SE Blade Question...

[lradke]

G'day everyone! I recently acquired a GEM Lather catcher for Christmas, and love the shave from it. However I only have 3 SE blades left (got in a PIF) and don't know enought about SE blades to know what to buy. I know there are different makes and coatings and really all I want is a low maintenance blade. The ones I currently have are CVS and undergo some weird chemical reaction that makes them rust uber fast.

I am in want of a blade that will not rust and that is sharp. When i shave with my DE (Muhle r 106) I use Red Israelis and Feathers as they are the only ones that don't irritate my skin, and provide that smooth shaving experience.

SO if I could get some recommendations as to what the difference is, and what should be good, that would be great!

Thanks!

 

[HoosierTrooper]

For low maintenance blades that won't rust you have one choice, and that is the stainless steel Gem blades made by Personna. They're available at Walgreens, or you can order them from Ted Pella, Electron Microscopy Sciences or direct from the online store at www.personna.com There are probably a few other online sources and they can be found at some independent grocery and drug stores.

The CVS blades are made from carbon steel and will rust if left wet, as will the Treet, Gem Blue Star and PAL blades. That is pretty much the entire line of SE blades readily available.

 

[Dave Deluxe]

"For low maintenance blades that won't rust you have one choice, and that is the stainless steel Gem blades made by Personna. They're available at Walgreens, or you can order them from Ted Pella, Electron Microscopy Services or direct from the online store at www.personna.com There are probably a few other online sources and they can be found at some independent grocery and drug stores.

The CVS blades are made from carbon steel and will rust if left wet, as will the Treet, Gem Blue Star and PAL blades. That is pretty much the entire line of SE blades readily available."

With as often as this question is asked this info should be made a "sticky".

DD

 

[Slivovitz]

Definitely the Gem Stainless are the longest lasting. Someone pointed out to me a while ago that mineral oil (like baby oil) on the carbon steel ones can hold the rust at bay a bit longer.

Is the Edmonton in your location the city in Canada? Don't know if it's harder to find SE blades there, but maybe Pella or EMS will ship there.

 

[Alegre]

I use the carbon steel Gem blades from CVS and don`t have a problem with rust. I remove the blade from the razor after use, wash it off under the tap, pat it dry with a towel and set it aside. I get three shaves out of a blade, and actually like these a bit more than the stainless version.

 

[lradke]

Is the Edmonton in your location the city in Canada? Don't know if it's harder to find SE blades there, but maybe Pella or EMS will ship there.

Yes I live in Canada. There are no places I know of in the city that sell SE blades, and the only decent place to get DE blades is Superstore (5 for 2.50...each blade lasts about 2 shaves) everywhere else sells them for about $15 per pack . Needless to say I order my blades online.

The last thing I expected was for my blade to rust...I didn't know it would happen. I have a GEM Featherweight(?) and the blade would be starting to rust before I would be done my shave.

Thanks for the input...I'll try the GEM stainless blades for now.

 

[Alegre]

I have a GEM Featherweight(?) and the blade would be starting to rust before I would be done my shave.

I`m sorry to hear that. The carbon stell blades I get from CVS don`t do that, not even close.

Thanks for the input...I'll try the GEM stainless blades for now.

Sounds like a good idea. RxAmerica.com has them, and they ship to Canada, UPS.

 

[bvance554]

I'm new to SE as well, and also started with CVS blades and the morning after the first shave it was very well rusted. I still like the blades, but now I just pat the blade dry with a towel after I shave and its fine. I've used the same blade for 2 weeks with no rust.

 

[lradke]

I've used the same blade for 2 weeks with no rust.

I honestly don't know how you manage it... After 1 use they are toast for me, even if I pat them dry. I go to use them the next day and it feels like broken glass raking over my skin...I just think the blades hate me...
***
I was recently pointed in the direction of a place where I could order the GEM SS PTFE blades for cheap. Importing them from Europe, as all the american stores charge a rip off for shipping to the Great White North. I only ordered 10, just to see if I like them.

I tried one last night and found they were much sharper than the CVS blades I own. It was kind of like using a feather blade in my DE (a blade I don't use too much so I forget how efficiently it cuts hair and skin). I only ended up with 3 weepers ...that soon cleared up. All of which I felt no tug or anything...they just appeared.

I did my usual 3 pass shave and when i did my ATG pass, I felt pretty much NO resistance.

The best part for me is the fact that the blade didn't tarnish or rust! (I know it is SS). The only downside right now is that when I shave with an SE, I get a much better shave than with my DE (more aggressive too), so I need to wait about 48hrs until I am in a position where I can do another 3 pass shave. So I don't know how the blade will work on shave No. 2, but I am excited that I can get a shave No. 2!

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

I was recently pointed in the direction of a place where I could order the GEM SS PTFE blades for cheap. Importing them from Europe, as all the american stores charge a rip off for shipping to the Great White North. I only ordered 10, just to see if I like them.

David / Dark (Razorblades & More) here in the vendor corner has them. Check with him, afaik his s&h is good.

 

[filedog]

I've got a 1912 GEM on the way....so I have been reading about the blades. I found a post where guys were saying the recent Ted Pella blades were not as good, any thoughts on that? Does TP charge for shipping? Can't find that info on their site.

 

[lradke]

I've got a 1912 GEM on the way....so I have been reading about the blades. I found a post where guys were saying the recent Ted Pella blades were not as good, any thoughts on that? Does TP charge for shipping? Can't find that info on their site.

Personally I have only tried the 2 types...CVS (carbon steel I believe) and GEM SS PTFE coated. The fact that teh SS lasted (so far) 2 shaves are making them an instant hit with me. The second shave was almost as good as the first so I am happy. Also I imported mine from Europe, as the price was about 1/4 of that (in total) than I knew of anywhere else. Also I was able to order only 10 blades, which is a good trial number...not the 100-200 count boxes.

Overall I am happy with the SS blades.