Why Try Single Edge Razors?
- Thread starter jdkdonk
- Start date
GEM Personna are good blades to start with. I tried SE because they were different and the razors wer cool looking. I stick with it becuase no DE razor gives me a better shave than my GEM Junior Bar loaded with a Treet carbon steel blade. An easy DFS every time.
Variety and wanting to learn a bit more about different razors and how they shave. I now have as many SE's as DE's.
I tried it because I never tried it before (like a straight razor or DE razor which were unknown to me before I discovered B&B.). I honestly was expecting a mediocre shave and I was more than wrong. I prefer a shave with a SE or Injector to a DE now. DE is good but SE is smoother IMO.
cons would be that blades are limited for a SE and some model need special blades. However, as soon as you know what goes in which razor, it's very easy. I find them (SE) to be easy to use. The principles are the same as DE (no pressure, blade angle is different, good prep, good technique, good lather).
cons would be that blades are limited for a SE and some model need special blades. However, as soon as you know what goes in which razor, it's very easy. I find them (SE) to be easy to use. The principles are the same as DE (no pressure, blade angle is different, good prep, good technique, good lather).
If you can stand to wait a couple weeks, there's places available on the SE Assimilation tour. For the price of postage you get to try a GEM G-bar with either PTFE SS or carbon-steel blades, and a PAL injector with Chinese Schick blades.
And Palmolive stick.
I tried it because it looked different. I liked it because it gave me smoother less irration shaves than I was getting with DE.
And Palmolive stick.
I tried it because it looked different. I liked it because it gave me smoother less irration shaves than I was getting with DE.
There are really only about 3 types of SE blades available. Carbon steel, stainless, and PTFE coated stainless. The coated blades are my favorite and IMO the smoothest. Carbon are probably the sharpest, but you have to completely dry them after each shave, I've had them rust overnight. Blade quality is easily as good as DE and the blades last, for me, two to three times as long as a DE blade. All razors can give me a BBS shave, but SE razors seem to give the longest lasting shave.
Hello and Welcome to B&B! So much to agree with. I use injectors primarily but I also have SEs'. Both give dfses (take that Mr.Webster) but it's easier for me(Arthritis) to use that Fabulous Schick. I tried these and straights too because I like to experiment and in this fab ymmv world we live in it's fun and somewhere along the way one has an ,AHA!!! moment, and can settle in.I recommend givin' it a shot. You can find them here on b/s/t or one of the many auction sites at reasonable prices. Blade wise I can get between 10-16 shaves , depending on the blade I use in my Schick(ymmv) but that's not an isolated experience.and yes they do look cool too!Just check out those beautiful vintage SEs' like Kampfe or Gem and well I'll let you discover them. Anyway, enjoy!
I like Injectors because they are easy to shave with and give me a good shave.
Well, Haggises put up the traveler thread and I got impatient. I bought an Ever-Ready 1912 and got a BBS from the first shave. Since I have gotten a MMOC which is a good bit more aggressive, but it also gives an irritation-free BBS, you just have to be more careful. My 1912 is tied with my 1934 Aristocrat DE for my best shave and the 'Crat just looks cooler, so it gets the nod for my best overall razor. \
The 1912 has a favored spot in my rotation, but there are also DEs in the rotation. I prefer the GEM SS PTFE coated blade, but then that is all I have tried at this point. I liked it so I bought a box of 100.
The 1912 has a favored spot in my rotation, but there are also DEs in the rotation. I prefer the GEM SS PTFE coated blade, but then that is all I have tried at this point. I liked it so I bought a box of 100.
What got me to try a SE? . . . I am a collector of safety razors and I used to try most all of the types that I had. I have tried many types of DE's, SE's, injectors, throw-aways, cartridge razors, etc. I've been wet shaving since the 1950's and prior to starting my collecting hobby, I used a DE and an injector. Once I started trying various razors, I got to the older model SE's and I was hooked. The Gem 1912 and it's predecessor, the Gem Junior Bar razors, from my point of view, cannot be matched by any other razor for quality and comfort of the shave. I personally use the bar razor every day.
As far as blades go, my preference is the Gem stainless steel PTFE coated blades. Some of the carbon steel blades work fine, but they require more maintenance in order to keep them from rusting. Be sure that whatever blades you buy are intended for shaving and not for utility use such as in paint scrapers or "box cutters".
An SE may take a little "getting used to", in order to get the optimum angle etc. but once you get through a couple of shaves, I suspect you will find out why many of us use SE's every day.
Regards,
Tom
As far as blades go, my preference is the Gem stainless steel PTFE coated blades. Some of the carbon steel blades work fine, but they require more maintenance in order to keep them from rusting. Be sure that whatever blades you buy are intended for shaving and not for utility use such as in paint scrapers or "box cutters".
An SE may take a little "getting used to", in order to get the optimum angle etc. but once you get through a couple of shaves, I suspect you will find out why many of us use SE's every day.
Regards,
Tom
- Thread starter
- #11
Thanks for all the responses! I saw quite a few razor mentioned above:
GEM Junior Bar
Gem 1912
Schick injector
Ever-Ready 1912
Kampfe
Which would be a good first SE? I prefer a moderately aggressive DE, currently using a 6 on a Slim, but I tried a R41 and it ate my lip.
Also, are the Gem and Ever-Ready 1912 the same? They look pretty similar.
I've seen some GEM blades at West Coast Shaving, and some injectors on Amazon. Where's the best place to buy these blades? Are they available in bulk?
GEM Junior Bar
Gem 1912
Schick injector
Ever-Ready 1912
Kampfe
Which would be a good first SE? I prefer a moderately aggressive DE, currently using a 6 on a Slim, but I tried a R41 and it ate my lip.
Also, are the Gem and Ever-Ready 1912 the same? They look pretty similar.
I've seen some GEM blades at West Coast Shaving, and some injectors on Amazon. Where's the best place to buy these blades? Are they available in bulk?
I'd go with the 1912 or MMOC for starters. (I consider the MMOC to be moderately aggressive, but many would disagree with the "moderately". It's certainly less aggressive than the 2011 R41.)
I was browsing this forun, HousierTrooper called the Damaskeene ''the best of the best'' and one just popped on BST so I had to give it a try after such endorsement. I did not get hooked right away, but now I hardly ever reach for my DE razors.
The 1912 razors are a good start, they are the same wether it says Ever Ready or Gem. The schick injectors are completely different animals - I'd try both.
For bulk packages, connaught shaving has the best prices. They stock the PTFE coated (aka pella) which are the most liked blades. For injector they stock the personna brand which I prefer to the Schick branded blades.
Kampfe razors are awesome but do require more refined technique, not all of them take modern blades though (check for blade stops).
The 1912 razors are a good start, they are the same wether it says Ever Ready or Gem. The schick injectors are completely different animals - I'd try both.
For bulk packages, connaught shaving has the best prices. They stock the PTFE coated (aka pella) which are the most liked blades. For injector they stock the personna brand which I prefer to the Schick branded blades.
Kampfe razors are awesome but do require more refined technique, not all of them take modern blades though (check for blade stops).
My personal preference is for the Gem Junior Bar razor, but I know they are getting a little harder to find. A close second would be the 1912. The Gem and the Ever Ready, as well as the Star of this design were all made by American Safety Razor and are really all the same. There was also a Treet of this design but it is a little different in the area of the comb and it doesn't actually have the 1912 patent date on it. I suspect, with the different comb, it was not covered by the original 1912 patents.
The Kampfe's are also getting kind of hard to find and, as noted above, some models won't properly hold a modern blade in position. They were designed to use a permanent "wedge" blade rather than the "modern" throw-away blades. It should be noted that some of the older Gem models, as well as some other makes, were also designed for "wedge" blades.
Some folks really like injectors. I used one for years before I discovered the older Gem models. If you should go this route, I would suggest you try to find an Eversharp Schick "Hydro-Magic" model. This feature makes using an injector a lot handier. There is something to be said for the Pal Adjustable injector also. It is a rather modern looking stainless razor with (obviously) an adjustable feature.
Regards,
Tom
The Kampfe's are also getting kind of hard to find and, as noted above, some models won't properly hold a modern blade in position. They were designed to use a permanent "wedge" blade rather than the "modern" throw-away blades. It should be noted that some of the older Gem models, as well as some other makes, were also designed for "wedge" blades.
Some folks really like injectors. I used one for years before I discovered the older Gem models. If you should go this route, I would suggest you try to find an Eversharp Schick "Hydro-Magic" model. This feature makes using an injector a lot handier. There is something to be said for the Pal Adjustable injector also. It is a rather modern looking stainless razor with (obviously) an adjustable feature.
Regards,
Tom
