A shim under the spine of a modern gem blade may tame it slightly. That's a beautiful razor.
Micromatic Monday
- Thread starter Twelvefret
- Start date
A shim under the spine of a modern gem blade may tame it slightly. That's a beautiful razor.
Last, but not least, if you're like me and have a somewhat ummm let's say eclectic collection, then take a page from our multi-razor shavers. You'll find some great multi-razor shaves on this thread (of course) -- usually done by @GAW9576, who has been known to put the "multi" in the multi-razor shaves. And there's an excellent thread started by the same member who started this tread (@Twelvefret) called The Daily Double An excellent place to find inspiration
Okay, enough jabbering from me....what's it going to be? Perhaps a pure Micromatic (MMOC, MMCP, MMBT), or an older GEM (a Lather Catcher, Damaskeene, 1912 or Junior), or something a little "younger" (G-Bar, Feather Weight, Push Button, Contours). Will it be just 1 razor, or will you venture down the multi-razor path? Inquiring minds want to know
Absolutely my friend. It is exceedingly rare that I shave with just one razor. Like a fork spoon and knife. Different tools for different jobs. And it's just more enjoyable to use multiple razors for me. I don't usually shave every day so it gives more opportunity to enjoy the diversity of my collection.
- Thread starter
- #1,583
Oh, that’s good it takes the GEM blades.
Ron R
I survived a lathey foreman
That is a interesting razor and there is a fellow who uses one on youtube and seems to enjoy it like your self.
Flintstone65
Imagining solutions for imaginary problems
Great write-up, thanks for sharing it here!!! We're not sticklers about the actual day of the week for the shave....we've got shavers showing up at various days of the week depending on their schedule. I've sort of come out of retirement and I'm now forced to be at least a 5-day a week shaver (previously I would shave every other to every couple of days). I've found my razor preference has definitely changed when I'm required to shave with little-to-no growth.
And I'm always interested in hearing about the head shaves -- I'm probably a few years (less than 5 I would venture) from heading down that path.
Flintstone65
Imagining solutions for imaginary problems
Absolutely beautiful!!! I've been on the look out for Rapides as well as a Heljestrand (which made a similar style razor). Very cool, and thanks for sharing!!!
I was going to use my MMOC but went for the R41 instead, and had a wonderful shave. They are one as good as the other.
Flintstone65
Imagining solutions for imaginary problems
NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Just kidding
....I'm glad you had a good shave, and thanks for not forgetting about us!!! I've heard really good things about the R41, but I've been a vintage-snob for a while, so it's been on the list but I haven't picked it up yet. I'll probably wait until they stop making it so I can pay twice the price for the same razor....it's my modus operandi 
I've also been returning to my DE's from time to time, but so far it's been trying the multi-razor approach....kind of a SE+DE thing.
My three best razors are MMOC, 1912 and R41. Hard to choose between them, frankly. I bring the MMCP out once in a while too.
Ron R
I survived a lathey foreman
Took out the Micromatic flying wing(MMBT) and it produced a very nice shave CCS,DFS,BBS some where in that explanation and it's nice to use the Micromatics they are just a great razor IMO.
Have some great Gem shaves!
Have some great Gem shaves!
6th shave with my MMBT and a flipped GEM PFTE blade provided an easy and unspectacular 2 1/2 pass BBS shave.
Flintstone65
Imagining solutions for imaginary problems
Looks like the MMBT is winning the Micromatic Monday race (so far)....it was actually going to be my choice today as well, but admittedly I had a last minute change and decided to do a "Beauty and the Beast" shave. It's a bit of a misnomer (as it turns out), but I'm sure you can tell who's who from the pics!
The "Beast" in the case is the Burham 1909 open comb (I've also got the closed comb, but haven't taken it for a spin yet). The "Beauty" is none other than the truly beautiful Gem Push button. Here are a couple of more pics of the Burham, and then I'll do a quick review of today's shave:
There is a thread on the Burham 1909 (patent date, not production date), and I'm planning on building that thread out a bit with my experience; but the short answer for today's shave is that the "Beast" was VERY tame, and the "Beauty" was her always mild but very efficient self. I did 2 passes with the Burham (WTG and XTG) and had very little blade feel, but I could hear a whisper as the whiskers were wiped away. The blade for the Burham was a fairly new (2nd shave de-spined GEM SS PTFE, and the blade in the PB was a fairly used (around 4 shaves) Treet Carbon blade. The PB was definitely needed for a full-on 3rd pass and then used for a touchup. The overall shave was extremely comfortable, and very close....sort of in the CCS-DFS-BBS range....to borrow a text-based scale I really like from @Ron R.
There isn't much out there (or here) on the Burham, but here it has a reputation as being on the aggressive side. This from someone who did not de-spine the blade, so the edge hung out closer to the teeth/guard. I didn't want to make that mistake, so I did take the spine off, but then it seemed pretty far back from the teeth, and so felt very mild. It shaved to me like the PAA Starling I tried recently....it cut, but I sort of missed the blade feel and wasn't efficient (unless the angle was spot on). It was the first shave, so I'm trying not judge it too harshly, but I was glad "Beauty" was there for backup. That PB continues to amaze me with it's ability to shave comfortably and closely....this was only the 2nd shave for this razor, but I really like it. All in all, it was a great GEMonday for me!!!
The "Beast" in the case is the Burham 1909 open comb (I've also got the closed comb, but haven't taken it for a spin yet). The "Beauty" is none other than the truly beautiful Gem Push button. Here are a couple of more pics of the Burham, and then I'll do a quick review of today's shave:
There is a thread on the Burham 1909 (patent date, not production date), and I'm planning on building that thread out a bit with my experience; but the short answer for today's shave is that the "Beast" was VERY tame, and the "Beauty" was her always mild but very efficient self. I did 2 passes with the Burham (WTG and XTG) and had very little blade feel, but I could hear a whisper as the whiskers were wiped away. The blade for the Burham was a fairly new (2nd shave de-spined GEM SS PTFE, and the blade in the PB was a fairly used (around 4 shaves) Treet Carbon blade. The PB was definitely needed for a full-on 3rd pass and then used for a touchup. The overall shave was extremely comfortable, and very close....sort of in the CCS-DFS-BBS range....to borrow a text-based scale I really like from @Ron R.
There isn't much out there (or here) on the Burham, but here it has a reputation as being on the aggressive side. This from someone who did not de-spine the blade, so the edge hung out closer to the teeth/guard. I didn't want to make that mistake, so I did take the spine off, but then it seemed pretty far back from the teeth, and so felt very mild. It shaved to me like the PAA Starling I tried recently....it cut, but I sort of missed the blade feel and wasn't efficient (unless the angle was spot on). It was the first shave, so I'm trying not judge it too harshly, but I was glad "Beauty" was there for backup. That PB continues to amaze me with it's ability to shave comfortably and closely....this was only the 2nd shave for this razor, but I really like it. All in all, it was a great GEMonday for me!!!
Ron R
I survived a lathey foreman
iNTERESTING review and a interesting day for you Fred.
Ooh, ooh! This is an SE/Micromatic/Gem/ASR thread, so maybe I can get away with disparaging the R41!
My thoughts: shaves like this
Just a little blade forward for a “safety” razor. Of course, YMMV.
2019/04/22
Prep - Shower, Noxzema, Hot towel*, Lather, Hot towel*, Proraso Green Pre-Shave
Razor - Gem 1912 / PAL Carbon(1)
Soap - Pacific Shaving Company Caffeinated
Brush - Graydog 10098
Post - Alum, Thayer's Medicated Witch Hazel, Hot Towel*, Sea Breeze, Blade for Men Arctic Blue, Grey Flannel
Passes - XTG, ATG X-hatching
Result - BBS
Gem SS died after 21 shaves. SO started up a PAL.
* Scented with Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Lemon, and Patchouli EOs
When I started shaving with DEs, I was shaving twice a day, because I could. Now that I'm no longer trying to increase my skill at it though, and have experienced a wide range of razors and soaps, I've cut back to once a day. Of course whenever new items come in the mail . . .
Prep - Shower, Noxzema, Hot towel*, Lather, Hot towel*, Proraso Green Pre-Shave
Razor - Gem 1912 / PAL Carbon(1)
Soap - Pacific Shaving Company Caffeinated
Brush - Graydog 10098
Post - Alum, Thayer's Medicated Witch Hazel, Hot Towel*, Sea Breeze, Blade for Men Arctic Blue, Grey Flannel
Passes - XTG, ATG X-hatching
Result - BBS
Gem SS died after 21 shaves. SO started up a PAL.
* Scented with Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Lemon, and Patchouli EOs
When I started shaving with DEs, I was shaving twice a day, because I could. Now that I'm no longer trying to increase my skill at it though, and have experienced a wide range of razors and soaps, I've cut back to once a day. Of course whenever new items come in the mail . . .
SOTD MMMonday - 4/22 lightweight, graceful plastic handles
Shower for prep
Opening act: GEM flipped in the brass bumpless MMOC; used to raise/even my beard line, up the neck 1/2”. Looks pale, feels sensitive there after a decade or two in the safety of the forest’s edge.
1 Schick injector for mow down, Gem Featherweight for second pass and touch up, MMOC for closer touch up
2 AccuTEC injector blade/GEM flipped (8)
3 Zenith B5
4 BOSC Special Reserve AC menthol
5 Alum and homebrew AS
The basic tools
This one didn’t pass without incident. Shaving something off the beard line is always fraught with potential damage to the self image. I liked the MMOC for that job. It doesn’t take any nonsense from the beard; plus I always know right where the blade edge is located.
The injector is ideal for fast mowing. But, the Featherweight bit me! Or, more accurately, I shaved a bit cavalierly around the Adam’s apple. Just a tiny light weeper, fixed by the alum which also reminded me that there was a 1/2” strip of skin that did not appreciate being dragged into the daylight. I was probably just mad at the Featherweight, but when it was mildly fudging the touch up I fired it and got ‘er done with the MMOC.
The champ
Enjoy GEMMonday!
Shower for prep
Opening act: GEM flipped in the brass bumpless MMOC; used to raise/even my beard line, up the neck 1/2”. Looks pale, feels sensitive there after a decade or two in the safety of the forest’s edge.
1 Schick injector for mow down, Gem Featherweight for second pass and touch up, MMOC for closer touch up
2 AccuTEC injector blade/GEM flipped (8)
3 Zenith B5
4 BOSC Special Reserve AC menthol
5 Alum and homebrew AS
The basic tools
This one didn’t pass without incident. Shaving something off the beard line is always fraught with potential damage to the self image. I liked the MMOC for that job. It doesn’t take any nonsense from the beard; plus I always know right where the blade edge is located.
The injector is ideal for fast mowing. But, the Featherweight bit me! Or, more accurately, I shaved a bit cavalierly around the Adam’s apple. Just a tiny light weeper, fixed by the alum which also reminded me that there was a 1/2” strip of skin that did not appreciate being dragged into the daylight. I was probably just mad at the Featherweight, but when it was mildly fudging the touch up I fired it and got ‘er done with the MMOC.
The champ
Enjoy GEMMonday!
@Clay S , Hi Clay, Yikes! If I shaved my face twice a day, I'd have to change my name to "Mr. Weepers!"
Today, I'm "Jonesin" for another Razor but alas, I'm trying to control my RAD. Instead, I'm researching "Aftershaves & Witch Hazel" (of which I already have enough to be Truthful). However, since I am a loooong time "Fragrance Head" (Basenotes.net member since 2003) I'm thinking of concocting my own "Aftershave type splash" using (a less expensive) Witch Hazel such as "Dickinson's" along with a QUALITY Essential Oil and (last but not least) my very own "Home made" real Maine Beaver Castor Tincture that has been "stewing" for about ten years! This is going to be fun and interesting!
SixCats!
Today, I'm "Jonesin" for another Razor but alas, I'm trying to control my RAD. Instead, I'm researching "Aftershaves & Witch Hazel" (of which I already have enough to be Truthful). However, since I am a loooong time "Fragrance Head" (Basenotes.net member since 2003) I'm thinking of concocting my own "Aftershave type splash" using (a less expensive) Witch Hazel such as "Dickinson's" along with a QUALITY Essential Oil and (last but not least) my very own "Home made" real Maine Beaver Castor Tincture that has been "stewing" for about ten years! This is going to be fun and interesting!
SixCats!
Ooh, ooh! This is an SE/Micromatic/Gem/ASR thread, so maybe I can get away with disparaging the R41!
My thoughts: shaves like this
View attachment 974593
Just a little blade forward for a “safety” razor. Of course, YMMV.
Not even I am crazy enough to try shaving with that setup.
Twice A Day, dang. My beard doesn't grow that fast and my skin doesn't heal that fast. Even with the most comfortable shaves of my life I don't think I could shave twice a day every day.
Thayer's pretty much is an AS if you look at it's ingredients. I DIY beard and pre-shave oils, and it is nice coming up with your own scent. I might even consider store brand WH for making your own AS. Good Luck!
It takes my face about 6 hours to fully recover from a 3 pass shave. If I tried chasing a BBS it takes longer, but I get them pretty routinely now. It is an off day, or time to do a blade change nowadays that it's not a BBS.
Those razors look quite nice together and it looks like you're stepping up your game on the multi razor shaves. You should post that in
The Daily Double
I get BBS on my cheeks reasonably often.
I don't even try for it on my neck. All I can expect with the weird hair growth and more sensitive skin is CCS. Maybe it's my technique that needs improvement, I'm not sure if the skin can be toughened up.
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