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+--- Thread: Testing how long GEM Blades last? (/showthread.php?tid=296)
Testing how long GEM Blades last? - bcshaves - 02-02-2021
So this is going to be a test of how many shaves I can get from a GEM blade compared to an unmentionable. So I will be testing this by keeping this as fair as I can. I have appointed Williams mug soap to lubricating duty. And following what the box says I will use Aqua Velva Ice Blue for after shave. I will also be using Nivea Shaving Balm. Brushes will be JR #82 and #365. Since this is the only forum I am a part of the unmentionable shaves will not be posted but pictures will be kept for counting at the end. I planed on shaving every day but I rather just use them for as long as I can without that constrain. So that means I will post my shaves when I do them as I do not shave every day. I would like for all of you to keep in mind a few things that does determine how many shaves you get. First how thick your beard is which in my case is not very thick and I do not shave my goatee are as I will be growing it over the year. If you have thicker beard than me expect to get less shaves I think. Another thing is that I will only be doing two pass shaves with one with the grain and then across the grain. I am only looking for shaves that are good enough for government work.
Anyways I hope some will join me on this test and maybe even a Williams month and Aqua Velva Ice Blue if you got it. I will do the first shave tomorrow or the day after. By the way for people joining me only GEM 1912 shaves count. Lets use February as 1912 appreciation month. And every month before and after since they are good shaving razors.
RE: Testing how long GEM Blades last? - Ordinaryshaver - 02-03-2021
Those are just the regular GEM PTFE stainless blades, right?
RE: Testing how long GEM Blades last? - bcshaves - 02-03-2021
(02-03-2021, 02:41 AM)Ordinaryshaver Wrote: Those are just the regular GEM PTFE stainless blades, right?
Correct. I forgot to add a picture of it on this thread. This is the blades:
RE: Testing how long GEM Blades last? - ShadowsDad - 02-03-2021
I beat you to it at least for me. There is the rare blade where I can get 30+ shaves. But I consistently get 20+. Once in a rare while I don't get 20 shaves, but that's extremely rare. Unmentionables? The best of the best give me 8 shaves and those brands are very few. The majority aren't worth using and I tested a lot of them. The difference between a GEM SS ptfe blade and an unmentionable when they get dull? The GEM just stops cutting efficiently. The unmentionable grabs the skin, bites, and draws blood.
God luck with your test! Let us know how you make out.
RE: Testing how long GEM Blades last? - bcshaves - 02-03-2021
(02-03-2021, 04:13 AM)ShadowsDad Wrote: I beat you to it at least for me. There is the rare blade where I can get 30+ shaves. But I consistently get 20+. Once in a rare while I don't get 20 shaves, but that's extremely rare. Unmentionables? The best of the best give me 8 shaves and those brands are very few. The majority aren't worth using and I tested a lot of them. The difference between a GEM SS ptfe blade and an unmentionable when they get dull? The GEM just stops cutting efficiently. The unmentionable grabs the skin, bites, and draws blood.
God luck with your test! Let us know how you make out.
Sure thingI I will be posting on this thread all my shaves. If I can get 30+ shaves out of a GEM blade I would save so much money in a year. 12 blades a year is cheap. The unmentionable is one of those two sided thingies that is adjustable and has slim handle but it is vintage so it has that going for it. I am playing with fire there talking about an unmentionable I hope I do not get banned. It was my favorite razor but my Schick injector took it's place recently. There is one blade I enjoy in that unmentionable which gets me at least 4 close shave but I need to try to push it to see how many I get from both. Do you want to join me in a GEM 1912, Williams, Aqua Velva Ice Blue month?
RE: Testing how long GEM Blades last? - HoosierTrooper - 02-03-2021
I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines but I learned a long time ago that I can't go a whole month just using one item. I primarily use carbon steel Gem Blue Star blades, which aren't known for their longevity, with the occasional SS blade thrown in, but you should be able to get through most of the month with just one blade.
RE: Testing how long GEM Blades last? - ShadowsDad - 02-03-2021
(02-03-2021, 05:08 AM)bcshaves Wrote: [quote pid="4426" dateline="1612325615"]
If I can get 30+ shaves out of a GEM blade I would save so much money in a year. 12 blades a year is cheap.<snip> Do you want to join me in a GEM 1912, Williams, Aqua Velva Ice Blue month?
[/quote]
I actually grew bored using one blade for so long and I changed it out of that boredom. I figured less than $.01 cent per shave blade cost was really inexpensive. If, like me when I don't have beard, you shave every few days, that can turn a handful of blades for a full year. But those shave were with a SS ptfe coated blade. I don't think you'll get that number with a CS blade. Too, as the blade lost it's edge I would put it into the most aggressive razors. The shave were still comfortable and the razor allowed longer use of it. Today I start it in a less aggressive razor for the first few shaves, then just put in in my ClogPruf, get my 20ish shaves and then can it.
I'm going to pass. I exclusively use my products today, plus I now have a beard due to these ridiculous covid masks. A beard gives me much less back pressure when I exhale. Along with a nose fitted mask my glasses don't fog. That works even when exercising and breathing heavily.
RE: Testing how long GEM Blades last? - bcshaves - 02-03-2021
(02-03-2021, 12:47 PM)HoosierTrooper Wrote: I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines but I learned a long time ago that I can't go a whole month just using one item. I primarily use carbon steel Gem Blue Star blades, which aren't known for their longevity, with the occasional SS blade thrown in, but you should be able to get through most of the month with just one blade.
I wanted to do this test while shaving every day but I thought about it and decided that I really do not need to. But if a blade gives me 30+ shaves then I am sure I could use it every day for a month. I could do shaving every day because strangely enough for the half of last month I was shaving every day just to see if I could. In terms of the blade I have heard that the SS blades start harsh but I have not had that experience probably because I have never used a Carbon Steel blade to compare.
(02-03-2021, 02:36 PM)ShadowsDad Wrote:(02-03-2021, 05:08 AM)bcshaves Wrote: [quote pid="4426" dateline="1612325615"]
If I can get 30+ shaves out of a GEM blade I would save so much money in a year. 12 blades a year is cheap.<snip> Do you want to join me in a GEM 1912, Williams, Aqua Velva Ice Blue month?
I actually grew bored using one blade for so long and I changed it out of that boredom. I figured less than $.01 cent per shave blade cost was really inexpensive. If, like me when I don't have beard, you shave every few days, that can turn a handful of blades for a full year. But those shave were with a SS ptfe coated blade. I don't think you'll get that number with a CS blade. Too, as the blade lost it's edge I would put it into the most aggressive razors. The shave were still comfortable and the razor allowed longer use of it. Today I start it in a less aggressive razor for the first few shaves, then just put in in my ClogPruf, get my 20ish shaves and then can it.
I'm going to pass. I exclusively use my products today, plus I now have a beard due to these ridiculous covid masks. A beard gives me much less back pressure when I exhale. Along with a nose fitted mask my glasses don't fog. That works even when exercising and breathing heavily.
[/quote]
Alright! How long have you had the beard so far?
RE: Testing how long GEM Blades last? - bcshaves - 02-03-2021
First shave with new blades and new to me razor. The only irritation I can see is from not shaving yesterday and having my face itch as well as irritation from a shave where I chased BBS. I always heard that the first shave is harsh from these blades but I did not get that. I could not take a picture but will post it today. So the shave was this: GEM 1912, GEM SS Personna Blade, Williams Mug Shaving soap, Jayaruh #365, Aqua Velva Ice Blue, and Nivea Shaving Balm. I think my technique was pretty good this shave. No pressure on the razor and what I think perfect angle is for a SE which is almost flat to the face. This was DFS for me.
RE: Testing how long GEM Blades last? - MrGuy - 02-03-2021
Good luck! I know it won’t help in this experiment, but I palm strop new blades a few times before first use and it really seems to work well to tame that first shave irritation. I don’t see any value of continuing to palm strop after that, so I don’t.