1st Injector Shave: WooooooooHoooooooo!

[htownmmm]

I was absolutely blown away by my shave this evening(thursday). I have been shaving w/ a DE for a while now, but lately have been experimenting w/ other methods( shavette also).

I can honestly say I do not know why injectors ever stopped being made. Yes, being only 1 edge, it takes a little longer to complete the shave; however, I only needed 2 passes to be BBS. I used my 39C for touch-up but there wasn't much there-even ATG. In fact, it just took me from BBS to squeaky smooth.

For the details:

Schick Injector Razor w/Bakelite handle(purchased from our very own Kilted Shaver{Aaron} awaiting Ted Pella Blades)
Schick Injector Blade(from Wegman's)
Simpson's Beaufort Pure Badger Brush
Speick Shave Cream
Speick A/S
Thayer's Cucumber W/H
Alum Block

There was no burn, no irritation, nor any aggravation. I didn't have to think about blade angle, where I was holding the razor, or anything else for that matter. Just apply lather, shave, repeat. Interestingly, I purchased the injector to use for head shaving. Needless to say, that experiment has ended(a bloody mess!).

So what do I attribute this beauty of a shave to? I would have to go w/ the thickness of the blade. It powered through a 3 day growth w/ ease while babying my skin @ the same time. Would I have achieved the same results w/o years of DE usage? Honestly, I don't know. I do know it's much easier to go from a DE to an injector than it might have been to go from an electric to an injector.

Having the other skills in place, I actually was only changing 1 variable(well 2) the razor(and its blade). However the technique is the same except for having to flip the razor to use the other side. Now it was stroke, rinse, repeat.

I can see I will be purchasing another injector for my travel kit-why worry about achieving a good shave while already away from home to enjoy myself?

I can see how the straight razor appeals to people-its blade is thicker also. While shaving w/ the shavette took lots of thought(thin halfblade that you are very aware of) and the DE took practice, the injector was as easy as Sunday morning(tyx Commodores!)

I cannot wait to see how it deals w/ stubble as compared to longer hair. It will now replace my 38C + Red Pack combo as my weapon of choice when shaving in a hurry.

I wonder how this journey will end-or is it just the beginning of a new love?


marty

 

[Topgumby]

Those sneaky Injectors....

I get a great shave with mine, and it gets angles on my neck that make my fat headed DE razors green with envy.

It moves around like a cat, and I always reach for one when I'm in a hurry.

There is something about them that just leaves me feeling...like I shaved with a cartridge razor. The heft and beauty are gone.

But the shave is great.

 

[Tordu]

I agree its just too easy to shave with an injector.
If your razor has a bakelite handle it must an old one.
I find the shave with the later model ( type I or J) to be even more simple and efficient.

 

[rth97601]

I'm a big fan of the injector. It's my go-to when I'm in a rush.

 

[Slivovitz]

My injectors work so well, it's actually kind of odd that I still rotate between them, and my DE and SE razors. I can get a great shave with all three kinds, but the injectors are definitely the easiest.

 

[HoosierTrooper]

I'm going to have to fire up the L type this weekend. It never fails to work perfectly.

 

[ateace]

Those sneaky Injectors....

I get a great shave with mine, and it gets angles on my neck that make my fat headed DE razors green with envy.

It moves around like a cat, and I always reach for one when I'm in a hurry.

There is something about them that just leaves me feeling...like I shaved with a cartridge razor. The heft and beauty are gone.

But the shave is great.

I reach...

 

[brianw]

Welcome to the world of SE, I'm using my g style now... wait till you try a Gem or Ever Ready 1912

 

[petr]

Have you seen the injector blades on ebay - the DOUBLE blade? The injector died because it was a natural transformation into the cartridge hell of today.

That may be why it took me so long to try one. Now I am hooked like you are. I think it is that single stiff thick blade that makes it work so well.

Gotta get a bakelite handle one next!

 

[p.m.a.]

I recently picked up a Pal adjustable injector. Love it for detailing my moustache/goatee. It's not quite as fun to use as my other razors, but it gives an amazing shave, and looks real cool!

 

[Dennis]

Another welcomed to the fold. See the Club in my sig.

The only fault I find with Injectors is that they feel very cartridge-like in the shave. They are dead simple and work really well. I have no idea why they never were on par with Gillettes or why no one is making a great quality injector today.

 

[kingfisher]

Love my bakelite handle injector, too. It's a G1.

I have very thick, coarse facial hair and I really do think there's a big advantage to having a more substantial, thicker blade in the razor. Seems to shave more cleanly than a DE and doesn't tug at all. I also think you can get quite a few more shaves out of a blade; 6 or 7 is easy with an injector while I only get 2 or 3 out of a DE blade.

 

[DonOhio]

There is something about them that just leaves me feeling...like I shaved with a cartridge razor. The heft and beauty are gone.

Know what you mean; if you can, add a heavier handle to the head of your choice. Makes all the difference. Recently found the handle I grafted onto my G head was only brass coated - it's a dullish gray-silver underneath. Cast lead, I think. That "divine heaviness" of the DE is back, and it's the one I use most now.

 

[Prince]

I just bought one as well. Very easy shaves.

Cannot seem to get my neck as close, but it does give great shaves.

 

[Blondie]

Another welcomed to the fold. See the Club in my sig.

The only fault I find with Injectors is that they feel very cartridge-like in the shave. They are dead simple and work really well. I have no idea why they never were on par with Gillettes or why no one is making a great quality injector today.

I think they are on par with Gillettes. My L type gets more and more love each day. My Gillettes are becoming more and more museum pieces and I am thinking about procuring a backup L type. I also have G types, but find the L type a little easier. Lately, all I have been using is the injector and the Slant.

Perception is everything in marketing, and Gillette probably spent 10 dollars for every one dollar spent by Schick. I think that is the biggest part of it. They did very few special editions, and overall were more of a utility shaver, rather than a luxury shaver. My two cents.

 

[jmit]

Welcome to Injector Utopia! I really enjoy the shaves from my Shick adjustable, so easy and smooth. I do wish the razor was all metal instead of mostly plastic and a wider selection of blades.

 

[Dennis]

I think they are on par with Gillettes. My L type gets more and more love each day. My Gillettes are becoming more and more museum pieces and I am thinking about procuring a backup L type. I also have G types, but find the L type a little easier. Lately, all I have been using is the injector and the Slant.

Perception is everything in marketing, and Gillette probably spent 10 dollars for every one dollar spent by Schick. I think that is the biggest part of it. They did very few special editions, and overall were more of a utility shaver, rather than a luxury shaver. My two cents.

I mean historically I guess. Gillette is the much larger and bigger company. As a razor, they are every bit as good as a Gillette and better in many cases. That is what I was implying.

 

[bald1]

Marty,

I'm glad to see someone post the joys of using an injector here. I'm a sexagenarian who has been using a standard single blade injector since junior high. Oh sure I tried DE and even a straight edge, but I've never drifted far from the injector. My current battery consists of:

1965 PAL adjustable injector
1968 Schick M1 adjustable injector
~1972 International Silver/Schick "Paul Revere" injector
1965-80 Schick L1
1970s Gillette injector
1953 Eversharp Schick G8 injector ivory handle, gold head
1948 Eversharp Schick G1 injector blue handle, gold head

with the first three being my regular use razors.

I too decry the move to multi-bladed monstrosities that clog easily, contribute to skin problems like ingrown hairs by pulling follicles above their natural position relative to the skin, and abrade your face by removing too much dermis. Frankly none of them, be they two, three, four, or five blades shave as well as a good old fashioned single. But the manufacturers can charge more for these ***. What's needed with this resurgence in wet shaving is a new world class single edge razor with the heft and balance of the PAL and Int'l Silver "Paul Revere" razors, and the adjustability and blade tension system of the Schick Adjustable. Of course this should be mated to better blades than what we see on today's market. One can but dream.....

 

[bald1]

I just bought one as well. Very easy shaves.

Cannot seem to get my neck as close, but it does give great shaves.

You might find you need several passes as I do. Each made in a different relationship to the grain...with, against, oblique right, oblique left. Just be careful as you may find it easy to cut yourself despite using the same pressure for each pass. Some approaches are simply to be handled much more delicately

 

[BBrad]

In my younger days, I used a Schick Injector that my Gramps gave me . . . don't know where it is today . . .

I did get an Injector in a lot of razors I bought last month . . . and I picked up a pack of blades this week at Rite-Aid . . . all this talk about Injectors now has me convinced that I need to re-capture that youthful experience . . .

Tomorrow, I shave with Injector!!

(I'll let you know how I make out!)