Have I lost my DE chops, or is an Injector just better than a Tech?

[1904]

The following inquiry represents the kind of minutiae you never saw in print, or even heard aloud, before the Internet:

So I've been using an injector for about 2.5 weeks, and I love it. I couldn't believe how simple and close the shave was, and the Chinese blades are top-notch. Today, though, I was on the road and I used a fat-handle Tech I brought with me. And the shave really wasn't that great. Not real close, yet I risked irritation if I went any closer. Two theories:
1) Techs just aren't that great for me: I last used them a few months ago when I was picking things up and this is the kind of shave I usually got. Other DEs between then and now - Merkur, Slim - have worked better.
2) This is more troubling: could I have become dependent on the Injector?
Anybody else on this site become Injector-dependent and lost their DE chops?

 

[The Kiwi]

I get a far closer first pass, WTG, from Injectors and SEs. Add some minor cleanup, and it's already a DFS, with minimal effort. With the SEs, such as my Micromatic Clog-Pruf, it's a very satisfactory shave. The Injectors need added lead somewhere to give them comfortable mass. They are so light, they are mindful of disposables.

I hadn't used an Injector in 50 years prior to March or April, this year, but I remembered it was easy to shave with, and it really is. I hadn't used an SE of any kind that wasn't an Injector, in about 55 years, but I remembered it shaved very closely, and they really do (although I think that the Injectors are very slightly ahead in that regard).

I have three regular type SEs, a 1912, the Clog-Pruf, and a Gbar, and four Injectors. I had none of those seven before this January; all of those I'd owned in bygone years were long missing. The Injectors are an E, two G;s and a Hydromagic. But I have a dozen DEs as welll, although five of those have been mine for nearly 50 years.

I shave about as much with DEs as with the SEs / Injectors. Today, I used a 1940s period Super Speed, with some Burt's Bees shave cream, an Atra blade, and "Dynamic Pulse" aftershave lotion from Adidas. I did end up with some three piece Tech types as throw-ins with shave mugs I wanted, but I don't ever use those.

Does that give you any feeling about where Injectors fit with all the rest of the classic / traditional mens shaving paraphenalia?

 

[michiganlover]

Injectors are great razors, and very under-rated around these parts. Just because the DE won the popularity war, doesn't necessarily mean it was the superior tool. I get consistent excellent quality shaves from my Injectors, in two passes, and without any fuss.

There are two potential "negatives": 1) They are so easy to use (and get great results with) that it feels like cheating. 2) The feel in the hand reminds one of a cartridge razor.

 

[1904]

The following inquiry represents the kind of minutiae you never saw in print, or even heard aloud, before the Internet:

So I've been using an injector for about 2.5 weeks, and I love it. I couldn't believe how simple and close the shave was, and the Chinese blades are top-notch. Today, though, I was on the road and I used a fat-handle Tech I brought with me. And the shave really wasn't that great. Not real close, yet I risked irritation if I went any closer. Two theories:
1) Techs just aren't that great for me: I last used them a few months ago when I was picking things up and this is the kind of shave I usually got. Other DEs between then and now - Merkur, Slim - have worked better.
2) This is more troubling: could I have become dependent on the Injector?
Anybody else on this site become Injector-dependent and lost their DE chops?

Yeah--makes me feel like maybe I should just go full-time GEM; I've got a couple and I like them. What blades do you use? Drug store works fine for me, but they tarnish terribly.

 

[1904]

Injectors are great razors, and very under-rated around these parts. Just because the DE won the popularity war, doesn't necessarily mean it was the superior tool. I get consistent excellent quality shaves from my Injectors, in two passes, and without any fuss.

There are two potential "negatives": 1) They are so easy to use (and get great results with) that it feels like cheating. 2) The feel in the hand reminds one of a cartridge razor.

Yeah--it's incredible to me that Injectors aren't more standard.

 

[drocu]

Injectors are great razors, and very under-rated around these parts. Just because the DE won the popularity war, doesn't necessarily mean it was the superior tool. I get consistent excellent quality shaves from my Injectors, in two passes, and without any fuss.

There are two potential "negatives": 1) They are so easy to use (and get great results with) that it feels like cheating. 2) The feel in the hand reminds one of a cartridge razor.

Perfect explanation. I don't know why but DE and straight razors get far more attention around here than SE or injectors. Injectors provide a phenomenal shave with the two "caveats" that michiganlover mentioned. Honestly, I think SE/injector razors don't get a lot of love because there are so few of them. With the exception of the Streamline SE razor, there are very few rare SE/injectors that use disposable blades. Traditional wet shaving is, afterall, a hobby that favors collectibles and so people ignore them. For the cost of a vintage SE or injector razor, I think they're the best bang for the buck if your endpoint is a close shave.

Yeah--makes me feel like maybe I should just go full-time GEM; I've got a couple and I like them. What blades do you use? Drug store works fine for me, but they tarnish terribly.

If you're liking your injector, definitely get a Gem. I'd recommend a 1912. The CVS blades work better for me than the Ted Pella Gem PTFE-coated ones but YMMV. The CVS blades do rust very easily, I agree. You could try rinsing them with rubbing alcohol or storing them in mineral oil to prevent the rust.

 

[Dharuma]

I'm a recent convert to injectors as well, and I don't mind that the handle is like a cartridge razor--I'm after an end result, which is DFS, every time. I may use my super adjustable from time to time, but my Hydro is now my go-to razor.

 

[the_edski]

It has been said before and i believe it, that DE is not the end-all-be-all. No matter what you shave with... technique and traditional, quality wet-shaving supplies make the vast majority of the difference between a good and bad shave. If an injector feels good, looks good and shaves good...go with it!

 

[knlgskr]

Have tried about all safety razors that are available and Injectors (for me) have provided the best wet shaves; wish Personna 74s and Schick Platinums were available/made today.

 

[menghai]

I'm a fan of injectors, although I'm very new to traditional wet shaving. I only shave my head, so I appreciate something that is cartridge-like. I might never graduate from injectors, based on how my first shave went.

 

[mftoms59]

I haven't used a DE since the first week of April, a Fat-Handle Tech, and don't miss it. I kept my Shick Krona, (2) 1959 Gillette SS & a Fat-Handle Tech for my 3 y/o son & on the off chance I feel like a DE Shave. The SE Razors provide close shaves and I like the design and looks of those Razors, in Single Edge Razors; Clog-Pruf, Flying-Wing w/Guiding Eye & Lather Catcher.

My favorite Razors are Injectors, I consider those the "Sports Car" of SE Shaving for performance and ease of use, My rotation of Injectors; "E", "J", "L-3" & Hydro-Magic. I love the "E" for it's close shave and Carmel/Butterscotch Handle but get the best all-around performance from the Long Handle "J" which is a great Head Shaver. Though many say "it shaves like a cart" or they're "mild Razors", they can and will "Bite" you if you're lackadaisical or cavalier with your Blade Angle or Shave Stroke. I prefer to think the Blade Angle is closer to Straight Shaving than Cart Shaving.

I prefer Vintage Injector Blades like the Schick Plus Platinum, Schick Krona & Gillette Injectors, I average 30-35 Comfortable Shaves, I've tried the Personna 74 Injectors and for me, they don't perform as well as the others but I find them better than the "Chicks" (Chinese Schicks). I've used the current Production "Chicks" & Personna Injectors and prefer the Personna, for me they are smoother and gave me 15 consecutive Comfortable Shaves, the "Chicks" provided 13 of 16, with #3,11 & 13 being rough or irritating.

 

[HoosierTrooper]

Anybody else on this site become Injector-dependent and lost their DE chops?

Yes. Single edge all the way!