“The Magnificent SEven” Newbie SE Razor Pass/PIF

[TheVez2]

http://www.bytowne.ca/files/bytowne/imagecache/horizontal-poster/movie-posters/magnificent_seven_lobby_card_400_0.jpg

Newbies, here is your chance to try a GEM Single Edge razor. This will be open to the first SEven qualified entrants who respond. This will be a pass where each person will get to use the razor for a week and pass it to the next person on the list. At the end, I will randomly draw one of the Magnificent SEven to keep the razor for their very own.

The razor will be a GEM Pushbutton, which is fairly mild as SE razors go. The razor will be shipped with SEven Ted Pella SE blades. Each person gets 1 blade.


The SEven Eligibility Requirements:

1) You have never used an SE razor before.

2) This is for newbies, so I am setting a post maximum of 350 posts.

3) You must have been wet shaving (with a DE or Straight) for at least one month. Reason being, I want the user to be adept at their technique and don’t want to confuse a brand new wet shaver as they develop their technique.

4) Pictures! We want to see a picture of the razor as it makes its journey. You must take a picture of the razor with something in the background that speaks to where it is, a photo postcard if you will. It could be a local landmark or just a scenic background that is typical of your area. Have fun with this. Also use this thread to post your impressions of the razor.

5) Keep the razor for a maximum of SEven days and pass it on. One blade each. SE blades usually last at least SEven days, so one is all you’ll need.

6) You must pay the shipping charges to send it to the next person. If you are last on the list, you will pay to send it to the winner of the PIF at the end.

7) When you send the razor to the next person, get a tracking number and PM the number to me, so I can verify its progress.

If you meet and agree to the requirements above, sign up by adding your name to the list below (copy and paste the whole list).

After you sign up, PM me your name, address, email address and phone number. I will rearrange the sign up list to optimize the speed of shipping across the country. The email and phone number is for my use, only if you do not respond to a PM and I need to get a hold of you. This is another requirement.

************************************

The Magnificent SEven
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

-FIN-

[NickyBobby]

The Magnificent SEven
1. Steve McQueen - aka - NickyBobby
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

[Sledgehammer39]

Awesome PIF!

[valleyrider]

Never used a se and still under the 250 mark so count me in.

The Magnificent SEven
1. Steve McQueen - aka - NickyBobby
2. Valleyrider
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

[NickyBobby]

valleyrider, I think that makes you "James Coburn."

[turtle]

Super cool PIF. I am out on this one even though I have never used a SE razor so DON'T count me in


* * * * * * ** *


Can anyone name the 3 movies that were spun off of this story ?

Hint:

First one was Japanese

Second one was a western

Third one was Sci Fi

[brybry642]

Cowboys & Aliens?

[Bad Robot]

Seven Samurai.
Magnificent Seven.
Battle beyond the Stars.

Nice PIF don't count me in am still working on my DE technique!

[desertcat]

Been DE shaving for two and a half months, so (I think) my technique is solid... Would really enjoy participating.

The Magnificent SEven
1. Steve McQueen - aka - NickyBobby
2. Valleyrider
3. desertcat, the Mountain Lion
4.
5.
6.
7.

[desertcat]

Bumping~~ Our posse needs a few more members!

[NickyBobby]

Desert...I think we just got stickied!

[TheVez2]

Indeed, I got it stickied to hopefully keep it more visible.

I also loosened the requirements to 350 posts.

Guys I'll let this go a few more days and if we don't get any more signups, we'll just kick it off anyway and we can add as we go if necessary.

[pezhore]

Sounds good! I've been intrigued by SE shaving...

The Magnificent SEven
1. Steve McQueen - aka - NickyBobby
2. Valleyrider
3. desertcat, the Mountain Lion
4. pezhore
5.
6.
7.

[TheVez2]

Sweet, 3 to go!

[RailroadMan]

Sounds great. Thanks a lot.


Sounds good! I've been intrigued by SE shaving...

The Magnificent SEven
1. Steve McQueen - aka - NickyBobby
2. Valleyrider
3. desertcat, the Mountain Lion
4. pezhore
5. RailroadMan, but only if I get to be Bronson
6.
7.

[TheVez2]

LOL, Bronson it is! PM me your info.

[cosmicdoom]

The Magnificent SEven
1. Steve McQueen - aka - NickyBobby
2. Valleyrider
3. desertcat, the Mountain Lion
4. pezhore
5. RailroadMan, but only if I get to be Bronson
6.Cosmicdoom
7.

I'm a bit nervous, but I have a great picture in mind.

[TheVez2]

Good, I definitely want to see some good pictures! PM me your info Cosmicdoom.

1 spot left... who wants it?

[LouBarraza]

Never used a SE before,except for using a Majic shavette to line up my headline and mustash.
The Magnificent SEven
1. Steve McQueen - aka - NickyBobby
2. Valleyrider
3. desertcat, the Mountain Lion
4. pezhore
5. RailroadMan, but only if I get to be Bronson
6.Cosmicdoom
7.LouBarraza

[TheVez2]

Enjoy the ride boys...

[NickyBobby]

H.i.l.a.r.i.o.u.s.

[desertcat]

Cheers guys, glad to be a part of the posse.

[pezhore]

Amazing! I get to be King Rameses!

[cosmicdoom]

I'm a Lee Van Cleef fan, personally.

[dgilman]

Seven Samurai.


Brilliant and funny PIF idea! Up next, out of respect to the Kurosawa original: a Japanese straight razor PIF? :w00t:

[TheVez2]

Everyone,

The Pass has begun! It is currently enroute to pezhore (mail here is slow, expect delivery in 10-14 days). I've put the pass in order to minimize delivery time inbetween participants. You can see the path it will take in the attached map. Two interesting things about the Pass. The first is that two of our participants live 16 miles from one another. The other is that this razor will travel 11,133 miles on it's journey (plus a little more when it gets sent to its final resting place). The distance around the equator is 24,873 miles, so this is just shy of going halfway around the world (at its widest point).

Remember, everyone gets 1 blade, and you get to shave with it for SEven days max. When you are done with the razor, ensure you clean/sanitize it, so it is ready for the next user. It is traveling in a small flat rate box. If the box gets too beat up, just get a new one from the PO. I will PM you the address of the next recipient after you receive the razor.

One tip. An SE razor is different than a DE in the technique used. You basically want to start with the razor head flat against your face, and maybe pull it up about 10 degrees. Some prefer it flat, some like more angle so it is a bit more aggressive.

Remember to take pics, and post your impressions of the razor in this thread. Here is a pic of the razor in it's starting location:

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q142/thevez2/Shaving Forums/IMG_0154640x480.jpg

If you have any questions, let me know!

[desertcat]

What a great coincidence that the 7 of us span the entire CONUS!

[NickyBobby]

I think this is one of the coolest ideas I've ever seen!

[valleyrider]

Glad I could bring this all the way to the west coast! depending on when it gets here I may try to take it over to the beach for the picture so it truely goes coast to coast.

[TheVez2]

Valleyrider, It's probably going to be early June by the time it gets to you. Perfect for beach shots!

[valleyrider]

June= summer so the beach and maybe Yosemite are in order for my pictures. We'll see what I have time for come my week of testing. Tiny razor next to a giant Sequoia seems like an interesting shot too, if I get my new lens by then I may get my creative juices going for the photo.

[valleyrider]

Hardest part will be one photo that describes central California and how I veiw it. Never thought this would turn into a photo assignment for me but I look forward to the challenge, oh and the shaves.

[global_dev]

nice PIF, but 7 samurai was so much better...

[Newb2DE]

How did I miss this thread... Damn.. Good luck guys im interested to see how it performs for you all

[TheVez2]

FYI...


http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=10557

[valleyrider]

Thanks for posting the instructions, I was wondering how long it would take me to figure it out how to load the blade and shave.

[Topgumby]

Great PIF, well played.

"Sometimes, a SE blade is as big as a bedspread".

[RailroadMan]

Thanks for posting the instructions, I was wondering how long it would take me to figure it out how to load the blade and shave.

+1

[pezhore]

Well, it arrived late yesterday. I did my first shave today and I'm impressed. I used my refurb'ed Fuller w/TNG's Super Silvertip, some of the "Relaxation" soap from Bald Frog Soap and the GEM razor. The first two passes were a little rough, I thought the head dragged a little, but after a quick dab of my brush on the head, it went smoothly. Quite a few weepers, enough that I chickened out and for the ATG pass I fell back on my Fatboy.

The alum block stung like a mother, but surprisingly I didn't nick myself to the point of needing a styptic pencil. Finished up with a quick splash of Neutrogena Post Shave Lotion and I'm ready for the day.

Also, I totally missed the instructions for opening & installing the blade. It wasn't too difficult once I figured out the black plastic release/open mechanism. It's a little... different... from a traditional DE in that the GEM head doesn't have any sort of guide other than the front blade guides for getting the blade set. It took a little fiddling, but I'm satisfied I got it in there right.

One question for Op, where do you get these blades? Is there as much of a variety of manufacturers/models as DE blades?

[TheVez2]

Ensure you start with the head flat against your face, as shown in the instructions above. Any angle away from your face will make it more aggressive. Some like it a bit more aggressive, but start flat to avoid irritation as you figure it out.

You can find blades at a few drug stores. Walgreens carries Personna branded GEM blades. They are a bit expensive there at $6 for 10. CVS also carries blades that are $2.89 for 10. I've found the CVS ones on sale as well for half that. Treet is another brand you might find at rite-aid or other pharmacies, and maybe PAL. Other than that, if you really like the SE, a lot of people but them in Bulk from Ted Pella online.

[RailroadMan]

Is there as big of a difference in SE blades? I know there is a lot of difference in DE blades, the DG blades are not as good as the Astras. Will any old SE blade do the trick about the same?

[H.S.M.Jr.]

Is there as big of a difference in SE blades? I know there is a lot of difference in DE blades, the DG blades are not as good as the Astras. Will any old SE blade do the trick about the same?


RailroadMan;

IMHO, NO. I just got back into SE/DE shaving a month or so ago after many years of multi blade cartridge shaving. My first purchase of SE blades were from a popular drug chain, and carried their name on the packaging. These blades, according to the back of the package, were made by the American Safety Razor Co. They tore me up, and BAD, I might add. Through a series of PM's with 'NOBODY" [Jeff], who was a tremendous help to me. He recommended the GEM brand, sold at Walgreens, and also mfg. by the ASR Co. On the package front, it says Economy Size GEM, By Personna. There are 10 Super SS Blades in the pack @ $5.99. These indeed were much better for me, though YMMV as the saying goes around here, lol.

If any old blade would do the trick, I'd go down to the HomeDepot paint dept. and buy some of their cheapie blades. Not meaning to be sarcastic, sorry if it came out that way.

Like with DE shaving, you may have to try different brands, although they're not as many choices as with DE blades. Hope this has been of some help to you.

[RailroadMan]

Absolutely. Not offended at all, btw. I just hadn't seen as much SE blade discussion. Thanks a lot.

[vrgelinas]

My first razor is an OCMM, so I don't qualify. Have fun shaving with a single edge! It's a decadent, manly treat for your face! Good luck to all!

[TheVez2]

RailroadMan, you're up next and it should be headed your way soon.

In answer to your blade question:
Most of the blades available are made by ASR. There are 2 flavors, carbon steel and stainless. Most folks prefer the stainless and I do find them to be smoother. The carbon steel blades need to be dried inbetween uses or they will rust.

There are also some Korean made blades out there. Skip them, they are junk.

The blades I have sent with the Pushbutton are Stainless.

[RailroadMan]

Awesome. Look forward to it.

[pezhore]

Well, my week is finished. I managed to get my first ever BBS shave with this GEM (no pun intended). It's quite the razor! I'll be keeping a look out for SE razors going forward.


With my (as of now) current favorite brush, soap, & scuttle
232728

232729

Ready for the next guy
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232731

EDIT: There is one pore pic coming... something that really screams "Rochester, NY"...

[TheVez2]

Nice pics, thanks for posting a better one than I did of the razor. I took mine with an Ipod and didn't realize the focus was not where I wanted it to be until it was too late. I already had the razor in the mail when I posted it. Can't wait to see the next pic!

[pezhore]

I wanted to add two too many pictures, so enjoy!

232899 232900

That's a garbage plate, W Cola (Wegman's house brand), Genesee 12 Horse Ale, and some meat-based hot sauce. Yum!

I'll be mailing the razor out tomorrow morning!

[desertcat]

I'll be mailing the razor out tomorrow morning!

Sweet of you to send him along nice and full after such a huge meal. Never knew the guy could handle so much, he looks so skinny... but I guess he's mostly "mouth" up top, so I shouldn't be so surprised.

[NickyBobby]

I can't believe we're one week I to this already!! I can't take the excitement. And the pressure to find something that screams Ohio. :-) I still think this is the greatest PIF ideas. :-)

[RailroadMan]

Got it in today. First shave in a bit. More info tomorrow.

[RailroadMan]

Ok, one down. Got it yesterday when I got home from work around 4:30. Well, on Thursdays, we go to trivia at a local pizza shop/brewery and have to leave by 6:00. I have to eat, shower, and shave in this time. DO NOT BE IN A HURRY YOUR FIRST TIME. I bled. I bled. And I bled some more. Worst since way before I gave up carts. But that is not the whole story. As I have been working my way through my sample blades, I have had a pretty poor run in the last few choices (even the 7 O'Clock Blue). I haven't destroyed my face, but the irritation has been mounting. Well, where I had all these bumps and ingrowns, the Gem certainly pointed them out to me. I look forward to another try in less of a hurry now that most of the problems are gone. Do not be scared of it, just take your time.

[TheVez2]

Sorry you had a bad first run. Make sure you start out with the head flat against your face as shown in the directions I posted. It will get better. If you need any more help let me know.

[RailroadMan]

Much better tonight. Slower, less angle. So used to DE, hard to keep it flat.

[TheVez2]

Yeah, the switch from DE to SE is a little different, and that's what I want everyone to understand. It is not any more difficult, it just takes a different technique that you need to learn. Follow the picture and you'll be good to go.

Glad you got a better shave today!

[valleyrider]

With all this trouble so far I hope were not passing around the se of death here!

[TheVez2]

No trouble, it's just a new learning curve. The pushbutton is pretty mild as far as SEs go. Once you learn it, it is quite easy and provides great shaves. Many people prefer the SE over the DE and get better closer shaves from them. Plus the blades last longer than typical DE blades, so they can be more economical.

The ER Streamline is arguably the best and smoothest SE out there, but it is quite pricey. The 1912 and the MMOC are readily available for a good price. One or the other of those two is usually peoples go to SE, with the 1912 being milder.

[RailroadMan]

235093235094235095235096

Well, my week is almost over. I am ready for the next address. I really appreciate this opportunity, however, I don't think the SE is for me. I didn't really get a good shave out of it. I bled a lot more and had more irritation than DE shaves. Everyone be very mindful of your angle and take your time. Please do not include me in the PIF drawing, as I have found a couple SEs around here, anyway. So here it is in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mts.

[NickyBobby]

Who's next on the list?

[RailroadMan]

Who's next on the list?

You or cosmicdoom.

[NickyBobby]

He and I are in the same town. I'll PM you my address and meet up with him in a week and hand it off.

[valleyrider]

Good luck on the shave, hopefully you can be the first to not draw blood!

[TheVez2]

You or cosmicdoom.


He and I are in the same town. I'll PM you my address and meet up with him in a week and hand it off.

Thanks for working that out guys. Is it on the road yet? RailroadMan do you have a tracking number for me?

[NickyBobby]

. . .hopefully you can be the first to not draw blood!

I wouldn't count on that. :-)

[RailroadMan]

Thanks for working that out guys. Is it on the road yet? RailroadMan do you have a tracking number for me?

I have been leaving before dawn and getting home after dark all week. If not tomorrow, I will make sure it is in the mail Saturday and you have the number. Does it need insurance. NickyBobby, it is heading your way, and I got my Bigelow today, but I won't shave until tomorrow. I will let you know.

[TheVez2]

Insurance is not necessary. Thanks.

[NickyBobby]

The GEM SE arrived yesterday afternoon. Nice looking piece of hardware. And let me again echo the thanks to TheVez for putting this together.

After a rinse in the Barbicide he waited until this morning to be used. And let me just say, GO SLOW! I followed my normal routine: post shower shave, pre-shave oil in the shower, whipped up some good MWF lather and started. I went slow and kept the angle perfect on my right cheek. No issues. Same with the left cheek. Then I got hurried and overconfident and rushed a bit on my neck. What a mistake! This guy BITES. I wound up with three weepers and a nick on my chin. And what is probably the worst razor burn on my neck that I've ever had. GO SLOW and BE CAUTIOUS with this thing!!!

Other than that, I got a DFS with this in two passes and called it a morning. Hopefully tomorrow I'll remember today's lesson!!

[desertcat]

I am ready for the next address.

gorgeous shots! who's next?

[valleyrider]

And blood has yet again been drawn! I'm hoping this doesnt end up becoming the magnificently wounded seven by the time we're done!

[TheVez2]

I'm pretty surprized by the carnage this razor is causing. I admit, I did not shave with this exact razor before I sent it out, but I have a couple of them back home that I have used and I find them quite mild.

[NickyBobby]

I think it's just a matter of technique. I used it again this morning, and wound up with no wounds. And the razorburn from yesterday has healed nicely. :-)

[Reggi L. Beasley]

This is a really neat thing you've put together. Wish I would have been around early enough to participate. Congrats to the seven!

[NickyBobby]

The GEM has become a Buckeye!!! I've made plans to hook up with cosmicdoom this week and hand off the razor. I'm happy to say that I've gotten the hang of this little guy, and the shaves wind up quite enjoyable - albeit quite different from DE shaving. Here are a few photos I snapped yesterday while at the OSU spring game:

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[desertcat]

The GEM has become a Buckeye!!!

Simply awesome, especially making "O-H-I-O" with friends~~

[cosmicdoom]

awww man, i was going to do a photo outside the stadium. i'll have to revise my photo plan.

[TheVez2]

Nice job capturing the reflection in that middle pic. Glad you got the hang of the razor. There's hope for everyone else now!

[cosmicdoom]

BTW, I'm a head shaver. So if I can master the single edge on my dome, then there really is hope for everyone.

[NickyBobby]

Nice job capturing the reflection in that middle pic.

Thanks! It's a really shiny razor. :-) I have another reflection picture of one of the towers of the stadium. I'll try to get it posted some time today.

[cosmicdoom]

Received the package from Nick on Friday. Had a great, no blood, minimal irritation, DFS with it.

....And here it is.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eycbQG2Bw4E

[linty1]

This is a very interesting read, it's like a little novel of the journey of a SE, love the pics!

[TheVez2]

Excellent. First time checking in since I got home. Glad it is still moving along. Thanks guys, love to see this razor's progress.

[BatsonBC]

Awesome thread!!!

[acesn8s]

I wanted to add two too many pictures, so enjoy!

232899 232900

That's a garbage plate, W Cola (Wegman's house brand), Genesee 12 Horse Ale, and some meat-based hot sauce. Yum!

I'll be mailing the razor out tomorrow morning!

Nick Tahou's? Spent my first 11 years in Fairport, my dad and grandpa worked for Kodak. My uncle and his middle son are both in the RPD.

Very cool PIF. Reminds me of the traveling journals you see on the fountain pen forums. I look forward to following this thread for the next few weeks.

[cosmicdoom]

i'm going to get the push button out in the mail tomorrow.

[CiiscoCst]

Hello im Cisco, newest newb here.

I just bought a Gem SE in excellent condition, was shaving with a Gillette DE, for almost a year now. I actually think it either sucks or im using it wrong. Get a few nicks everytime. Any other options besides the persona blades? I think buying blades for a DE is way cheaper!

[Snargle]

Hello im Cisco, newest newb here.

I just bought a Gem SE in excellent condition, was shaving with a Gillette DE, for almost a year now. I actually think it either sucks or im using it wrong. Get a few nicks everytime. Any other options besides the persona blades? I think buying blades for a DE is way cheaper!

Welcome aboard, Cisco!

An SE razor requires a slightly different technique from a DE. The angle of the top of the razor to your face should be almost zero; that is, almost flat against your face. If you hold it like a DE, you'll tear yourself up. Be careful of pressure, also. A light touch and the correct angle should give you a smooth, very efficient shave.

It's true that SE blades are slightly more expensive than DE blades, but SE blades should last considerably longer (usually about twice as long) due to greater thickness and rigidity.

Keep working at it, make sure you have a good lather, and watch your angle and pressure. You'll be getting fine shaves in short order!

-----------
Addition: Make sure you're using SE blades intended for shaving, not hardware store blades for scraping paint...there's a big difference!

[pezhore]

Nick Tahou's? Spent my first 11 years in Fairport, my dad and grandpa worked for Kodak. My uncle and his middle son are both in the RPD.

Very cool PIF. Reminds me of the traveling journals you see on the fountain pen forums. I look forward to following this thread for the next few weeks.

Unfortunately, I didn't get that particular garbage plate from Nick's, rather from Fairport Hots (it was closer).

[CiiscoCst]

Yep, today i tried it out again but this time i showered, immediatly dried myself up and applied some "the art of shaving" Pre-Shave Oil, and then the lather and carefully flattened out the razor a little closer to my face and just nicked myself 3 times. Better than 7, Jesus! So far the blades do seem to last awhile but i think its still more economical to buy DE razors, theres deals out there like $15 bucks for 100 DE blades. Ive seen some as low as $8 for 100 on amazon. Compared to $4 for 10 GEM persona blades......by the time ive got this technique down and use it for a while, I still might think its cheaper to use DE razors.

[Timo]

Keep me in mind for the next journey

[cosmicdoom]

Ok, guys, sorry I dragged my feet getting the razor in the mail, but I did send it out a few days ago. It basically converted me to SE shaving exclusively.

This is a statue of King Gambrinus, the patron saint of beer, which was situated above the main entrance to the massive August Wagner brewery in the Columbus Brewery District before Prohibition. When this area of Columbus underwent a revitalization in the late 1970s they rescued this statue from storage, the building it once adorned long since demolished, and put it back up in the brewery district.
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[cosmicdoom]

244629244630

This is what the Statue and Brewery looked like before being demolished.

[desertcat]

Ok, guys, sorry I dragged my feet getting the razor in the mail, but I did send it out a few days ago.

And it has arrived to me in great condition. A review and further photographs will be coming shortly.

[TheVez2]

Excellent pictures. Glad to see this moving along nicely. Thanks Guys.

[desertcat]

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First shave with the pushbutton yesterday. Got nipped a couple of times--it was a more aggressive shave than I'm used to, but I imagine further technique adjustments will eliminate the bloodletting. I also wonder if I should try fewer passes--maybe WTG and ATG instead of the usual 3-pass. Definitely feel a difference in the blade quality--that rigidity really translates to less forgiveness in blade angle. Anyway, enjoyed the shave despite the alum block burn, look forward to further technique improvements.

The razor and I will go sight-seeing when the weather improves--we're just having a gray, blustery day today.

[valleyrider]

The razor and I will go sight-seeing when the weather improves--we're just having a gray, blustery day today.

Those are some of the best days for taking pictures!

[CiiscoCst]

JUST TO ADD so its been alot of experimenting with different shave soaps, oils and creams. I rencently tried out this really thick shea shave cream and i was able to finally shave without one weeper or nick. GOOD GAWD...also by doing lots of homework on this GEM SE, I found that the actual Gem razor blades sold at CVS or Walgreens are not the way to go. Ted Pella blades should be used instead. Since im a newbie i have not had the nice oppurtunity to try out a couple, i really at this point dont want to spend anymore money that i might regret on this GEM SE. I had far less asking, experimenting and reading to do to for my Gillette DE. Getting good blades for those is easy, no internet needed.



Yep, today i tried it out again but this time i showered, immediatly dried myself up and applied some "the art of shaving" Pre-Shave Oil, and then the lather and carefully flattened out the razor a little closer to my face and just nicked myself 3 times. Better than 7, Jesus! So far the blades do seem to last awhile but i think its still more economical to buy DE razors, theres deals out there like $15 bucks for 100 DE blades. Ive seen some as low as $8 for 100 on amazon. Compared to $4 for 10 GEM persona blades......by the time ive got this technique down and use it for a while, I still might think its cheaper to use DE razors.

[TheVez2]

...also by doing lots of homework on this GEM SE, I found that the actual Gem razor blades sold at CVS or Walgreens are not the way to go. Ted Pella blades should be used instead.

Ted Pella blades are the same as the blades that come from Walgreens. They are both stainless GEM Personnas. The difference is, the Pellas are in bulk, with no dispenser and are cheaper. The CVS blades are nice, still Personnas, but not stainless. Not quite as smooth as the stainless ones. And they do need to be wiped dry to keep them from rusting. But, they are an acceptable blade. It is the SE blade I started with and still stock up on them when I find them on sale.

As a reminder, the blades I shipped out to the Magnificent SEven for the Pushbutton were Ted Pella blades.

[CiiscoCst]

Yes just learned that today that they are the same blades, HoosierTrooper posted something very informative detailing alot in a Single Edge Blade Guide. I apologize for my slothfullness but learning where and how to navigate to find info took me a little time. Today is the first time ive spent alot of time on this site. Before was just 5-10 min tops at a time. Well im going to try out as many different blades as i can and if i still dont like the GEM i may PIF. I did recently have some success with a very thick shave cream, but id rather have a razor that will do the job no matter what lather with and PIF it to people who want to try it out.

[CiiscoCst]

Glad I could bring this all the way to the west coast! depending on when it gets here I may try to take it over to the beach for the picture so it truely goes coast to coast.


If i was elligible id take it to the Golden Gate or Bay Bridge i have views of both from my home.

[valleyrider]

So where is this razor now? It's been a while since hearing about it

[TheVez2]

Thanks for the reminder. I just sent a PM to desertcat to see if he still has it. Lou Barraza is next up.

[Fearz]

I'm new to this forum and this is my first post. I'm sorry its a negative one, but I feel that I should post this in case it hasn't been posted.


I would be very cautious of this contest. Its a nice thing to do, but the Hepatitis virus can live outside of the human body in dried blood long enough for the contestants to become infected*. Even though the blades are replaceable, the other areas of the razor could transmit hepatitis. The virus can be transmitted even after dried in drops of blood that are too small to seen (microscopic), if it contacts an open wound, sore, rash, eyes, mouth, or nostrils (any mucous mebrane).

If you are participating in this contest I would suggest you at least properly steralize (1:10 dilution bleach to water) the razor after receiving it and before shaving, but research is not conclusive that chemical sterilization is sufficient to prevent infection. Current research says more data is needed as to the effectiveness of bleach in preventing the spread of HCV when bleach is used as a disinfectant. (see: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hepc/pubs/bleach-javel/chap3-eng.php , section a for information of disinfection with bleach).

HIV is an unlikely transmission as the virus does not live outside the human body long enough for transmission to be likely. (source: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/qa/transmission.htm )


-------------------
Information on Hepatitis and razors (source: http://www.hbvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/Personal%20Care.pdf )

How is HBV Transmitted in Daily Life?


Because HBV is found in infected blood at high concentrations, it can be transmitted by personal care items such as razors and equipment used by manicurists, estheticians (skin care specialists), barbers and cosmetologists. This can happen when even a small amount of infected blood, so tiny it cannot be seen, stays on equipment and comes into contact with an open cut or sore, rash or eyes, mouth or nostrils (mucous membranes) of another person.
Other equipment that comes into contact with blood includes tattooing and body piercing needles, cuticle scissors, nail files and emery boards, razors and hair clippers, hair removal tools such as tweezers and electrolysis equipment and even haircutting scissors and combs.

*Hepatitis C can live between 16hours and 4 days outside the body. Hepatitis B can live up to 7 days outside the human body. Source: (http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/B/bFAQ.htm# , http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/C/cFAQ.htm ).

Although it appears that both can live longer if the conditions are favorable.
http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2012/02/hepatitis_c_sur.html

[nycalling]

Well Fearz, you sure are a downer poster. I was scanning this hoping to read some Clash references.

Ring, Ring it's 7 AM...

[Fearz]

I know :crying:

[mblakele]

No need to panic, gents. Things are not that grim. From http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Safety_razor_maintenance#What_About_Germs


Worried about bugs on your razor? What can you do to make sure they don't creep off the razor and into your bloodstream? Do you need to sanitize, disinfect, or sterilize a used razor?

One of our members, an Emergency Room MD with over ten years of experience, wrote a post on this topic. You can also read what OSHA has to say (http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/bloodbornepathogens/). The short answer is that cleaning with Lysol will kill almost everything. In health-care settings Lysol is used for ultrasound probes, stethoscopes, and other items that are considered external but still come into contact with bodily fluids on a regular basis. That is a fair description of a razor, too.

Even without Lysol cleaning, most bloodborne pathogens can't survive on a clean, dry surface for more than a few hours. The needlestick injuries described by OSHA and in studies of health-care professionals involve relatively fresh, whole blood. Any particles of old, dried-up body fluids on a used razor are extremely unlikely to contain any viable disease. But even if they do, cleaning with soapy water will remove them. Cleaning with Lysol will kill anything that remains.

If you are still worried, get vaccinated for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. You should do that anyway, whether you buy used razors or not.

Still worried? You could use what our MD member called a solution soak decontamination. Soak the razor in a 5% aqueous solution of a phenolic germicidal detergent (e.g. industrial strength Lysol or Amphyl) for at least 1 hour.

To summarize, remove any heavy dirt on the razor and then clean the razor with Lysol in normal household concentration (for example, 1.25-oz in 1-gal water). If you aren't satisfied, then soak it in 5% Lysol. Household Lysol concentrate is generally mixed with water for a 1% solution, so use five times that. For example, 1.25-oz Lysol in 1-gal water becomes 6.25-oz Lysol in 1-gal water.

[Disburden]

SE razors are awesome. Great thread!

[TheVez2]

Still no word from desertcat, this may have stalled.

[NickyBobby]

Still no word from desertcat, this may have stalled.

Grab the pitchforks and torches...

[valleyrider]

Well if this gets going again and I receive it by the end of July I'll be at motoGP in Monterey, nothing says California like a world championship series race! We'll see if it comes in time for the pictures.

[valleyrider]

Is there still a pulse here or has this died before the finish?

[TheVez2]

No word from desertcat. I would like to finish this up, and I have another push button I could loan, I believe, but it is packed away. I'm moving in about a month and most of my excess gear is ready to go. If you all still want to try an SE, I can get it going again after I move, unless I find another before that.

[NickyBobby]

No word from desertcat. I would like to finish this up, and I have another push button I could loan, I believe, but it is packed away. I'm moving in about a month and most of my excess gear is ready to go. If you all still want to try an SE, I can get it going again after I move, unless I find another before that.

That's sad. This was really a great thread and I'm happy to have participated!

[TheVez2]

Another member has graciously stepped up and offered his Pushbutton to continue the journey. Lou Barraza has told me that he recently pick up a Pushbutton of his own, so if valleyrider still want to try it out, I can have one on its way to him soon!

[valleyrider]

Sure, I'd still like to try it out! I'll treat it as if it were the original from this thread and post up pictures and how it works out for me. If it comes before the 27th I'll have a great little trip to take it on and get some pictures of it next to some of the world's fastest motorcycles!

[NickyBobby]

Sure, I'd still like to try it out! I'll treat it as if it were the original from this thread and post up pictures and how it works out for me. If it comes before the 27th I'll have a great little trip to take it on and get some pictures of it next to some of the world's fastest motorcycles!

:thumbup:

Will you be shaving while riding these motorcycles?

[TheVez2]

Maybe that would qualify him for the fastest shave?

[jzuzphreek]

If i was elligible id take it to the Golden Gate or Bay Bridge i have views of both from my home.

If I had found this site before yesterday, and was able to get in on this great PIF, I would have taken the razor to Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, Pat O'Brien's or any other number of famous bars on Bourbon St. Probably would've taken it to Champion's Square across from the Louisiana Superdome, or Jackson Square, or Preservation Hall. Possibly could've taken it to Mardi Gras world or Cafe du Monde. I would've treated it to pralines at Aunt Sally's and BBQ Shrimp at Bourbon House....

On the second thought, it's a good thing it didn't make it here to New Orleans. It never would have wanted to leave. :001_cool:

[valleyrider]

:thumbup:

Will you be shaving while riding these motorcycles?

If only they would let me close enough to even touch one of those motorcycles! Might be able to get one of the ducati paddock girls to pose with the razor though. Why is it that the Italians always seem to have the best stuff? Italian shave creams, Italian supercars, Italian motorcycles

[TheVez2]

Valley rider, the razor is enroute!

[valleyrider]

Awesome I look forward to it!

[valleyrider]

I received the razor in the mail and it looks great! Just wondering now where I can get a blade to be able to use it? Do any brick and mortar stores carry these blades?

[cosmicdoom]

cvs, walgreens.

I'm so mad that someone stopped passing the razor. we had all kinds of good stuff in that box, including blades.

[TheVez2]

D'oh, I didn't think about blades. I had enough blades for the entire pass in with the original razor. I can send you a couple of you can't find any.

[NickyBobby]

cvs, walgreens.

I'm so mad that someone stopped passing the razor. we had all kinds of good stuff in that box, including blades.

TRUE STORY! Who stole Vez's goodies?!

[RailroadMan]

That's right. No surprise.

[valleyrider]

I'll go check walgreens after work tonight, oh and Vez if you haven't figured out why the others are upset its because we conspired to all pitch in something then send it to you in the end. The goodies almost made it.

[TheVez2]

Well then, thanks for the thought guys!

[TheVez2]

Guys, I still have faith in humanity, and want to believe that desertcat didn't just take the box and run. I hope he is OK and will come back to B&B, and hopefully do the right thing.

[NickyBobby]

Well said.

[valleyrider]

So I picked up a pack of blades at walgreens, $6 for a 10 pack so roughly the price of feather de blades, and had my first shave with it today. All went really well, no blood just a slight irritation under my jaw from the agt pass, I think maybe a bit too much pressure and bad angle is to blame. Tomorrow I pack it up for a trip to Laguna Seca and hope to get a decent picture with it while at the motogp race, it's supposed to be in the 60's at the track which can get a little warm while out there all day but it'll be much better than the 100+, weather we have been having here.

[CiiscoCst]

Damn shame that the razor didnt get passed around. Id like to start a pif of my SE Gem, how do i go about doing this?

[CiiscoCst]

I mean literally from coast to coast by the efforts of men with a common bond....nice!

[TheVez2]

If you want to start a pass, you can do it however you like. There are no set rules for how one works. Figure out how many participants you want, and start a sing up.

[valleyrider]

So this razor has been great so far, no cuts and only got some burn on the first two shaves. The bad news, I cant find my memory card from last weekend out at the races where I got a fantastic shot of the razor sitting on Valentino Rossi's MotoGP bike so that means that I'll have to settle for another shot. Give me two days and I'll make it happen.

[LouBarraza]

Great News,Friends!Put your worries aside!The GEM is safely in my possession!:clap::clap:I received it in the mail the other day and was puzzled by what it was and saw it was from desertcat B&B.I'm not sure what happened ,but unfortunately valleyrider got skipped.To keep this alive,I will try it out,take a pic of it's location and pass it forward since I haven't tried mine out yet.:thumbup:Does it go back to you,Vez??

[TheVez2]

Lou, this is great news indeed. My faith in humanity prevails.

Nobody was skipped, you were after desertcat and valley rider was after you in the original pass. When the original pushbutton went missing, another B&Ber put theirs up to complete the pass. You had declined to receive it at that time, so I had it sent to valleyrider.

So I guess when you are done with it, you can go ahead and send it back to me. Maybe I'll kick off another one of these passes on the near future. The extra stuff that you noted to me in PM is stuff that members of the pass had accumulated to surprise me, as a thanks for organizing the pass. They let me in on the secret when it went missing.

[YoungGuy]

So it's been 2 months, how did this turn out?

[TheVez2]

Still waiting to get the box back from Lou.

[TheVez2]

Ok gents, the Magnificent SEven have taken a long road, a very long road, but our journey is now complete. The pushbutton has returned home after making its journey from Afghanistan, over the ocean, sightseeing across the US, and finally back home to me. I want to thank you all for participating in this pass. I am happy to have given you all a chance to try out an SE razor and I hope you all enjoyed the trial and the journey. We had a few bumps I the road but nothing that we couldn't overcome.

I also wanted to acknowledge the great group of guys who participated in this pass. Even though they were a bunch of newbies, when this first started, they ran with this pass and participated like a group of seasoned vets. I loved seeing that and was the reason I did it in the first place.

The also did something very nice. They included a card which they all signed, and along the way, the box collected some goodies as a thanks to me for hosting the pass. I'm deeply touched by this and I want to say a big thanks to you guys. In the box was a sample of Tabac, three sample pucks from the Blue Ridge Soap Shed, and a vintage Century handle that has a brand new badger knot in it. I'm floored. Thanks again guys.

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q142/thevez2/Shaving%20Forums/2DCEAFCD-19A8-499A-9541-ADB168D58355-11010-00001CC63484AC07.jpg

And I will be doing another pass like this in the future.

[cosmicdoom]

I'm glad everything worked out!

[LouBarraza]

Thank you,Vez for the PIF!Again I apologize in it's late arrival.It was a great experience!

[TheVez2]

No worries. Glad everyone enjoyed it.

[Tummers09]

I loved this! Brought tears of joy to my eyes! So much faith in the goodness of humanity!:biggrin1: So... Who of The Magnificent SEven won the PIF in the end? I might have missed that detail.

Also, what about the last two sights?! :scared:

[patrickmjett]

Seven Samurai...