GEM Razor shave angle
- Thread starter bobusa
- Start date
Lay it flat on your sideburn area and slowly find the desired angle. It maybe a little tricky when you're transitioning from DE's but once you find the correct angle, you're on your way.
For me it depend on which GEM. On my Heavy Flat Top (G-Bar), I lay it almost flat to my face, where on my 1912 variants I find that I hold it very similar to the angle I do with the 2011 R41.
There was a post couple weeks ago - the earlier Gems are not supposed to be flat on the face, but the later Micromatics are.
Maybe someone has a definitive list (wiki possibility!)
Maybe someone has a definitive list (wiki possibility!)
This isn't meant to be sarcastic, really. Promise.
I lay it at whatever angle feels right. I have only been wet shaving for a few months, but I guess by now I can tell when the shave feels "right." With any razor/blade combo (so far), I can usually find the correct angle in just a couple of strokes.
I'm somewhat convinced even that that today (for example) my "correct" FatBoy/AstraSP angle might have been "X," and tomorrow it might be "Y." Same razor, same blade, different day. For this reason, I don't at all try to keep up with the correct angle for all of my razors. I just go with what feels (and in some cases) sounds right. My face quickly tells me if I'm wrong.
- Mark
I lay it at whatever angle feels right. I have only been wet shaving for a few months, but I guess by now I can tell when the shave feels "right." With any razor/blade combo (so far), I can usually find the correct angle in just a couple of strokes.
I'm somewhat convinced even that that today (for example) my "correct" FatBoy/AstraSP angle might have been "X," and tomorrow it might be "Y." Same razor, same blade, different day. For this reason, I don't at all try to keep up with the correct angle for all of my razors. I just go with what feels (and in some cases) sounds right. My face quickly tells me if I'm wrong.
- Mark
Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUG2B_-D0d4
I shaved with a 1901 GEM Jr. for the 1st time this morning. The correct angle was very different from the later GEMs. I'm still getting the hang of these SE razors but have found that even the flat tops seem to shave closer if I don't follow GEM's instruction to lay the razor against my cheek.
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I find a shallow angle to be best with my 1912. Haven't shaved with my OCMM yet, so I can't say what's good with that one.
I shaved with this EverReady SE (sold to me as a 1924) yesterday. Got the best single pass shave I have gotten to date. The audio feedback was striking. I had a 2-day beard and it cut through it like nothing. What a razor!
Anyway, regarding angle, I find the angle varies throughout the shave. My trouble spot at the moment is my chin area and I got one weeper but I attribute it to my lack of solid technique with this razor and blade. BTW, I used a Walgreens Gem blade. The 20% angle rule of thumb does not apply for this razor/blade. I usually test the angle up by my sideburn and adjust accordingly moving around my face. There is no way to judge one magic angle...it's the touch and feel method for me. If I feel pain or see blood, I change the angle!
When I master my technique, I imagine some amazing shaves coming my way.
Postscript...given this is about "Gem" razor angle, maybe my comments about my EverReady are not germaine. Sorry.
Anyway, regarding angle, I find the angle varies throughout the shave. My trouble spot at the moment is my chin area and I got one weeper but I attribute it to my lack of solid technique with this razor and blade. BTW, I used a Walgreens Gem blade. The 20% angle rule of thumb does not apply for this razor/blade. I usually test the angle up by my sideburn and adjust accordingly moving around my face. There is no way to judge one magic angle...it's the touch and feel method for me. If I feel pain or see blood, I change the angle!
When I master my technique, I imagine some amazing shaves coming my way.
Postscript...given this is about "Gem" razor angle, maybe my comments about my EverReady are not germaine. Sorry.
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tried to quote this but my PC is having Javascipt issues.Angle documentation for the 1912http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/187972-GEM-1912-Angle?p=2783186#post2783186
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Use the lowest angle that works. There is even some variation in the 1912s I own, each one is a law unto itself, so don't restrict yourself.
I've used a few now, including 1912s, Featherweight, and OCMM, and for none of them do I get anywhere with the cap flat on my face - the blade just doesn't cut anything that way. I use a shallow blade angle, similar to the angle I use with my R41, and that gets the job done very nicely.
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+2 with finding the angle. The angle for my G-Bar is different than for my Gem Jr. Just as different than the Wilkinson Empire is to my VAS.
I've seen the instruction Haggisses cites, and yeah, it's at variance with the Micromatic instruction. Very different.
So, for quite a while I'd been using the "head flat against the face" technique with MM and 1912 models, and a few weeks ago I decided it was appropriate to reconsider, in light of the 1912 instruction sheet, and retry the angle in that picture. So what I found was:
-- I can get a decent shave either way. But I have to use less pressure at higher angles.
-- I can get a closer shave with less chance of irritation with the head flat against the face for all Micromatics, plus the typical 1912 model.
-- The British Ever-Ready 1912 version is somewhat a toss-up, and at even slightly higher angles I have to be pretty careful about pressure..
-- The Damaskeene seems to do better at a higher angle (but not nearly as high as in the instruction sheet) and requires a really light touch.
-- I get way more shaves per blade at a lower angle, regardless. Blade goes dull faster when I shave at a higher angle. I can actually see the damage to the edge with a hand lens.
And it's still a little puzzling to me that some folks find the flat approach to be completely unworkable. I could understand if maybe I had a really light beard, but mine is coarse and grows fast. So it should be a fairly good test of the possibilities. I think there's some technique aspect that's gone un-noticed. Wish we could all do 20 second videos and compare. I know YMMV but keep wondering why.
So, for quite a while I'd been using the "head flat against the face" technique with MM and 1912 models, and a few weeks ago I decided it was appropriate to reconsider, in light of the 1912 instruction sheet, and retry the angle in that picture. So what I found was:
-- I can get a decent shave either way. But I have to use less pressure at higher angles.
-- I can get a closer shave with less chance of irritation with the head flat against the face for all Micromatics, plus the typical 1912 model.
-- The British Ever-Ready 1912 version is somewhat a toss-up, and at even slightly higher angles I have to be pretty careful about pressure..
-- The Damaskeene seems to do better at a higher angle (but not nearly as high as in the instruction sheet) and requires a really light touch.
-- I get way more shaves per blade at a lower angle, regardless. Blade goes dull faster when I shave at a higher angle. I can actually see the damage to the edge with a hand lens.
And it's still a little puzzling to me that some folks find the flat approach to be completely unworkable. I could understand if maybe I had a really light beard, but mine is coarse and grows fast. So it should be a fairly good test of the possibilities. I think there's some technique aspect that's gone un-noticed. Wish we could all do 20 second videos and compare. I know YMMV but keep wondering why.
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So far the only SE razors I have are GEM Micromatic razors and they work best when the head is just about touching my face.
As mentioned, there are to many SE razors to give one answer to fit them all. Even in regard to GEM SE razors.
Below are the instructions for Pat 1912 models. The recommended angle is on the left in the pictures.
Below are the instructions for the Ever Ready Pat 1924 models. It is not a GEM SE but it was mentioned in this thread so I thought I would post the instructions. Notice the recommended angle
Of course you can shave with whatever angle you prefer. My main razor is the Ever Ready Pat 1924 and I use the recommended shave angle. My hairs are course, curly and lay extremely flat on exiting the skin. This recommended angle and the ER 1924 are the most effective at removing my my hair with the least effort.
Below are the instructions for the Micromatic models.
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Thanks for that. My next shave will be a 1924 and wasn't sure which way to go 
Thanks for posting the 1924 instructions themba! The one time I used my 1924, I used an angle closer to the depicted #2 than #3.
It would be cool if instruction sheet jpegs were posted to the proper shavewiki pages.
It would be cool if instruction sheet jpegs were posted to the proper shavewiki pages.
