I hate my Injector

[Topgumby]

Another BBS shave, fast and easy. :glare:

Face lathered with a Palmolive stick, used 1940's era Schick Injector and an ASR blade. Three passes, and once again I'm impressed with how easily that little Injector get spots on the neck and under the nose that give my beloved DE Gillettes trouble.

Every time I use it I get a great shave, and I always go back to the DE razors because I enjoy using them more than the Schick.

Maybe I'll propose a "Week of Injectors" to force myself to use them consistently.

[r0ckrat]

I can feel your pain. Once I start using an injector, I find myself thinking "Man, that's a great, easy shave. Why am I working so hard to use anything else?" But then, after the third shave or so, I find myself longing for... I don't know, a challenge maybe? And I set it aside for a couple days of straights. Then finish that Injector blade in a few more days. Then try a DE, and straight, and DE, and eventually rotate an Injector back into the mix again.

Sometime soon I'll do a week of straight shaves, too...

But keep me posted on the "Week of Injectors" schedule. I might just have to join you.

[Wil Dorenbos]

Another BBS shave, fast and easy. :glare:

Face lathered with a Palmolive stick, used 1940's era Schick Injector and an ASR blade. Three passes, and once again I'm impressed with how easily that little Injector get spots on the neck and under the nose that give my beloved DE Gillettes trouble.


Must try that myself for the weekdays :biggrin:

[Mojo88]

Using an injector almost feels like cheating :wink:. But, the results are second only to a straight. I think I have tried every possible razor in 2+ years and nothing shaves as close as my adjustable injector. If you really want to get a close shave use an adjustable dialed up to a 9 with a Ted Pella blade. Just don't use any pressure or you will find out what it feels like to be filleted.

[T Rick]

Maybe I'll propose a "Week of Injectors" to force myself to use them consistently.

Sometime soon I'll do a week of straight shaves, too...

A week of Injectors, a week of straights... you guys are killin' me :biggrin:.

I'm a "theme week" sort of guy at the moment. I've done one theme or another ever since the "Week of 1912" shaves. A different theme each week. But I don't even own any injectors or straights yet! I plan to try straights sometime in 2010... until then, my themes are designed to try as many new razors as possible (ultimate goal being a different one each day), in order to experience each one I've bought. Pretty sure I can still go until the end of '09 without a repeat (but some themes will require the occasional repeat of one or two).

I do try to keep similar types in order to reinforce/refine technique, plus I'm blade sampling at the same time. Last week for example was a week of Single Rings. All essentially the same, but a different one each day. So I got used to the Old Type and it's handling characteristics.

But Injectors, I still need to pick up one (or several, as I typically would). I may miss the week of... but I'll do one in the future!

[rsp1202]

I've found after repeated trial and error that a Schick N-type injector matched to a Schick NOS Plus Platinum blade provides my best shave. Doesn't matter what cream or soap (well, it does, but for the sake of hyperbole . . .), it's just too easy. A Krona with Swede or 7 O'Clock Yellow comes close, close like the horse that finished second to Secretariat in the Belmont Stakes.

[norton]

Maybe I'll propose a "Week of Injectors" to force myself to use them consistently.

I'm in if you decide to give it a go.

My I2, E-types, G-types, Golden 500 or Adjustable would love the attention.

(Injectors were my introduction to traditional wet-shaving and RAD - I really hate them).

[Topgumby]

Damn, now I've got to find an adjustable Injector.:tongue:

[garyg]

I'm IN for a week of injector shaving, in fact, just found some EMS clone blades at my local Meijers Store - same Pat. #s anyway, will see.

[BEAR DEN]

Injectors..ahhhh....It's actually a form of cheating!! :lol:

[RocketMan]

Injectors..ahhhh....It's actually a form of cheating!! :lol:

It does feel like cheating. Me too. But, why???

[BroJohn]

I just finished using a J-type ('58~'64) with a NOS Personna Injector blade. Got 10 3-pass DFS or better on a single blade. The first nine shaves were excellent. The tenth shave was BBS, but rough on my face and I got some razor burn, so it was time to set it aside, pending a blade change. I'll return it to the rotation in a few weeks.

I usually get 3 good shaves on a DE blade, regardless of brand, so going ten shaves on an injector blade seemed very different. Gotta love those Personna74's; I wish they still made them.

-- John Gehman

[wizard]

I shaved with mine today after reading your post last night Topgumby. :thumbup1: I put in a new EMS blade, set it on 5 & prepared my face. It was a very nice shave. Although it started out a little rough as the cream sample I wanted to try was not slick enough & I had to add some glycerin to get my razor not to drag across my neck!
I have had a love hate relationship with my M type injector. I think I have found that my problem was just to many blades in my DE & SE rotations. I would have sometimes 5 or 6 different razors with blades in them & randomly select different ones to shave with. I do keep a log with usage & type of blade in the different razors. It took awhile for me to figure out why some shaves would go so bad & others would not. My injector would sometimes not get used for a week & then when I would shave with it the blade would tug & not be a very close shave! I now finish the blade in a razor before moving on to a new razor in my rotation. This has now left me with much better shaves.
I hadn't used my injector in months due to the poor shaves in the past. Your post made me think about my blade problem & my injector. I want to thank you for getting me to think about my injector again! I'm now looking forward to 5 or so days of pleasant injector shaves...

[garyg]

`So, a week of BBS, with no pain, no trauma?

[SteelCity]

I'm in for a week of injectors also. Not sure why but I haven't used an injector for months. I have handful with of injectors and my favorite is a Paul Revere injector that always provides the smoothest (And fastest) shave. Does my Cobra Classic count as a injector?

[Samouraï]

do injectors use single edge blades? which are the Feather injector blades? i was looking around classic shaving, and they had a nice one.

[bisbane]

I love my injector–and I just bought another one that is in the mail. I think I prefer it over my DEs. I may be a Schick man...

[r0ckrat]

I may be a Schick man...

A Schick, schick man indeed... LOL!

[Cmaster03]

Hate to admit it since I love my Gillettes so much, but my Injector Type G just works. I had to order some Schick blades from drug store.com to prove it because my neck hated the generic CVS/Riteaid blades.

With good blades...an awesome shaver.

And, I love that Cary Grant used one in "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House." :thumbup:

[Ironman06]

Ha Ha... nice Title. You sucked me right in as I was going to challenge you to try things a bit differently, because NOBODY could really hate a Schick injector. Maybe some could have a reason to not appreciate them as much as others... but hate? nah.

[bythbook]

thanks to this thread I just pulled an Eversharp/Schick out of a pile of... stuff. It's the plastic (seamed) handled version of the 40's one. (Isn't there a reference for these things somewhere?)

And a thingie of Schick Krona Chrome blades.


We'll see.

Maybe Sunday.

(umm... for future reference - how do you get a used blade out?)

[82R100]

Here's your reference (http://www.safetyrazors.net/schick/schicktech.htm).

Chance are you have a G1.

- Chris

[82R100]

do injectors use single edge blades? which are the Feather injector blades? i was looking around classic shaving, and they had a nice one.

The injector razors we're talking about use proprietary blades that were developed by Schick in the 30's and haven't changed since. When all works properly, you don't handle the blade directly at all in the course of inserting it into the razor.

Feather injector blades are made for their Artist Club series (http://www.classicshaving.com/Feather_Razors.html) of replaceable edge straights. The Cobra (http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522941/6873469.htm) is probably the "one" that you're referring to. There are a few Cobra owners on the forum who swear by them. Different size blade though, and not interchangeable with the Schick injectors.

-Chris

[bythbook]

Here's your reference (http://www.safetyrazors.net/schick/schicktech.htm).

Chance are you have a G1.

- Chris

Yup, G1 - and THANK YOU! (Bookmarked right into the "shaving" folder.)

Y'know... I have DEs and SEs - not injectors - all over the place. LOTS of them. This might be another nascent AD brewing here.... Gawd, I hope not.

Maybe I'll get a really suck shave out of this thing.

Here's hoping!

[r0ckrat]

The injector razors we're talking about use proprietary blades that were developed by Schick in the 30's and haven't changed since. When all works properly, you don't handle the blade directly at all in the course of inserting it into the razor.

Feather injector blades are made for their Artist Club series (http://www.classicshaving.com/Feather_Razors.html) of replaceable edge straights. The Cobra (http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522941/6873469.htm) is probably the "one" that you're referring to. There are a few Cobra owners on the forum who swear by them. Different size blade though, and not interchangeable with the Schick injectors.

-Chris
IIRC, there was a post in the fairly recent past where someone was cutting down the Feather blades and using them in their Schick. Same depth blade (edge to spine) and thickness, just different head width... Not that I'm suggesting doing so.

Now, back to the OP:
Hey TopGumby, I'm formally proposing next week, starting Monday, everyone loads a Schick with a brand spankin' new blade, and sets about sticking with it for the week. And let's have a go at a...
"Weak from Schickness"

What say you

[bythbook]

IIRC, there was a post in the fairly recent past where someone was cutting down the Feather blades and using them in their Schick. Same depth blade (edge to spine) and thickness, just different head width... Not that I'm suggesting doing so.

Now, back to the OP:
Hey TopGumby, I'm formally proposing next week, starting Monday, everyone loads a Schick with a brand spankin' new blade, and sets about sticking with it for the week. And let's have a go at a...
"Weak from Schickness"

What say you

...a week with ONE BLADE??????

that will cure me of any Injector AD, I'm sure!

[82R100]

...a week with ONE BLADE??????

that will cure me of any Injector AD, I'm sure!

Oh, not at all. I've done it with my G1, no problem.

Remember, these blades are thicker than DE's.

[heirkb]

I couldn't find any info on how to take out a used blade or how to reload a blade. Could someone direct me to that please?
Thanks

[michiganlover]

I couldn't find any info on how to take out a used blade or how to reload a blade. Could someone direct me to that please?
Thanks

Injector blades come in a cartridge like this:
http://a1468.g.akamai.net/f/1468/580/1d/pics.Drugstore.com/prodimg/27404/300.jpg

The "key" (the part sticking out the side) fits into the side of the razor's head. And you then push the lever to push a new blade into the razor, which in turn pushes the old one out.

A injector blade can't really be re-used once it has been "injected" out of the razor.

Here is a handy dandy thread with pictures:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1568

[MikeLip]

Injectors are amazing. The only thing that gets me closer is my Cobra Classic. But it's not as comfortable as an injector and I'm much more likely to cut myself (you don't nick yourself with a CC - you CUT). I bought one out of curiosity and was stunned by it.

[SteelCity]

IIRC, there was a post in the fairly recent past where someone was cutting down the Feather blades and using them in their Schick. Same depth blade (edge to spine) and thickness, just different head width... Not that I'm suggesting doing so.

Now, back to the OP:
Hey TopGumby, I'm formally proposing next week, starting Monday, everyone loads a Schick with a brand spankin' new blade, and sets about sticking with it for the week. And let's have a go at a...
"Weak from Schickness"

What say you

I'm in! Will use a Rite-Aid blade, these blades work OK for me however the the blade container not so much.

[Blondie]

I couldn't find any info on how to take out a used blade or how to reload a blade. Could someone direct me to that please?
Thanks

Like Michiganlover said, the new blade extracts out the old blade. If you want to remove one without injecting a new one, say for cleaning, just get a thin small screwdriver and insert it where the key goes. Gently twist it to relieve the pressure from the blade, and tip the razor so the blade can fall out. Or CAREFULLY use a fingernail to give it a boost. After doing this, the first new blade in is a little tricky, since there is no blade in there to begin with.

[BEAR DEN]

I could not wait till Monday...I started my week of Schickness today. Result...easy, fast, no nick shave. I would rate it better then DFS easy. I'm going to use my Injector exclusively for both my beard and my head shaving for the next 7 days! Thanks to the OP I restocked on my blades and make the promise to not neglect my Injectors again :biggrin:

[Wil Dorenbos]

Using an injector almost feels like cheating :wink:. But, the results are second only to a straight. I think I have tried every possible razor in 2+ years and nothing shaves as close as my adjustable injector. If you really want to get a close shave use an adjustable dialed up to a 9 with a Ted Pella blade. Just don't use any pressure or you will find out what it feels like to be filleted.

I found a Pal injector and some Pal injector blades to go with it. According to the price (59 cts for 20 blades), the blades must be from the period 1950-1955. Maybe the blades have lost their (hollow ground) edge, but they didn't cut my stubbles. Result was worse than a Mach-3. Will try with newer blades.

[Samouraï]

The injector razors we're talking about use proprietary blades that were developed by Schick in the 30's and haven't changed since. When all works properly, you don't handle the blade directly at all in the course of inserting it into the razor.

Feather injector blades are made for their Artist Club series (http://www.classicshaving.com/Feather_Razors.html) of replaceable edge straights. The Cobra (http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522941/6873469.htm) is probably the "one" that you're referring to. There are a few Cobra owners on the forum who swear by them. Different size blade though, and not interchangeable with the Schick injectors.

-Chris

so does the cobra classic use feather injectors, specifically (it can't take Shick blades, right?)?

[bythbook]

has anyone used a PAL? I have an adjustable PAL injector - how do these compare with Eversharp/Schicks?

[wizard]

I found a Pal injector and some Pal injector blades to go with it. According the the price (59 cts for 20 blades), the blades must be from the period 1950-1955. Maybe the blades have lost their (hollow ground) edge, but they didn't cut my stubbles. Result was worse than a Mach-3. Will try with newer blades.

When I bought my Schick adjustable it came with 2 new old stock blade cartridges that were not on the card packaging. 20 blades in each. Thought I got a good deal with the blades. They were really bad to try to shave with. Like you described "didn't cut my stubble". When I bought some from Rite-Aid & Walgreens they gave a much better shave. :thumbup1:

Day 2 shave yesterday was nice! Looking forward to shaving this morning...

[82R100]

so does the cobra classic use feather injectors, specifically (it can't take Shick blades, right?)?

Right. There are people who have successfully cut Feather injector blades shorter to fit Schick style razors but Schick style blades are too short for use in the Cobra Classic.

-Chris

[Wil Dorenbos]

I found a Pal injector and some Pal blades to go with it. According to the price (59 cts for 20 blades), the blades must be from the period 1950-1955. Maybe the blades have lost their (hollow ground) edge, but they didn't cut my stubbles. Result was worse than a Mach-3. Will try with newer blades.

I found some Schick blades (NOS :001_unsur). After 3 full passes and some touch-ups I was still not "clean"! Since I usually do just one pass, and the neck extra (one and a half pass) and get a DFS+ (BBS even lately), I'm unhappy with my injector... Anyway, just bought some new Schick blades on the Bay, will try again when they arrive.

[ctakim]

Strange, but I can completely relate to the OP!! I use my Schick injector, L-type as my travel razor so it is consistently in my rotation. At home I use DE.:001_smile

[bythbook]

oh, my.
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr274/bythbook/sotd1115093.jpg?t=1258291921


easy.

fast.

clean.



simply amazing!

I am really really going to avoid another AD. (IRAD?)

I am. (Already one on the way from dbay.... *sigh*)


.

[Mr. O]

C'mon. Are these as good as you all are claiming? What makes them so much better than DE? I read a post saying the blades were thicker than DE so is that the reason? Is it the angle of the head? You guys are going to force me homeless with all my AD's I have thanks to this site. Oh well. I might be homeless, but I'll be sporting a DFS in a van down by the river!!!:001_tongu

[FLTiger]

What makes them so much better than DE?

Injectors are easy to use. That's all there is to it.

[Mr. O]

Injectors are easy to use. That's all there is to it.

Does it have the feel and shave of a cartridge razor?

[rsp1202]

Does it have the feel and shave of a cartridge razor?

No. It's much better.

[Topgumby]

It does handle like a cartridge razor, IMHO, and that's one of the reasons I have this weird love/hate thing going with my injectors. They just don't have the substantial feel in the hand that even a light DE razor has, but the shave itself is so good that it can't be ignored.

If you apply pressure like you do with a cartridge razor, you may live to regret it. An injector isn't idiot resistant like a cartridge razor.

Thankfully for Mr. O who is teetering on the edge homelessness, injectors of the non-adjustable, non gimmick variety are cheap and plentiful. I see them in antique shops frequently, and the non cased models go for about five bucks on average.

As a retired military man and recovering gun nut, I am fascinated by how Colonel Schick designed this razor based on the new technology he saw for rapidly loading a rifle:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h38/msgte/e68-10.jpg

The Schick Injector, or variations, outlasted the Gillette DE as a production item, and for a while it was marketed in the same way that Mac presents itself as an alternative to the dominant PC. It really is a better design in many ways, although they are easily bent and they are gunk magnets.

I only have two, and am firmly resisting any injector AD.

If only they didn't shave so durn well.

[Wil Dorenbos]

So I should try a Schick razor in stead of a Pal? Not too happy with it at the moment

[bythbook]

It does handle like a cartridge razor, IMHO, and that's one of the reasons I have this weird love/hate thing going with my injectors. They just don't have the substantial feel in the hand that even a light DE razor has, but the shave itself is so good that it can't be ignored.

If you apply pressure like you do with a cartridge razor, you may live to regret it. An injector isn't idiot resistant like a cartridge razor.

Thankfully for Mr. O who is teetering on the edge homelessness, injectors of the non-adjustable, non gimmick variety are cheap and plentiful. I see them in antique shops frequently, and the non cased models go for about five bucks on average.

As a retired military man and recovering gun nut, I am fascinated by how Colonel Schick designed this razor based on the new technology he saw for rapidly loading a rifle:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h38/msgte/e68-10.jpg

The Schick Injector, or variations, outlasted the Gillette DE as a production item, and for a while it was marketed in the same way that Mac presents itself as an alternative to the dominant PC. It really is a better design in many ways, although they are easily bent and they are gunk magnets.

I only have two, and am firmly resisting any injector AD.

If only they didn't shave so durn well.


that about sums it up...

I've had ONE SHAVE from an injector and I'm already all kinds of ambivalent... I really really like my DEs - and my GEM SEs... but the injector gave a great shave so easily.

And a silver "Paul Revere" injector sold on dbay for $71 last night - so they aren't always so cheap.... (Hey, I didn't buy it!)

And they sure aren't pretty, either.



.

[heirkb]

And they sure aren't pretty, either.



.

Have you seen that gold one on the bay? That one's a beauty!

[rsp1202]

I don't think we necessarily pick a razor, more that it picks us. I wanted my beautiful Gillette English #58 HD and '48 Super Speed (and Chatsworth, and . . .) to work, they're such gorgeous instruments. Alas, the ugly duckling injector with its cheap plastic and metal afterthoughts turned into the swan. I can now live with an injector for 90% of the time and a Schick Krona the other 10%. Kind of a pisser, in the aesthetic sense.

[garyg]

Pretty no, but effective. I just took pictures today for a B/S/T of an adjustable Schick. If I was taking pictures of a Fat Boy I would want 6 or 7 shots, with the Schick 3 pretty much does it. It is terminally nondescript

So I started the Weak of Schickness already

[FLTiger]

They just don't have the substantial feel in the hand that even a light DE razor has, but the shave itself is so good that it can't be ignored.

For me, that lightness is actually a plus. When the razor weighs very little, I don't find myself accidentally applying too much pressure.

[norton]

I was going to get out the 1912 Gem for a leisurely shave.

...BUT - a week of Injectors?

The Schick has hit the fan.

Push-Pull-Click-Click.

I'm ready.

[garyg]

Fire Away. I'm with you Ralph

[BroJohn]

Gumby --

Is that a '17 Enfield?

-- John Gehman

[Topgumby]

I think it's an 03-A3 Springfield, and as such really isn't the best rifle to associate with Col. Shick and his razor, because it's a WWII version of a turn of the century rifle.

But, it's what a quick Google search turned up for "stripper clips"...at least it was one of the few that was family friendly! :redface: