Thread: Stanley razor blades

I know it's a bit of a cheeky question, but, it's been nagging at me all day.

Is there any good reason why I couldn't just use Stanley razor blades in an SE?

Have a go and let us know, my thought would be hamburger .. there's quite a difference to a .009 SE shaving blade

Never tried, but from what I have read you will not enjoy it.

I haven't seen them in a configuration that would fit a Gem SE razor. Usually, even if they make SE blades of that type, they are for utility purposes, not shaving. Gem still makes blades for that razor. I bought a pack at CVS and they were alright. Nothing to write home about though. Ted Pella blades are the best for SE Gem razors IME. Go to this page here and order the 121-3 Single Edge, PTFE- Coated, Stainless Steel Blades, box/200 for the best shaves you'll get with a Gem. The uncoated are not as sharp or smooth feeling. IME ........ YMMV.

From what I understand, the Stanley blades may be as sharp as a blade meant for shaving, but no effort is made to make them smooth enough for shaving. In the same way you can make a straight razor sharp enough to shave with off a 8k stone, but you wouldn't shave with it without stropping it first. I would try your Hygiene blades, or most CVS, Rite-Aid, and Walgreen's drug stores carry private label blades made by Personna.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I haven't seen them in a configuration that would fit a Gem SE razor. Usually, even if they make SE blades of that type, they are for utility purposes, not shaving. Gem still makes blades for that razor. I bought a pack at CVS and they were alright. Nothing to write home about though. Ted Pella blades are the best for SE Gem razors IME. Go to this page here and order the 121-3 Single Edge, PTFE- Coated, Stainless Steel Blades, box/200 for the best shaves you'll get with a Gem. The uncoated are not as sharp or smooth feeling. IME ........ YMMV.

It's gotta be better than these Hygiene razors Not that they scraped me up, but more failed my expectations. Those may have to remain a "for show only" status.

I'll give them a shot, I think. Neat little device, the Micromatic. Can't wait til I can try the Gillette DE, but I have no blades for that one yet. I've heard Feather is quality and high up on the sharpness scale.

@JimmyHAD,

How many shaves should I expect out of single razor? I have a medium beard.
$35/200 That's more than 6 times more than I paid for the GEM.

@All,

Thanks gents. I know so little about the world of SE(or DE for that matter)

None of the Walgreen's in my area carry them anymore. Rite aid does though.

Originally Posted by Siguy

It's gotta be better than these Hygiene razors Not that they scraped me up, but more failed my expectations. Those may have to remain a "for show only" status.

I'll give them a shot, I think. Neat little device, the Micromatic. Can't wait til I can try the Gillette DE, but I have no blades for that one yet. I've heard Feather is quality and high up on the sharpness scale.

@JimmyHAD,

How many shaves should I expect out of single razor? I have a medium beard.

@All,

Thanks gents. I know so little about the world of SE(or DE for that matter)

I have gotten a dozen shaves out of a Feather in a Merkur slant. One pass ATG and call it good. Not according to Hoyle and not for everybody, but that is what I do when I am in a hurry. So if you are a 3 pass man divide a dozen by 3 and you might get 4 shaves out of a blade. I'd call my beard medium too but I don't really know, because I'm the only galoot I've ever shaved.

Even with the Pella coated blades the SE didn't meet my expectations as a daily, or even as an occasional shaver. I tried the drugstore bought Gem blades in the dispenser and those weren't as good as the Pellas. So for me they are a non starter. I use the blades around the house for utility chores.

I get double on a SE (including the injectors) over a Feather DE with a wiry old beard, doing usually 4 1/2 passes the Feather DE goes 4 shave, Pella SE gets 7 to 8, Chick Injector usually goes 7 .. Personna 74 Injectors go over ten, and I have a nasty beard.

Originally Posted by GaryG

I get double on a SE (including the injectors) over a Feather DE with a wiry old beard, doing usually 4 1/2 passes the Feather DE goes 4 shave, Pella SE gets 7 to 8, Chick Injector usually goes 7 .. Personna 74 Injectors go over ten, and I have a nasty beard.

I've only shaved with Personna replacements for Shavettes and they were terrible IME. I used to use them to shave customers to prepare the tattoo area befoe we had to go to the throw away twin blade type disposables. They were fine for that purpose but I tried the personnas a couple of face shaves and never again.

Maybe the Gem SE, and the Pella blades, Gem blades are better for a tough wiry beard. I have such sensitive skin that I cannot go beyond 2 passes and maybe a touch up here and there without irritation. So for the more tough beards maybe the SE is just the ticket. All we can do is try 'em.