That's when I break out an injector (well, when I don't have a mustache).
What's the deal with SE?
- Thread starter HokieGeek
- Start date
That's when I break out an injector (well, when I don't have a mustache).
They give a close shave but here in the uk blades are limited which means mine comes out now and again, plus i struggle to get under my nose shaved correctly and end up using my de to complete this.
If you get it, no explanation is necessary.
If you don't get it, no explanation is possible.
If you don't get it, no explanation is possible.
Pretty much says it all right there.
+100
My first experience with a push button GEM was painful.
I did not have my technique down and the razor was light.
A month ago, I picked up three bullet nosed and one clog proof GEM micromatic razors.
All have heavier metal handles than the push button GEM.
I have not looked back since.
I just completed a month of GEM shaving. Great close shaves everyday.
No razor burn, no nicks, and yes I shave under my nose. Just lift, push, pull or just maneuver it so you can shave under neath it. No problems.
I just started using an injector today and will experiment with them for a while.
Ambrose sent me a thread about using Feather single edge razor blades and snipping off the edge
Here and here
This looks promising.
So in the end Cooncatbob is right:
I get it, and so do many others!!
John
I'd say not. While they have some of the blade stiffness advantage of a straight, they are still safety razors, meaning that there's a safety bar or comb that limits the range of blade angles and a handle that facilitates the aiming and moving of the blade around your face in a similar fashion to other safety razors.
I'm not a straight razor user but the main challenges beyond the angle and pressure thing seem to involve proper skin stretching, management of the tip of the blade (so as not to stab an ear or cheek) and general hand and finger position technique to manipulate it about your face. By trying another safety razor you're really not getting into any of that.
- Chris
- Thread starter
- #27
Ok, that makes sense.
I was perusing the BST and stumbled onto a Star SE for $8. I had just re-read this thread and I figured, at that price, it was worth giving it a shot, so I picked it up! .... I really shouldn't associate with you gents
....
Wow, well said. A straight requires a completely different technique. While SEs have their fans who appreciate the quality of the shave and compare it to a straight for closeness, there the similarity ends.
Using an SE like a GEM may reveal some deficiencies in your preparation that you might want to iron out before wielding a straight.
There you go beating me to the point. The blades cost more initially but they last much much longer than DE blades.
At this point, I'm getting no fewer than 10 shaves out of a GEM stainless blade. I'm very sure that I could easily go up to 15, I've just not bothered to. I just got 15 shaves out of a Schick injector blade in a PAL 10 were BBS and 5 were perfectly presentable DFS.
I almost never get more than say 4 good shaves out of a DE blade.
My beard is not the thickest in the world, but it is very tough. With my beard, thin blades like Feathers or Derbys are generally only good for 2 or three shaves before they get so rough that they're unusable for me. The thicker blade makes a world of difference.
As for the under the nose thing, it's just a matter of technique. It's basically futile to try a north/south pass with an SE under the nose, but going horizontally either starting just under the nose outward or at the edge of the moustache area inward for the first pass gives good results. I go S/N on the second pass, and get basically bbs under the nose - consistently better than I ever got with a DE.
For me, SE shaves are simply closer and more comfortable. Frankly, the blade selection thing with DE's was always something of a nuisance to me, with the best bulk per blade price for decent blades approaching the absolute worst supermarket price for a 10 pack of excellent stainless Gems. While still comparing apples to oranges, bulk pricing for mid range DE blades is on-par with, or slightly higher than, bulk pricing for Gem Stainless blades, so the cost thing is really of minimal consequence imo. Plus, I get the added convenience of being able to find my regular blades at some local drug stores and supermarkets - albeit at a noticable premium.
For me, SE shaves are simply closer and more comfortable. Frankly, the blade selection thing with DE's was always something of a nuisance to me, with the best bulk per blade price for decent blades approaching the absolute worst supermarket price for a 10 pack of excellent stainless Gems. While still comparing apples to oranges, bulk pricing for mid range DE blades is on-par with, or slightly higher than, bulk pricing for Gem Stainless blades, so the cost thing is really of minimal consequence imo. Plus, I get the added convenience of being able to find my regular blades at some local drug stores and supermarkets - albeit at a noticable premium.
More on blade prices. As mentioned by others, once you know that SE is for you, you can get a great price by buying Pellas in bulk. Or, as I have done you can get these for less that $0.18 per blade from Amazon. Periodically out of stock, and some people have reported problems with them, but the ones I got appear to be the same as the Walgreens Personnas at a lower price.
Shaved with a 1912 this morning. No problem under the nose at all, or anywhere else.
Shaved with a 1912 this morning. No problem under the nose at all, or anywhere else.
- Thread starter
- #33
Aesthetically, I'm still not a fan, but I am looking forward to trying my new one out. I really like that the blades have such longevity and as for the mustache, I've sported a van dyke since freshman year of college and I only got rid of it once a few years ago, on a whim. My wife hated how I looked without it and won't allow me to shave it off So no worries there!
So no worries there!I haven't found that I get a lot of shaves from SE blades, after 4 shaves with a GEM blade it started to pull.
I've also found the so called learning curve to be exaggerated, first time with a SE I had no problems with mt face so went on and shaved my head too.
I've also found the so called learning curve to be exaggerated, first time with a SE I had no problems with mt face so went on and shaved my head too.
I'm with you Bob. If I'm shaving my face with it....I'm shaving my head with it. I'm about four shaves in with my 1912 head on my BM handle. Still figuring it out, but it's getting there.
Can someone tell me if the"coated" blades like the ones in the group buy are different from the ones available at walgreens? The ones I bought from walgreens are Gem SS but say nothing of being coated.
Tracy
Can someone tell me if the"coated" blades like the ones in the group buy are different from the ones available at walgreens? The ones I bought from walgreens are Gem SS but say nothing of being coated.
Tracy
They pretty much are the same blades... coated
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