A Simple Gem Razor Hack?

[Saloogie]

Nope - just cut the end tabs off the entire DE blade. Left just a hair to hold it together. Fiddled it in so it bridged both blade stops and clamped the top down. Made sure the blade was secure and didn't move back. So I sacrificed the other sharp end. But when I was shaving with DE's I was always a once and done type of blade man. Have so many it just made sense to chuck em.

It was not as rigid as a GEM blade but it didn't seem to matter. Shaved wonderfully. You could do anything you wanted - long strokes, buffing, AGT.

Glad you found this hack useful.

I also felt that I could do anything with this razor/blade combination. It felt lighter and more nimble and I was able to work the razor quickly. It never felt threatening. I think the less rigid feel of the DE blade made for a better overall shaving experience.

 

[Old Hippie]

I had no idea Gem ever was into DE blades. So maybe they actually did make their razors so they can take a DE blade.

Actually, no. As @Wombat ESQ shows in his post after mine, it's not intended to be a "DE" blade, but rather a Gem blade with two edges. It wouldn't work in a DE razor, as the Gem blades are too thick to be bent in a DE head.

That's why I was careful to say, "...Gem blade with two edges..." instead of, "...double-edge..." Not the same thing at all.

O.H.

 

[Saloogie]

Actually, no. As @Wombat ESQ shows in his post after mine, it's not intended to be a "DE" blade, but rather a Gem blade with two edges. It wouldn't work in a DE razor, as the Gem blades are too thick to be bent in a DE head.

That's why I was careful to say, "...Gem blade with two edges..." instead of, "...double-edge..." Not the same thing at all.

O.H.

Gotcha!

Yes, big difference between DE blades and a blade with 2 edges.

 

[Psychtec]

Of interest ? ....... for what is worth?

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Nice pictures.
Gentlemen know to only use modern GeM blades, right?

I hope so!

I do wonder how these vintage GEM’s shave. Take a chance. I don’t know!

 

[Old Hippie]

I do wonder how these vintage GEM’s shave. Take a chance. I don’t know!

Well, the vintage Gem blades were carbon steel and therefore could be honed more or less easily. People who've used the modern Treet blue steel blades tend to report they're tuggy buggers. Modern stainless teflon-coated three-angle grind Personna blades are evidently the best we can find. Being stainless, they are too hard to hone well. But darn fine shavers for most of us.

You could probably rehone one for use in a box knife, but getting that literally "razor sharp" edge is going to be difficult to say the least.

O.H.

 

[ErkRusselReserve]

How is the alignment? Is it guaranteed? I have tried a few of his hacks and various others and the blade alignment issue has always gotten me off such schemes (even if I had good results). Even thought I have multiple DIY DE bladed modern cartridge razors, safety is still #1 over novelty.

 

[Ranyart Finn]

May give this a try sometime.

This is also Subie being nice and restrained - he's actually watchable and enjoyable. I cannot stand him when he's being hyper-frenetic and littering his videos with effects, pop-ups and thumping techno music. I wish all his videos were like this.

 

[geneaut]

I can snap a DE in half and load it in my Ever Ready 1912. I get pretty good shaves from most blades in it, but from time to time the blade will push back into the razor head on one side so I have to keep an eye on it. I've thought of trying to 3D print a shim of some sort, but have never gotten around to it.

The same trick does not work in my GEM 1912. I think the forward stops on it aren't quite as snug as on the ER.

 

[Wombat ESQ]

I can snap a DE in half and load it in my Ever Ready 1912. I get pretty good shaves from most blades in it, but from time to time the blade will push back into the razor head on one side so I have to keep an eye on it. I've thought of trying to 3D print a shim of some sort, but have never gotten around to it.

The same trick does not work in my GEM 1912. I think the forward stops on it aren't quite as snug as on the ER.

Ever tried 2 dots of super glue? the glue is not real great on metal to metal, nor that waterproof, the blade is had the Ted when you want change it so if you do a good job on getting out ... no loss??
just a off the cuff thought? no?

 

[Saloogie]

How is the alignment? Is it guaranteed? I have tried a few of his hacks and various others and the blade alignment issue has always gotten me off such schemes (even if I had good results). Even thought I have multiple DIY DE bladed modern cartridge razors, safety is still #1 over novelty.

I haven't experienced any alignment problems. They fit nice and snug, like they were made for this razor.

I'm on my 3rd shave with different DE blades and all have worked fine and given me nice shaves