GEMini will soon be upon us !

**onefallinghope** · 05-27-2012, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by mikeschu

OCMM with a Gem stainless blade (3), Cella and Floid Suave AS. Not a bad combo at all - it was a very enjoyable shave.

The OCMM ate through five days of beard like a kid in a pizza parlor, but for some reason the shaves aren't close. I had to run a Merkur 11C for one pass ATG to get the stubble off. Besides the usual (blade angle), is there anything else to look at? Is there a slightly more aggressive SE to try out? I have an angular jaw and I know I have some tight spots around the neck that usually take some touch-up from a DE regardless.

I find that my 1912 variants do a better job at getting close than my OCMM does. YMMV.

**mikeschu** · 05-27-2012, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by onefallinghope

I find that my 1912 variants do a better job at getting close than my OCMM does. YMMV.

I'm sure MMWV and I'll see if I can find a 1912. I'm signed up for a pass-around but I'm not sure it'll get to me before the end of GEMini.

**rockviper** · 05-27-2012, 09:00 PM

Didn't shave yesterday as I spent overnight at my brother's, but the 6th shave on the same GEM PTFE in the 1912 cut through 2 days growth without too much of a problem.

**Haggises** · 05-27-2012, 09:04 PM

Day 6 and Day 7
both were ER 1912 with GEM/Personna (2/3)
one more tomorrow before going ER 1914, I think first major shave with it.

**Haggises** · 05-28-2012, 08:32 PM

Day 8
ER 1912, GEM/personna stainless blade (4), mix of VDH and Portman orange cream with the SOC boar.
spent more time than usual working on the lather and it paid off.
last shave for now with this beauty, and approached BBS with 3 passes and a fair bit of buffing.
Zero irritation....Zero.
love this razor, would give it preference over the Damaskeene.

Tomorrow...the 1914 for the first time. Looking forward to it.

**Haggises** · 05-29-2012, 07:50 PM

Day 9 (echo, echo, echo.........)
The Ever Ready 1914, with a palm stropped GEM coated SS (thanks Arley!), a VDH/Portman Square Orange cream mix since it worked so well yesterday, and an SOC boar.

Lather went well again, but (as posted in other thread) this blade/razor combo was amazing!
Will be the first razor I revisit once I've gone 5 days with each razor (1924, Gbar, OCMM remaining).
Wow, just wow!

**brianw** · 05-29-2012, 07:54 PM

Still Hugging my Damaskeene !!!

**rockviper** · 05-30-2012, 03:34 AM

So far, so good. Nothing but SEs so far for GEMini.
Yesterday's shave was #7 with the 1912. Blade started tugging, so I will try a new one with today's shave.

**Azarius** · 05-30-2012, 06:39 AM

**rockviper** · 05-30-2012, 07:20 AM

First shave on a new GEM PTFE blade in the 1912. Have to say that this was a little rougher than the blade I just trashed after 7 shaves. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

**Haggises** · 05-30-2012, 07:48 AM

I found the PTFE to be a little rougher than the the non-coated at first. Yesterday I palm stropped and even forearm stropped before loading it it in - seemed to work beautifully for me.

**onefallinghope** · 05-30-2012, 04:23 PM

Razor: GEM Damaskeene
Blade: GEM PTFE SS (7 and done)
Brush: Semogue 1305
Soap: Uberlather of Proraso Red new formula, VDH Deluxe, and Glycerin
AS: Clubman Virgin Island Bay Rum

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**Haggises** · 05-30-2012, 08:15 PM

Day 10
ER 1914 with PTFE blade, Razorock and TGN silvertip
DFS but boy did I get too cocky after yesterday's perfect shave.....
the shaving gods do not like arrogance and make you pay for carelessness. Like trying to go ATG without XTG.
Feeling the burn a bit.

**rockviper** · 05-31-2012, 05:13 AM

Originally Posted by rockviper

First shave on a new GEM PTFE blade in the 1912. Have to say that this was a little rougher than the blade I just trashed after 7 shaves. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Originally Posted by Haggises

I found the PTFE to be a little rougher than the the non-coated at first. Yesterday I palm stropped and even forearm stropped before loading it it in - seemed to work beautifully for me.

After very unsatisfactory, rough WTG and XTG passes with this blade on its 2nd shave in the 1912, I noticed that there was very little gunk in the sink but lots of hair still on my chin. Decided to swap the blade out for another GEM PTFE and, lo and behold, nice and smooth and cutting hair like crazy. I'm relieved it was a bad blade and not a problem with SE shaving (only started this for GEMini).

**mikeschu** · 05-31-2012, 10:55 PM

OCMM with a Gem Stainless Blade (4), sample of Cella, Speick AS.

The OCMM made lots of noise and cut hairs, but for some reason did horribly going ATG and XTG. I was expecting a little more life out of SE blades than my Astra SPs. Touch-up pass with a Merkur 11C made my face practically BBS.

I binned this blade and may try another - I have a few Ted Pella PTFE's from Garry's Sample Shop and an unopened pack of carbons along with the remaining stainless blades.

**Haggises** · 06-01-2012, 03:43 AM

Day 11
1914 with PTFE blade, portman square orange cream/vdh/kmf mint for that extra dash of slick.
had fun with angles. Normal angle sounded loud and felt similar to the 1912s. With the blade at a shallower angle, got the quiet smooth shave back. Almost held like a micromatic.
more investigation required!
nice dfs.

**rockviper** · 06-01-2012, 05:33 AM

Okay, I'm confused..... but SWMBO could tell you that normal for me

Today's shave with the 1912 used the same blade as yesterday but the result was VERY different. Yesterday was a new GEM PTFE which provided a GREAT shave, but today there was all kinds if tugging and pulling and, after 3 passes, I actually had to revert to my DE to get a good result. I don't know why the last two blades are giving me so much problems compared to the first one which lasted for a full 7 shaves. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better. *sigh*

**onefallinghope** · 06-01-2012, 05:39 AM

Originally Posted by rockviper

Okay, I'm confused..... but SWMBO could tell you that normal for me

Today's shave with the 1912 used the same blade as yesterday but the result was VERY different. Yesterday was a new GEM PTFE which provided a GREAT shave, but today there was all kinds if tugging and pulling and, after 3 passes, I actually had to revert to my DE to get a good result. I don't know why the last two blades are giving me so much problems compared to the first one which lasted for a full 7 shaves. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better. *sigh*

not to question you, but how is your lather?

I find that I need a "wetter" lather with SE than I do with my DE's and if my lather is a little too dry it will feel like my blade is tugging. just a suggestion from my own personal experience.

**rockviper** · 06-01-2012, 06:17 AM

Originally Posted by onefallinghope

not to question you, but how is your lather?

I find that I need a "wetter" lather with SE than I do with my DE's and if my lather is a little too dry it will feel like my blade is tugging. just a suggestion from my own personal experience.

Lather is nice and slick; pretty consistent day to day and using the same soap. Not changing anything: same prep, brush, soap, razor, blade but getting different results. I was very surprised that the blade which worked so well yesterday appeared to be shot today on the 2nd shave.

**rockviper** · 06-02-2012, 06:12 AM

Swapped to a new blade after my problems yesterday and am happy to report a very nice shave.
Now I'm afraid of tomorrow's shave as my last two blades were dead for shave #2, which is VERY different than 7 shaves from my first blade.