Bitten several times.Micromatic

[StuMcB]

Well my Gem OC Micromatic showed up today and I though brilliant I'll shave with that this morning, so instead of my usual shower shave I went with the sink and a bowl.

Hot shower,
Vitos pre shave
Duke 2 best
Godrej soap
Gem blade
Micromatic

I'd watched several online vids and thought "OK". I'd used both a Gem push button and a G bar befor but never with any good results. This was a try again shave. A nice rich lather applied on a my well hydrated face on top of a days growth. The first couple of strokes went well and attention was paid to angle and speed, nice and slow (but not too slow). First pass N to S so far so good. Second pass, ear to ear.........BLOOD BATH!!! . Seems to have picked up at least a dozen nicks and cuts of all sizes mainly on the neck area and cheeks, most are quite small but they are definatley there. So I decided to finish off with my Merkur 11c.

Instead of going to the alum block I've gone with some tea tree oil and eucalyptus. This has a more cooling and numbing effect than the sting 'n' burn of poorly shaved skin.

WEll I aint going to give up. I'm going to have another go but in around 6 weeks time as thats when I get four days off in a row and will have more time to prepare with tutuorials and learn from any mistakes I've made.

As for the Micromatic razor.....well thats a thing of beauty and really nice in the hand, good weight, balance and the engineering in the TTO is very smooth.

I will be back

 

[StuMcB]

Here's a pic of the beast.

 

[TnutsShave]

Check my signature.

 

[NeverOne99]

Watch that angle. I think the mmoc is why all se's have a bad rap. For the most part I have found the 1912's, Feather Weight, etc to be quite mild. The mmoc however is a different beast. I have been shaving with it for a week now and I can definitely say that if I didn't watch my angle that thing could slice up my face like a wood planer. However, once you "get it", it's a very good shaver.

 

[cryhavoc]

Watch your angle and go slow. Once you get it down pat the OCMM is a wonderful razor. Good luck!

 

[StuMcB]

Where I got it right the shave was quite smooth. I checked after the North to South befor lathering up again for the ear to ear shave. The audible feedback was simalar to a Fatip OC for me. It was just the ear to ear shave that knackered me. As I say I aint going to give up. It's a long way off but in 6 weeks I'll have another go. By the way the tee tree and eucalyptus combo worked a treat in calming the skin down. After an hour or two I used an aspirin in a little WH and let that dry on the face. Weepers etc all healed up nice and soreness gone. Should be OK for tomorrow.

 

[Disburden]

You need to use a lot more care with the open comb micro. I also hated the stainless gem coated blades and moved to carbons instead. The stainless cut me up badly.

once you practice enough you will get the best shaves, but you need dedication and patience.

 

[jmsodpc]

Wow. Now I am scared. I have one waiting for me at home.

 

[Disburden]

You need to use less pressure with more control than with a DE razor. You almost have to float the razor off the face.

 

[TonyJoe]

You need to use less pressure with more control than with a DE razor. You almost have to float the razor off the face.

Agree with "floating" the razor. Also I find a shallower angle works better for me.

 

[Mong.]

For the most part I have found the 1912's, Feather Weight, etc to be quite mild.

I have a Featherweight and it is significantly milder than the OCMM, it'd be worth a try. I agree with the 'floating' comments too, I prefer to hold my OCMM higher up the handle than a DE so I have a bit more control. Stretching my face flat was the other thing that helped me out quite a bit. You could try just using the SE for the first pass and then cleaning up with a DE, it might save you a bit of pain while you adjust your technique.

 

[smalltank]

Nahh...you will be fine if you keep the razor flat against your face...then experiment lightly holding straight against your face

 

[kcb5150]

Your angle or pressure had to be off. I find that thing gentle when you're doing it right, and I have really sensitive skin... You always feel the blade and I think that is where the rep comes from that it is some face chewer. I find my 1912 junior to be the more aggressive razor.

 

[WoodfordReserve-Neat]

MMOC is the only SE razor in my safety razor rotation. I like the stiffer SE blades and get really close shaves, especially when stretching skin....With a light hand, I just shave as usual with an angle that feels right for me...no problemos.
Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but:
If I am not mistaken, GEM claimed that the front leading bevel of its top cap was designed for the optimal shaving angle. Therefore, by holding the front bevel of the razor head flat against the face it was supposed to be the ideal angle according to GEM...?

I intend to buy a Rhodes Kriss Kross SE one of these days. The design intrigues my curiosity...with its swivel head it can be used as a regular SE, as an angled (slanted) SE or a shavette.

 

[Haggises]

James I believe you are correct on the angle claims.
I think a few here angle the head just a smidge off the skin. Flat against or slightly off - both work for me.

 

[razorx]

James I believe you are correct on the angle claims.
I think a few here angle the head just a smidge off the skin. Flat against or slightly off - both work for me.

Very well said Haggises....OCMM,Streamline,ER1914 that's the way I shave.I think the "Magic Eye" version of the Flying Wing Bullit Tip is made so the contact point (magic eye location) is halfway up the blade cover meaning almost but not quite flat against the face and something like that works pretty well for most GEM or EverReady's I've shaved with except the milder ones.

 

[Disburden]

Whenever I try to use the razor flat on my face it doesn't glide easily like it would if it were slightly off the face.

EDIT: What I mean is that the blade will cut fine but the top of the head will stick to the lather on my face as if there were suction between the lather and the razor.

 

[OkieStubble]

The OCMM is the only GEM that I cannot master across the grain. (ear to ear) without a nick or cut here and there. However, because of it's aggressiveness, I just do two passes, one with the grain (north to south) and one against the grain. (south to north) Then some light buffing in trouble spots and then call it a shave.

 

[Haiku]

For whatever reason the Micromatics just don't work well for me at all. I can get great shaves out of every other SE I own, but not the Micromatics, not the OC nor the SB.

That having been said, the Micromatic razors are really beautiful razors. If there's a higher quality TTO out there, I don't know what it is.

 

[SEnSE]

Keep trying the OCMM when you can with all of the advice already given. If it still isn't a great match for you then let me suggest a Valet AutoStop VC1. This razor is almost as efficient as the OCMM is for me while also being much smoother and easier to control.