Gem SE - Feather Blade Modification

[ambrose]

I love my 1912 gem jr with the ornate handle. I love the way it shaves but man do I hate the gem blue star blades I have tried. I have a love for feathers they are all I use in my DE razors.

After thinking a little I decided to try an experiment out.
I took a regular DE feather and tried to place it in the gem. No go its to wide. I snapped it in two and hey it fits perfectly. Wait oh no! there is a warp in the blade though. AHHH I see its the little tangs on the side that are causing this warp. So I snap those guys off and the warp is no more.

I have not tried to shave with it this way just yet because I just finished shaving. I will give it a go first thing tomorrow.

I know that the feather is much thinner than the SE blades. I dont think there should be any problems because there is no warp in the blade. Also the blade is appears to held in place quite snug.

So if you do the math you get .17 and a half cents per razor blade this way and a coated feather at that. I came to that conclusion because I pay .35 cents a feather.

By the way no special tools needed just the 10 best little tools you were born with.

Sorry for the bad photos

SPECIAL THANKS TO DAVE FOR THE INSPIRATION, AND HIS VIDEOS ON MODIFYING BLADES TO FIT THE OLDER GEMS.

Review of the shave to follow unless someone beats me to it, in that case Ill just add my opinion to theirs.

[Shaveoholic]

Its been done before dude, do your homework man!!!!! i'm being sardonic if you cant tell...

These are totally different feathers as well, made for their "shavette", I think.

Here it is on shaveblog-

http://www.shaveblog.com/2005/08/hail-andy.html

[spinyeel]

What is preventing the blade from moving backwards in the head and slicing your face?:confused:

[Bushranger]

i can't find a (comb) DE razor for love or want in any antique store, but I have found LOTS of GEMS and AUTOSTROPS. Aside from the reviews (which I have read) and with your FEATHER blades in mind, is a GEM worth getting....really? As I don't want to throw away money I don't have. For reference of what I'm using, please refer to my sig.

[ambrose]

i can't find a (comb) DE razor for love or want in any antique store, but I have found LOTS of GEMS and AUTOSTROPS. Aside from the reviews (which I have read) and with your FEATHER blades in mind, is a GEM worth getting....really? As I don't want to throw away money I don't have. For reference of what I'm using, please refer to my sig.

I am still new to the gem shaving, I picked mine up for $9.25 usd. So it wasnt a big investment. I have not yet tried using a modified feather in my gem yet Im going to give it a go today and see how good it is. If you can get one for a good price I say give it a try its the only way to truly know.

My favorite aggressive shavers are the old type gillettes, and open comb slants so far.

[mmack66]

Somebody had Feather SE blades for sale a while ago.

[ambrose]

Shoot that would be great because I gave this a try today and it didnt work. :confused: When I started to shave it felt awesome but then the blade moved back in to the razor so yea failed.

[Bertilak]

I love my 1912 gem jr with the ornate handle. I love the way it shaves but man do I hate the gem blue star blades I have tried.

PM me your address and I will USPS a couple of GEM Stainless PTFE blades. I love 'em. I think everyone who has tried them likes them.

[ThePossum]

i can't find a (comb) DE razor for love or want in any antique store, but I have found LOTS of GEMS and AUTOSTROPS. Aside from the reviews (which I have read) and with your FEATHER blades in mind, is a GEM worth getting....really? As I don't want to throw away money I don't have. For reference of what I'm using, please refer to my sig.

Get yourself a 1912 GEM, GEM Jr or Ever Ready. They are basically the same razor. Then get some GEM PTFE coated blades. If you get the razor send me a PM and I will send a couple blades to you.

I guarantee that you will enjoy the SE style razors and the shaves they give. I did and if I didn't have so many DE razors I would just stop using them and go exclusively with my SE razors everyday.

[Bertilak]

I guarantee that you will enjoy the SE style razors and the shaves they give. I did and if I didn't have so many DE razors I would just stop using them and go exclusively with my SE razors everyday.

I have stopped using DE razors. I am attempting to learn straight razor shaving and am a long way from being able to get a decent shave that way. My current goal is to not hurt myself. :001_smile

So I still need a way to complete my shave after I do as much as I can with the straight. GEM to the rescue! I even think their "Victorian Age" look goes well with a straight.

[ThePossum]

Bob,

You have more guts than me. No way that I go the straight shave route unless it is an experienced barber handling the razor.

But I can see how you need a "great" razor to finish up your straight shave until you get the hang of the straight razor.

Good luck

[D.Irving79]

more likely than not the minute you shave with that thing the blade will slide back.

[ambrose]

more likely than not the minute you shave with that thing the blade will slide back.

Yup thats what happened :frown: Its cool Im awaiting those coated blades from bob to try out. Im anxious to do so Thanks again Bob :biggrin:

My best shave to date has been with Rodds open comb slant with a feather. Im hoping my gem can match or out shave that one.

[guru]

Somebody had Feather SE blades for sale a while ago.

Wow. Wonder how much and what quantity?

[_JP_]

About a month ago somebody posted a modification that allowed use of a DE blade in a GEM razor. He created a holder for the blade that the razor head could clamp onto.

[ambrose]

About a month ago somebody posted a modification that allowed use of a DE blade in a GEM razor. He created a holder for the blade that the razor head could clamp onto.

If you find the link send it this way. :wink:

[D.Irving79]

from what i recall it seemed like too much work for what it is.

[Jabo]

What I have been enjoying is the rigidity of the SE blade rather than the actual SE razor itself. If I'm going to be using a DE blade, I prefer to use my gillettes over my gems.

[ambrose]

looks like ill be waiting on some GEM PTFE coated blades

[Bushranger]

next time i'm in that shop, i will look at the GEMS etc again. Good posts, TY all.

[Bertilak]

What I have been enjoying is the rigidity of the SE blade rather than the actual SE razor itself.

That was my original theory when first appreciating the GEM 1912 and I still think that is a big part of it, perhaps the biggest. But, when I tried a Micromatic it wasn't quite as nice so I think the design of the GEM 1912 is pretty successful in itself.

Somewhat of an aside: A couple of months ago I tried to get the feel of straight razor shaving by using various shavettes, which use split DE blades, and the experience was far less than pleasant. After trying the GEM I saw how the rigidity of a SE blade made the shaving experience so much different (better) and that prompted me to try straight shaving where the blades are even more rigid. And sure enough a straight is much nicer to shave with than a shavette. The learning curve is steep and I presume long. I am just at the beginning of it.

[Bushranger]

with a frameback razor, have you ever tried using it as a straight shave instead of it's other use as a Single Edge shave? That could be the ideal inbetween ST8/SE shave as designed for both. a curious thought...

[D.Irving79]

with a frameback razor, have you ever tried using it as a straight shave instead of it's other use as a Single Edge shave? That could be the ideal inbetween ST8/SE shave as designed for both. a curious thought...

this is where the early single edge razors come in that took wedge blades that are just smaller pieces of straight razors essentially.

[Bushranger]

I'm thrilled to say that I acquired 2 SE razors. One is a British GEM, the other a British Ever-Ready. Both have ornate handles and are VERY similar in appearance. The ER is in VERY good condition, the GEM, is not...it has lost some plating and it's 'lid' is a little slack. I will try to find out when each was made and what type they are.

FWIW, I use Derby Extra and Feathers in my DE shaving. I anticipate the SE shave and wonder what those blades are like. From this thread, it seems there are only 2 blade types worthy of consideration? (thank you for your kind offer Bryce)

I've enjoyed reading this thread from the SE specialist group. Thank you Gents.

[Bushranger]

My thanks to Dave for the referral to Phil and all those that provided input here. Spinyeel, thanks for forwarding the GEM Blue Star blades. You've helped make SE shaving possible with the 1912 Ever-ready I found. First SE shave done today. Naturally the familiarisation was longer than my current DE shaves but yielded terrific and blood/irritation-free results. Second SE tomorrow. :shaving::thumbup:

[spinyeel]

My thanks to Dave for the referral to Phil and all those that provided input here. Spinyeel, thanks for forwarding the GEM Blue Star blades. You've helped make SE shaving possible with the 1912 Ever-ready I found. First SE shave done today. Naturally the familiarisation was longer than my current DE shaves but yielded terrific and blood/irritation-free results. Second SE tomorrow. :shaving::thumbup:Good to hear the first Gem shave was a success mate.:wink:If you get yourself a stropping device and dry your carbon blades after each shave,they will last a lot longer.:smile:I had a superb shave yesterday with a 1912 loaded with a Gem Personna stainless.:biggrin:The more you use a Gem,the more you'll love it. Cheers Phil.

[D.Irving79]

My thanks to Dave for the referral to Phil and all those that provided input here. Spinyeel, thanks for forwarding the GEM Blue Star blades. You've helped make SE shaving possible with the 1912 Ever-ready I found. First SE shave done today. Naturally the familiarisation was longer than my current DE shaves but yielded terrific and blood/irritation-free results. Second SE tomorrow. :shaving::thumbup:

youre very welcome. i only recommend the best :001_smile

[1OldGI]

I'm really on the fence concerning the plunge into the world of straights. While the Gems undoubtedly provide a nice transition and would seem to be a nice orientation into the uber aggressive razor world, lately I find that my Gems are indeed an impediment to the str8 transition. The Micromatic AND the 1912 Gem Junior both render such consistently remarkable shaves that I really have to reach for adequate justification for spending the money on a straight and a strop. Call me crazy but I just can't imagine anything shaving as close and as consistent as my two old workhorses. And the first few months of a straight by all accounts promises to deliver consistently marginal shaves at best.

It would seem at least that I've reached the apex of the learning curve with my old beauties. Even shaving 7 days a week (which I now do fairly routinely) I don't remember the last time I got so much as a weeper from either one. Am I crazy or is the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" approach really the pragmatic solution?

FWIW, I alternate my razors two days on two days off. The 1912 vs. Micromatic race has always been a tough one to call as they are both just so unswervingly great performers. However, the more I use the Micromatic, the more I like it. The weight and feel of it is just beyond compare. I'd have to say Micromatic by a nose.

[Bertilak]

I'm really on the fence concerning the plunge into the world of straights. While the Gems undoubtedly provide a nice transition and would seem to be a nice orientation into the uber aggressive razor world, lately I find that my Gems are indeed an impediment to the str8 transition. The Micromatic AND the 1912 Gem Junior both render such consistently remarkable shaves that I really have to reach for adequate justification for spending the money on a straight and a strop.

I think You need to look in a different direction for a justification. A GEM shave is pretty darn good. In my case I can imagine that a straight could do a better job because I do have some trouble spots on my neck that are never perfect but I will be surprised if a straight actually does do any better.

My "justification" (so far) is that it is a skill I want to learn.