recommendations. In my experience the Micromatic is a bit more aggressive than the others and is not very forgiving of technique errors. For a newbie SE shaver, I would recommend the 1912.
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You're not wrong about the Gem's being aggressive, but they can be wonderful shavers. As GI said, practice. Keep the blades as flat to the skin as the head of the Gem will allow. Use zero, or even a slight negative pressure.I found that it helps to hold it with just three fingers at the very tip of the handle.

I just bought one of those 1912s at the flea market yesterday on a whim. Looks like nickel played maybe, no wear on it. Paid 4 bucks. I'll be interested to see how it shaves.

The only SE I have is an Ever Ready 1924 and that thing gives closer shaves than my Fat Boy DE. The first time I used it I was a little nervous but if you treat it with respect it is one fine shaver. Yea, you need very little angle on the blade and next to no pressure either. Kinda reminds me of using an adze with the angle of the head to the handle. Just love the tiny power house.

Bob

Sorry but I had to laugh...I can picture your anxiety through the whole process and that alone makes me never want to try this daunting task.

Glad you made it out alive. Can you post a pic of said razor of doom?

Those SE's just look scary!

lol...cool post. I don't have a Gem but I do have a Rolls and a Valet. When first using them I do remember a slight anxiety..but that goes away and all is good :)

If a regular Gem scares you, you might not want to try one of the old "Lather Catchers" where the blade just sort of rides piggy back on top!
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Which GEM was it? The 1912s are very mild, but the Open Comb MicroMatics are pretty aggressive.

The 1912 is a GREAT beginner SE and really a great all around razor.

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Originally Posted by medicevans

Which GEM was it? The 1912s are very mild, but the Open Comb MicroMatics are pretty aggressive.

The 1912 is a GREAT beginner SE and really a great all around razor.

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I totally agree. But I have had great shaves from my open comb MM. The blade must be fresh, your beard prep good, and no pressure on the razor. Come to think of it, that's like a straight...:D

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Originally Posted by RoyceH

I totally agree. But I have had great shaves from my open comb MM. The blade must be fresh, your beard prep good, and no pressure on the razor. Come to think of it, that's like a straight...:D

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Nice. Yes, it is an open comb micromatic, and it is a lot like a Straight shave.

I will try to post some pictures when I get home this evening, it is in beautiful shape, and I thought, "It's just sitting there not getting any attention, let's try it!" When I don't have quite enough time for a straight shave I usually reach for my Fatboy, but Saturday I had about 15 minutes, it took me nearly the entire 15 minutes to do all three passes(I am slow, it takes me a good 25-35 minutes to do a full 3 pass straight razor shave). I can speed it up a touch by face lathering, but I don't enjoy that quite as much. I am just glad that I didn't rip my face off, a DE blade is somewhat flexible, an SE blade is not!

The first time I ever picked up a Merkur slant I approached it with fear and trepidation. Within a couple of passes it became my favorite DE and remains so 4 years later. I rarely shave DE but if I do that is my tool of choice. As to the SEs, I have a few Gems and I've shaved with them some. Even with the Ted Pella blades, arguably the best of the SE blades, they are not as 'good' as a DE blade, such as a Feather or a Gillette Swede. At least IMHO.

A pic of my Gem's. Three 1912's, a Micromatic open comb' a Damaskeene and a Gem Jr. All of them wonderful shavers but will let you know if you lose concentration.
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I had 3 Gems, I couldnt use them to save my life gave two to friends saved one. A very bloody affair. Tried, failed, tried again, lost a chunk of skin on my adams apple. But recently I used one to touch up a spot and wow I got it right! since then I have become comfortable and can shave with out irritation! I am now wishing I had the other two back lol :)

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This is the GEM, sorry I couldn't get you a nicer picture, but it's tough to get a good picture using the camera phone. Anyway, I didn't go back to her today, went with a Simmons Hardware "Barber's Pet," this morning. I am going to use her again tomorrow morning though, and we shall see what kind of love she can return, especially since I found her covered in green crud and gave her lots of love and attention to bring her back to the beautiful golden lady she once was.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

The first time I ever picked up a Merkur slant I approached it with fear and trepidation. Within a couple of passes it became my favorite DE and remains so 4 years later. I rarely shave DE but if I do that is my tool of choice. As to the SEs, I have a few Gems and I've shaved with them some. Even with the Ted Pella blades, arguably the best of the SE blades, they are not as 'good' as a DE blade, such as a Feather or a Gillette Swede. At least IMHO.

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For me, the opposite is true. I get closer, more comfortable, and longer-lasting shaves from my SEs than from my DEs. They are what got me interested in straights.

I have a young man working for me(21) and I have been urging him to take up straights. He declines, of course! I have gifted him with a Gem Micromatic, a pack of Gem blades from walgreens, a puck of Williams, mug and brush. After 2 weeks he is still amazed with the shave! I showed him this thread and asked if he wanted to try a less aggressive model as described above. He declined! Said he is fine with it! From 5 blades to one! How cool is that?
I will get him to try a straight eventually, I think!~

I tried an OCMM several times and never liked it ( I wanted to, but I just didn't). My 1912 and 1912 Damaskeene, OTOH I love them both. So, as in so many things, which SE razors a person likes are a very personal choice.

I learned to shave with the old 1912 model Gem when I was 13, I ventured into the Gillet double edge but always went back to my old Gem, my family knowing of my shaving habits repeatedly bought me other Gem and Ever ready razors and so at 28 I have a box full from travel models in boxes to razors floating loose. Though im learning to use a straight razor I still keep my trusty Gem in its pot as a just in case.

Give the 1912 a go and dont be afraid, it doesnt bite!

Still scares me more than my straights when I use it. :hmmm:
You'd think a safety razor would make me feel more well, safe!

I just shaved with an se for the first time yesterday and it was harrowing indeed. It was a cross between a de and a straight. But I really enjoyed it and shaved with it again today. Now I have an even harder time picking a razor each morning.

Here's my GEM 1912 triumph I bought for next to nothing.
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Nice little GEM there! I have a little silver 1912. I haven't tried that one yet. It was scary enough trying the Micromatic. Maybe tomorrow as I won't have much stubble... Just finished shaving with my "Real Magnetic Razor" straight. It was actually in my Wednesday slot, but I switched it with Tuesday. So tomorrow is supposed to be my Dovo, I can skip that one for a day to try my GEM 1912.

I picked a GEM OCMM on Sunday morning after shooting some trap,,

Need to find some blades for it to try it out, I keep buying these DE's ands SE's in the outlandish hope that the wife will try one..

The Gillette Slim Adjustable I got a few months ago was just gifted to a 2012 HS Grad up here that showed intrest in Wetshaving, put a whole Kit together for him to take to College

I have my grandfather 1912 GEM and shave with it occasionally. I also have a 1962 Gillette adjustable which I loaned to my brother so he could see if he liked it. Gramps razor is WAY better for me than the Gillette, but still not nearly as good as a straight. Still, it's fun to try different things once in a while.

BTW Glen, very nice of you to afflict another person with your AD's...:rofl2:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

I picked a GEM OCMM on Sunday morning after shooting some trap,,Need to find some blades for it to try it out

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If you're ever near a Walgreen's, stop in and pick up a pack of the Gem Persona SE blades. They are the best that I've found that are sold in regular stores.

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Originally Posted by Theseus

If you're ever near a Walgreen's, stop in and pick up a pack of the Gem Persona SE blades. They are the best that I've found that are sold in regular stores.

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CVS also has their own store-branded stainless SE blades. I didn't buy them, but they appear to have the same number code on the spine as the Gem Personnas and come in the same type of dispenser.

The CVS by me sells Treet blades, the only ones I've used, but they seem to do a nicer job than my DE with a Merkur blade...

I got a set of those CVS branded blades, and they perform well... I will check the code to see what manufacturer made them. It seems as though CVS buys their blades from major manufacturers.

I find that the Treet Carbon blades, available from Rite Aid, are much better than the Stainless Ted Pella Coated Blades. I actually have been shaving with my Gem Open Comb Micromatic for the past week and have gotten the best shaves I have had in a very long time. I then tried the Pella Stainless blade this morning and got razor burn on my neck, not good.

From what I have read the Treet carbon blades from Rite Aid are very smooth compared to all Stainless ones actually but it's a YMMV topic.

So, for what it's worth, I cleaned up after my straight razor shave today with the GEM, and it was fantastic. I did a 2 1/2pass SR then went for ATG with the Gem on my neck and it was quite fantastic. It felt a lot more like the straight than my DE clean-ups. (Sometimes I do it when I have little time to shave in the morning ie 20 minutes instead of 30)

Anyway, not nearly as harrowing as when you go for a WTG first stroke. And I have shaved with the SE several times now, but it doesn't get any less unnerving!

Kinda surprised at your apprehension. After shaving with a straight, the SE is not intimidating at all to me. The first couple times I did schedule plenty of time so I could learn to use it comfortably, but I really like it much better than a DE. Just my experience however. I did go from canned goo multi blade POS, to Electric, to Straights,THEN to SE and DE in that order...
Did you watch Mantic59's videos? They give a really good tutorial on DE which can be used for SE.

I started with a DE. and Yep, watched all of Mantic's videos. Just find that the SE really like to play with my mind! It's stiff like a Straight, but wrapped in this skin that's supposed to make it safe. It feels like it can bite you at any second while using it, and it's just plain scary! I can use it, but I am much happier using my straight, it feels so much better in my hand, not like the apparition that is the SE come to steal my soul. Trying out a new SE sometime this week... when I can work up my courage! It's a straight tomorrow morning!

If I were to rate the Gem razors I own from least aggressive to most it would be: 1912 & lather catcher, Bullet tip , Clog Pruf, and Open comb micromatic. I don't own any of the later models ie.. the contour or any from the 50-70's

The OCMM was my first real razor when I came out of the Plastic Chinese Crap era. Sporty at best but once you get the hang of it they're really good shavers. Now that I think of it, I may pencil in a couple SE shaves this week. The Lather Catchers are amazing as well. I also own a Gem Featherweight which seems to be the mild one of the lot (picture Gillette Tech only SE)