GEM & DE safety razors... No difference?

[Moufflon]

I was just wondering if anyone has discovered that there is really no difference in the technique you use to shave with a DE and a GEM type SE razor. I had my first shave with a GEM 1912 today (Ted Pellas) and I had spent hours reading how the angle is different but come shave time, the angle between the blade and my face felt exactly the same, sure my hand was not in exactly the same place it would be with a DE, but who goes by the look of the angle when they shave? The feel of the blade should guide your angle (and the lightest touch).

Just my rant, and may be an exception due to having a very funky razor (it does look lie a normal 1912 GEM).

On a side note, the Ted Pellas gave a wonderfully smooth shave, mowed down anything in their way (including any pimples you may have). Manage dot get a BBS with my first shave in 2 passes, and no irritation on the sensitive bits. Highly recommend one for people still getting some redness after a DE shave.

 

[Shave Cat]

I think some people get hung up on shaving angles. You really can't see the blade edge on a DE as well as you can on a SE anyway. I just use whatever angle works best. I'm certainly not going to set a protractor on my face and start measuring angles!

-Clarke

 

[Moufflon]

if you attached a spirit level to the head of the razor so that it is level when the razor is held at the correct angle... The perfect shave!

 

[Bertilak]

I was just wondering if anyone has discovered that there is really no difference in the technique you use to shave with a DE and a GEM type SE razor. I had my first shave with a GEM 1912 today (Ted Pellas) and I had spent hours reading how the angle is different but come shave time, the angle between the blade and my face felt exactly the same, sure my hand was not in exactly the same place it would be with a DE, but who goes by the look of the angle when they shave? The feel of the blade should guide your angle (and the lightest touch).

100% correct in my experience.

I do think the 1912 and/or SE blade make it easier to sense the correct angle -- more feedback, or possibly more forgiving of less-than-perfect angle. Whatever, I get a better shave than with any DE I've used.

And my favorite advice is "light touch" in all things shaving related.

 

[michiganlover]

And my favorite advice is "light touch" in all things shaving related.

+1. Pressure + non-flexible blade of a Gem = Bloodbath.

If you love your face, please please use no pressure with a Gem!!

 

[82R100]

I think I've found DE's to be less tolerant of over angling than SE's. On the flip side, avoiding pressure seems to be very important with the SE's.

As has been mentioned, the audio feedback of the 1912 SE is wonderfully helpful. I probably wouldn't get in as much trouble with DE's if they did as well in this department.

- Chris

 

[Moufflon]

I have to say that I had the opposite experience with the auditory feedback. All my DE's make a terrible loud sound as they mow down my hair, but I kept rubbing my face to see if the GEM actually did anything because it was so silent and smooth! maybe the Ted Pella's are just a lot sharper than the Derby's I am used to.

 

[texbilly]

100% correct in my experience.

I do think the 1912 and/or SE blade make it easier to sense the correct angle -- more feedback, or possibly more forgiving of less-than-perfect angle. Whatever, I get a better shave than with any DE I've used.

And my favorite advice is "light touch" in all things shaving related.

+1...I don't "measure" angle but the flat head of the 1912 and other SEs almost draw themselves into your face, unlike the curved head of most all DEs. Fine shaves from my SEs.

 

[kingfisher]

Same thing holds true for injectors, as well.

 

[Bertilak]

Same thing holds true for injectors, as well.

On my list of things to do ...

 

[Gogo]

I have a GEM and multiple safety razors, but I choose to use a straight!

I like my GEM, but the only drawback is availability of blades. The variety of DE blades seems endless and readily available. SE blades don't seem to be as easy to find.

 

[Moufflon]

I have an injector coming soon too, thanks for the heads up that what I should ultimately look for is the feeling of the angle rather than peoples opinion on the forum to guide my razor angle (though when I first start DE shaving the forum recommendations were spot on, so I hope my opinion doesn't discourage any newbies from taking forum advice on angle!).
I think that many brands of razor have different head angles anyway, and to add to that complication some of the old ones look like their heads may have been bent slightly out of shape. This makes giving blade angle advice quite complicated.

 

[lurker]

My 1912 and G-Bar just tear me up. I've tried Treet, Walgreen GEM and Pella GEM blades and they all turn my face into a bloody mess. If I don't apply any pressure the blade just skips across my beard without cutting anything. If I apply enough pressure to get through the beard, the bleeding begins. Both of my GEM's are in the sock drawer for now.

 

[DunEdinRanger]

I think I've found DE's to be less tolerant of over angling than SE's. On the flip side, avoiding pressure seems to be very important with the SE's.

As has been mentioned, the audio feedback of the 1912 SE is wonderfully helpful. I probably wouldn't get in as much trouble with DE's if they did as well in this department.

- Chris

The only DE's I've tried that come close to the audible feedback of a GEM are the Futur wide open and the Slant Bar Sledgehammer. I shaved over 12 hours ago and am still clean shaven.

I have to say that I had the opposite experience with the auditory feedback. All my DE's make a terrible loud sound as they mow down my hair, but I kept rubbing my face to see if the GEM actually did anything because it was so silent and smooth! maybe the Ted Pella's are just a lot sharper than the Derby's I am used to.

The Pellas are a lot sharper, but they should make a much louder sound. If the head is flat against your face, raise it a little and you will hear the blade sing and cut.

 

[spinyeel]

My 1912 and G-Bar just tear me up. I've tried Treet, Walgreen GEM and Pella GEM blades and they all turn my face into a bloody mess. If I don't apply any pressure the blade just skips across my beard without cutting anything. If I apply enough pressure to get through the beard, the bleeding begins. Both of my GEM's are in the sock drawer for now.

Are you stretching your skin when you shave?If not,this could be the reason for your poor results.

 

[Shave Cat]

My 1912 and G-Bar just tear me up. I've tried Treet, Walgreen GEM and Pella GEM blades and they all turn my face into a bloody mess. If I don't apply any pressure the blade just skips across my beard without cutting anything. If I apply enough pressure to get through the beard, the bleeding begins. Both of my GEM's are in the sock drawer for now.

Is your razor skipping because it is having a hard time cutting your beard, or is the razor not gliding smoothly across your skin? If it is the former, either your beard is not properly prepped, the blade is not sharp enoough to cut your beard, or your blade angle is way off. If the latter, your lather is not slick enough or you are shaving with the razor's head too close to your skin and need to raise it slightly. The 1912 should not be difficult to shave with.

-Clarke

 

[pablo_h]

Is your razor skipping because it is having a hard time cutting your beard, or is the razor not gliding smoothly across your skin? If it is the former, either your beard is not properly prepped, the blade is not sharp enoough to cut your beard, or your blade angle is way off. If the latter, your lather is not slick enough or you are shaving with the razor's head too close to your skin and need to raise it slightly. The 1912 should not be difficult to shave with.

-Clarke

+1 What I was going to say. SE blades aren't 'feather' sharp*, so if you are used to that level of sharpness then you need extra prep.
Extra prep pays you back though anyway, with a smoother, more comfortable shave and the blades lasting longer.

*SE blades are more like IP sharp for me, but better because they don't skip or dig in and cut like a DE blade. But as many others said, you need low presure to avoid cuts, and if your beard is coarse you really need extra prep to get that blade working through the softened beard.
That's what I like most about SE, it will hardly ever nick you when the prep is done right, while sometimes a DE will still jump out and nick you, you really have to want a 1912 to do it's worse to get cut by one once you get the technique down. The angle and pressure is way easier to control with an SE.

 

[lurker]

Is your razor skipping because it is having a hard time cutting your beard, or is the razor not gliding smoothly across your skin? If it is the former, either your beard is not properly prepped, the blade is not sharp enoough to cut your beard, or your blade angle is way off. If the latter, your lather is not slick enough or you are shaving with the razor's head too close to your skin and need to raise it slightly. The 1912 should not be difficult to shave with.

-Clarke

They just don't work for me. I do a full "Kyle Prep" prior to shaving so prep isn't the issue. My everyday soap is MWF/Musgo superlather that is very slick and cushiony. I also occasionally use Bigelow cream, Real Shaving Company cream and Ogallala Bay soap.

I've played with different angles, but the more radical angles lead to greater blood and burn and lesser angles lead to dragging, pulling and skipping. I do have a thick tough beard. Even with DE's the only blades that don't tug, pull or skip are Iridium Super and Kai (haven't tried Gillette Yellow or Feather's yet). Derby, Crystal, Red Pack Isreali's, Astra Superiror and Merkur blades have all been less than acceptable.

 

[Shave Cat]

They just don't work for me. I do a full "Kyle Prep" prior to shaving so prep isn't the issue. My everyday soap is MWF/Musgo superlather that is very slick and cushiony. I also occasionally use Bigelow cream, Real Shaving Company cream and Ogallala Bay soap.

I've played with different angles, but the more radical angles lead to greater blood and burn and lesser angles lead to dragging, pulling and skipping. I do have a thick tough beard. Even with DE's the only blades that don't tug, pull or skip are Iridium Super and Kai (haven't tried Gillette Yellow or Feather's yet). Derby, Crystal, Red Pack Isreali's, Astra Superiror and Merkur blades have all been less than acceptable.

I suppose it is possible that SE blades may not be sharp enough for you. IMHO, they are not as sharp as the top DE blades. Not every raozr and blade is giong to work for everyone. I get my best shaves with an oddball three piece Cooper safety bar razor and supermarket ASR blades. Go figure.

-Clarke