Gem SS PFTE Blades - On Average, How Many Shaves?

[Old Sarge]

Since posting to this thread I’ve picked up several more GEM razors and have tested them out using the same blade. I got about five shaves in and I was having trouble getting a close shave. My last use was in a Shovelhead where I did the first WTG pass that barely removed any stubble. I also had a new to me G-bar so I put a new blade in it and finished the shave. I was pretty wary considering how badly my first go with a new blade was but this time it was fine. I had a decent but not great shave, probably because I was being a chicken.

So I guess my point is that I didn’t get as many shaves as I expected but I’m guessing at least part of the reason is that I was loading the blade into numerous unfamiliar razors and almost certainly dragged the edge.

Hey, Eric! 

Sounds like your technique is improving if you switched to the G-bar with a new blade and got a decent result! 

I've only been shaving with SE razors for about two months. I found that at some point things just clicked and got easier. In the beginning my strokes were short, tentative and I found myself choking up on the handle of the razor. I was even using unmentionables to shave my chin and mustache. Now my strokes feel smoother and I'm more sure of myself. Your confidence will come as you technique improves. Then be careful not to relax too much, or you can get bit...speaking from experience here!   

I've watched a lot of YouTube videos by Dave in KY, Shaving with Fuzzy/wchnu and Jayaruh/Jim Roe. I believe watching their technique has helped mine. There are little things you can pick up from each of them. Fuzzy always talks about Pressure and Angle, he says it like a Buddhist Monk chanting. I attribute getting the correct pressure (as little as possible) to my improved shaving.

I'm two shaves into my fourth Gem SS PTFE blade. I got 10/8/10 shaves on the first three blades. The number of shaves you get can also depend on the number of passes you make.

How often do you shave? I used to only shave every third day or so, to allow my face time to recover. Now I'm shaving every day, with today being my 46th consecutive daily shave. I think this has helped, as it forces me to not chase the perfect shave and risk irritation that will make the next day's shave even tougher. GAW9576 told me a bit back that Twelvefret had a saying that today's shave is the foundation for tomorrow's shave...or something like this. Truer words were never spoken!

Sorry for the long post, but I'm excited that there is another new guy traveling down this road with me!