SE Micromatic MAYHEM!

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Eeeek, what a morning...

Got a new acquisition cleaned and lubed last night for my shave this morning. It was a GEM SE Micromatic. I had shaved with another I had a few weeks ago and remembered it was more aggressive than the DE. But boy, did it deliver a good shave.

So I load up the new Gem with a Gem blade from Walgreens this morning. Did all the prep and decided since it was SE that I would use oil on the face prior to lathering too. So off I went on my shave with the whiskers roaring their disapproval at this SE newcomer. On the initial WTG pass on my chin and suddenly WHACK!! Hit an artery apparently. No nic this one - a cut.

Well that gave me pause as the blood slowly trickled down my chin. "Hmmm..., need to go a bit easier..." Off I went and finished the WTG. Rinsed off with cold water, relathered and now it is time for my XTG. Weeper City under the jawbone. Arghhhh!!! So weepers under the jaw and a scene from Monte Python on the front of my chin.

Alum blocked the whole face a stinging away and then TP to the chin to stop it. In a rush to go off to church and teach the five year olds. Hit the Dunkin Doughnuts on the way for my morning nutrition. Parked a block away from the church. Pealed off the TP just as I went in to church and then into the classroom. Lots of eye contact from the kiddos today... More than a normal Sunday... CURIOUSLY more than normal and abnormally quiet too... Excused myself half way through to go take a look in the bathroom mirror. Uh, oh... The artery had weeped to the extent that I had dried blood weeping down my chin. GREAT...

I can already hear it, "But Mommy I don't WANT to go to that church again..."

[Gillette4259]

Love that Micro I heard it's as close to a straight razor you can get. I keep one just in case I think I want to go w/ straights.
I know its not for people with DT's and I guess not before an event.

[amishmotorboat]

I can already hear it, "But Mommy I don't WANT to go to that church again..."

stigmata :lol:

[Sledgehammer39]

I enjoy the entire MM Line-up. It's a really close shave for me. It takes time to get adjusted to the type of shave from a MM give it time.

[slim62]

Your a brave man in my book! I just shaved with 5 different SE razors this week but haven't tried the open comb Micromatic since it has a aggressive reputation. Its on my list for next go round with SE.

The first shave with SE I had was a G-bar and I had a similar shave as you, mediocre with several nicks but the next few shave's were great so I don't know if it was technique, razor or the blade for sure. I say don't give up yet and try some more that first shave could be a fluke.

[BBrad]

It took me a full week of using a Micromatic Open-Comb before I was able to tame the beast. :blushing:

Cuts, nicks, and weepers were rampant until I mastered the feel. Perfect lather, slow, short razor strokes, and less than zero pressure (or so it seems) is the formula.

Once mastered, they are wonderful shavers. But, between all Gems, I prefer the 1912 . . .

[DunEdinRanger]

Was it the Open Comb Micromatic? You have to use absolutely no pressure on that. Extremely close shaves, but you have to be careful, obviously as you have found out.

[Dave Deluxe]

It takes a while to get the feel for the OC Micromatic. If you are coming from another aggressive then the OC Micromatic should be no real problem for you. However, if your point of reference is a vintage Tech, or Superspeed, etc. then it is best to proceed with caution.

I get some fantastic shaves from the OC Micromatic and would rather use it than many other razors.

DD

[Wil Dorenbos]

It takes a while to get the feel for the OC Micromatic. If you are coming from another aggressive then the OC Micromatic should be no real problem for you. DD

Ah, that must be why I did not have any problems at all (not with any razor so far, touch wood). Never cut, or nick myself, not even as much as a weeper... I like my MM oc, but could not tell much difference with the MM Clog Pruf. The 1912 is a true gem, like it a lot. I have the minuteman with the curved head ("the more aggressive one"). The G-bar (HFT) is milder than both my MM's and the minuteman. But with a Feather it really shines :thumbup1: Just watch your technique: no pressure, and you should be in for a great shave :thumbup:

[Hex]

stigmata :lol:

:lol::lol::lol:

[ateace]

:lol::lol::lol:

We have a winner!

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

It takes a while to get the feel for the OC Micromatic. If you are coming from another aggressive then the OC Micromatic should be no real problem for you. However, if your point of reference is a vintage Tech, or Superspeed, etc. then it is best to proceed with caution.

I get some fantastic shaves from the OC Micromatic and would rather use it than many other razors.

DD

Yeppers, I was coming from an OC Old Style. The SE is a much more... well, I guess i have to be more ginger with how I hold it. Today my face has recovered, was going to skip a day but thought better of it this morning. Went with a TTO 1954 Gillette that is mighty hard to nick yourself with and all went well. I'll go back first to my 1912 - I REALLY like that one. Somehow there is a coolness factor in how very old it is and looks. The MM is far more modern.

[Wil Dorenbos]

I'll go back first to my 1912 - I REALLY like that one. Somehow there is a coolness factor in how very old it is and looks. The MM is far more modern.

Agree! Which 1912 do you have?

[filedog]

the only real cut I have had in 6 mo of wet shaving has been from a Clog-Pruf Micromatic. The alum didn't stop the bleeding :ohmy:
I have a 1912 as well, but I'm actually coming to like the MM more.
Angle is very important, I have to continually monitor it, as my muscle memory seems to be trained for a DE. I haven't cut myself again, and I love the way it shaves! I'd like to try an open comb now.

[BowTieGuy]

I just tried a MM OC for the first time today. No problems such as you describe, but I did find that I missed the loudness of the 1912 Ever-Ready. I had grown accustomed to the ear-splitting sound of whiskers being chopped mercilessly, and the MM OC seemed quieter to me. And after reading the above, I was reluctant to 'push it' too far, so I gave it a few gentle passes and called it a day. All in all an OK shave but nothing to write home about. Will try again tomorrow.

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Well, well, it has been a couple of weeks and as I type I have just survived my Micromatic. With the help of a YouTube Micromatic demo it is a different outcome. I have to be candid and say that despite the great shave somehow the MM just isn't a favorite of mine, personal preference I guess.

The real difference was in how I held the razor. I really really choked up on it to where my fingers were right under the blade. It is impossible to get any leverage and exert pressure on the face if held such. And that was all it took!

[willyb]

It took me a full week of using a Micromatic Open-Comb before I was able to tame the beast. :blushing:

Cuts, nicks, and weepers were rampant until I mastered the feel. Perfect lather, slow, short razor strokes, and less than zero pressure (or so it seems) is the formula.

Once mastered, they are wonderful shavers. But, between all Gems, I prefer the 1912 . . .


At first the MM was my most hated razor for what it did to my face. Now the MM open comb is my daily go to razor. Hmmmm the razor didnt change so I must have. BBS in 2-3 passes.:thumbup1:

[drews50]

I've read some good posts on SE Gem razors and the micromatic. I have a couple on my eBay watch list. I wanted to give it a try. The key word being WANTED, past tense! :w00t:

[Wil Dorenbos]

I've read some good posts on SE Gem razors and the micromatic. I have a couple on my eBay watch list. I wanted to give it a try. The key word being WANTED, past tense! :w00t:

Get yourself a G-bar, or 1912 and do try :thumbup:

[sailor71]

I know I'm in the minority, but I like micromatics better than the older gems. I never had a problem with any MM, but I only shave WTG.

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Get yourself a G-bar, or 1912 and do try :thumbup:

Most EXCELLENT advice. I have both and the Gbar and 1912 are both tamer beasts. That MM... it is like a '69 Chevelle with 454 cc. You really need to know what you are doing and IF you do it is a performer. The Gbar and 1912 have a lot more "grace" built into them for lack of a better word. More latitude with the shave. The MM is a tiger, and to my fingers not especially comfortable to hold. The Gbar and 1912 are a lot easier to hold and deliver - so far as I can tell - the same quality of shave. So why go with the high powered race car with an attitude when the one next to it gives an indistinguishable end result?

[filedog]

LOVE me some MMOC.....it's the KING baby!