Which SE blades are best?

[SirWhiskers]

I recently got a GEM Micromatic just so I can say I tried one. I don't know much about them or the blades, so I'm not sure what blades I should use so I don't have a bad experience.

The razor came with some old GEM by Personna blades, 4 in a pack and also some old Pal blades. Not sure if it's worth opening these packs.

I can also find the current GEM by Personna SE blades at the local drugstore.

I read about the Ted Pella blades too.

Any other choices? What are considered good blades to go with?

Thanks for your help.

 

[redbike]

The GEM blades are a good start. Ted Pellas are better, IMO, but are harder to get because they only sell in lots of 100-200 - not sure which. EMS blades are also very good, and then there's the SE blades available from Amazon, which may be the same blade as the Ted Pella and EMS blades.

There are several threads in this forum, just search on single edge in the title bar.

Good luck,

jim

 

[michiganlover]

+1

The Gem blades you can get locally should do you just fine. Take it slow with the new razor, and you should have a good first experience. Hold the razor close to flat against the face, and then lean back just a few degrees, this should be the proper cutting angle.

In my experience, the Gems are capable of providing a much closer shave, with less effort than the DE.

 

[SirWhiskers]

In my experience, the Gems are capable of providing a much closer shave, with less effort than the DE.

My first experience was terrible. I had a similar experience with an Injector. I think my face does much better with thinner, more flexible blades such as the DE blades over the thicker, less flexible SE blades. I had a similar experience with a Sensor vs Trac II for example.

I think I decided SE's are not for me. What's the point to work hard at it when I can get great shaves with a DE? I tired them just to get them out of my system, back to the regular DE rotation now.

 

[Disburden]

Ted Pella stainless steel coated blades are the best I've tried so far.

Tedpella.com

 

[Disburden]

My first experience was terrible. I had a similar experience with an Injector. I think my face does much better with thinner, more flexible blades such as the DE blades over the thicker, less flexible SE blades. I had a similar experience with a Sensor vs Trac II for example.

I think I decided SE's are not for me. What's the point to work hard at it when I can get great shaves with a DE? I tired them just to get them out of my system, back to the regular DE rotation now.

I said the same thing when I tried my first Gem razor. I was very wrong and simply wasn't. using the razor correctly. Now, with practice, Gems give me a shave equal to my well-honed straight razors. I can never get a straight razor quality shave from a DE no matter how much I try. Blades matter, ted pellas I find are best, plus the angle and the way you hold an SE is completely different than a DE.

 

[Bertilak]

I said the same thing when I tried my first Gem razor. I was very wrong and simply wasn't. using the razor correctly. Now, with practice, Gems give me a shave equal to my well-honed straight razors. I can never get a straight razor quality shave from a DE no matter how much I try. Blades matter, ted pellas I find are best, plus the angle and the way you hold an SE is completely different than a DE.

Same with me. My first SE shave (GEM 1912) was a mess. That was because I tried to follow all the advice I read here on B&B! I Guess it is just hard to put into words what the right way to do it is.

The "advice" I give is NOT to follow any prescribed techniques. Simply do what feels right and give it a few shaves to experiment and sort things out. As with most anything having to do with shaving, a light touch is important but that advice is not specific to the SEs.

As to blades, the supermarket/drugstore GEM Super Stainless are quite good, about the same as Ted Pellas. If you really want to try the Ted Pellas, the ASR blades from Amazon are supposedly the same things. (And I believe it to be true since it was reported so here by someone who had both.) http://www.amazon.com/RBSX-10-10-Pa..._6?ie=UTF8&s=industrial&qid=1263748822&sr=1-6

 

[HoosierTrooper]

Interesting how different the results are using the same equipment. I absolutely love the shaves I get with the GEM's using the Personna blades. I've been working my way through the WCS sampler pack, but I think it's time to take a break and give the GEM a little attention.

 

[norton]

Depends on the razor.

Rite Aid carries Treet branded blades - which are very good IMO. I tend to prefer those and the PAL Blues to the Pellas especially in a lighter GEM like the Featherweight models.

For me, Pellas shine in the heavier 1912 models.

 

[rainman]

Just find the SE blades made by Gem and are stainless steal and have teflon or PTFE coating(same thing). EMS, Ted Pella, and amazon carry them in different quanities and shipping options.

 

[pizzaguy]

The PAL Blues work for me

 

[SirWhiskers]

I gave up on SE's. I went back to my trusted Tech today, after my latest disaster with the GEM and got a very good shave in spite of my face not even being fully recovered yet. I get very good shaves with a few DE's, I just wanted to see what the SE's were all about, but I'm not sure what I was trying to improve upon. The DE's work well for me, so I should concentrate on perfecting there, not experiment with new things and working hard at making the SE's work. I'm sure I could improve my SE experience, but then what? I think I'd still prefer the DE style.

Thanks for the blade suggestions everyone.

 

[Will P.C.]

That Mircromatic takes many shaves before you master it. However, once you get it down, it is an excellent shave

 

[Disburden]

That Mircromatic takes many shaves before you master it. However, once you get it down, it is an excellent shave

Very true, I love my micro!

 

[Follicle Genocide]

My face was a bloody mess until recently when somebody posted a photograph of the instructions. You can't, I repeat, CAN NOT, use the same angle when a Gem Micromatic as you do with a DE. It's easy once you see the picture. I can't find it at the moment.

 

[Bertilak]

My face was a bloody mess until recently when somebody posted a photograph of the instructions. You can't, I repeat, CAN NOT, use the same angle when a Gem Micromatic as you do with a DE. It's easy once you see the picture. I can't find it at the moment.

Be aware that different, and directly conflicting, sets of instructions have been included with different GEMs over the years. So there is no assurance that whatever instructions you happen to run across will apply to the GEM you have.

See this from a year ago: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showpost.php?p=1263898&postcount=6

 

[Follicle Genocide]

You're right. And thanks for posting the old instructions. I hadn't seen those. The one I saw: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showpost.php?p=1758683&postcount=3 wasn't exactly the same model, but it showed me enough that I could figure it out. I started out with just two razors, a SS and a Micromatic. Everything I read said I should be shaving at about a 30 degree angle, blah, blah, blah. I didn't realize SE was so different, so I tried and failed. That was a year ago. After looking at those directions, I got what was probably the closest, easiest shave since I've started. Honestly, I'd recommend anyone who has had an unfortunate experience with a SE to revisit it again after looking at all of these instructions.

 

[Patrik]

My shaves with drugstore GEMs have been pretty awful. I get good results from a WTG+XTG shave - DFS no problem, with some touching up I get BBS, zero irritation or burn. However, the journey to get to that destination is uncomfortable, as it feels like the blade is pulling and scraping. Doesn't matter what I use - 1912, G-Bar, or Micromatic - the experience is the same.

I got some Pellas a couple of days ago, took one for a spin in my 1912 this morning. WOW. Fan-frickin-tastic! I couldn't believe the difference! By far the most enjoyable SE shave I've had to date. I was actually considering going with something really mild (Red Tip SS with a Red IP) as my skin was feeling a bit sensitive, I didn't have much stubble (shaved before going out last night), and I was suffering from a mild hangover. Glad I decided to tough it out and go with the Pella.

Tomorrow comes the true test - same blade in my Micromatic.

 

[DonOhio]

My shaves with drugstore GEMs have been pretty awful.

Same here.

Pellas are good. Stropped Pals (for me) are equal to Pellas.

 

[Mr. O]

With all blades, it will always be a YMMV. Most SE shavers here prefer the Pella blades. I do too for the price. Not sure why but the quality of the shave I get from Personna GEM blades (bought at Walgreens) give me a close, comfortable shave with no irritation. The Pella blades leave me with irritation. I just may send my Pella blades to BST in the not so distant future.