GEMini results are in

[Haggises]

After a month of solely using SE blades, mostly on an expanded area of face (once near full, now circle beard) I can rank the razors in terms of fitting my face. YFaceWillV.

Bringing up the rear, yet still providing a good shave, the People's Champion - GEM 1912 Damaskeene (whether this is a true Damaskeeneis subject to debate). Just drags a little too much on my skin ATG
Just a little bit ahead are two very different razors - Every Ready 1912 and GEM Flying Wing. 1912 again drags a little too much ATG, while the Flying Wing is not quite eficient enough, though very smooth.

Ahead of these I will place the GEM OCMM and the Ever Ready 1924. I need more practice on the OCMM but the shave I had this morning was one of the best. The 1924 gives more consistent shaves than most, but lags just a little behind the winners......

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a tie for first. Both the ER 1914 and the GEM G-bar gave exceptionally good results.

I love all these razors and given time, I'm sure I can get past my small difficulties with the 1912s.

The one thing GEMini definitely taught me is that carbon steel blades are not for me. Stainless - coated or non-coated, not sure I felt much difference - is the way to go for me.

Cheers fellow GEMinoids!

(Hey wait, June to July is Cancer....Cancer ends in ER doesn't it......?)

 

[Mr. Flay]

I did GEMini using all Gem Juniors (4 varieties) and all carbon steel blades. My verdict: As far as Gems go, I'm still a Clog-Pruf man. The blades I used were, I think, CVS or some other drug store variety (I have SE blades from all over. I got these from somewhere unremembered and I just wanted to use them up). I do like the Treet cs blades much better than others I've tried, but they all give a decent shave. Except Dorco and the blue PAL SE blades. Don't get me started.

Anyway, on to the next RAD-fueled adventure.

 

[Haggises]

The main razors I didn't try - the GEM Jrs and the Clog-Pruf
(and the lather catchers and the Streamline, but I'm pretending they dont exist until the prices come back to earth)

 

[Cicatero]

I've been using an 1924 ER daily for about 3 weeks as part of an experiment to discover a way to prevent my carbon blades from patinaing (sp?). For all its foibles*, it's still a damned fine shaving razor.



*It's kind of ugly, the blade tends to move to one side when closing the cap, the side tabs just get in the way and it holds water overly long.

 

[drocu]

Interesting results. My ER 1912 is my go to SE and I also really like the ER 1924 and Gem G-bar. I own but haven't tried the ER 1914 yet and haven't gotten the hang of the Gem OCMM.

 

[Sledgehammer39]

Thanks for the review.. I find the G-Bar to be an effective razor also. For me this is the order of SE razors from GEM that yielded the best results:

GEM 1912
GEM Clog-Pruf MM
GEM G-Bar

 

[Haggises]

Dammit, now I need to go get a Clog Pruf....

From other readings here, I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority on the 1912. I could probably still happily shave with it every day of my life.

 

[rockviper]

Thanks Haggises! I enjoyed your GEMini write-ups over thepast month.

 

[Disburden]

All the gem micromatics are great, especially the ocmm. My next favorites are lather catchers for their cool factor and results. I have not used my g bar in a long time....I should soon.