Closed Pass Around: Rocnel SE-G (GEM/FHS blade) razor - Finished

Less than a handful places left on the list...
  1. sɐǝɹpu∀ / riverrun (ATG/TSR)
  2. Looney12345 (ATG/TSR)
  3. Mikey J (ATG)
  4. Mr_Smartepants (ATG/TSR)
  5. Mr Bigmem (ATG/TSR)
  6. p.b (ATG/TSR)
  7. Barry Giddens (TSR)
  8. Blademonkey (TSR)
  9. Luckypip (TSR)
  10. MPH (ATG/TSR)
  11. dadant / antdad (ATG/TSR)
  12. Bizzyberry (ATG/TSR)
  13. AndyMc133 (TSR)
  14. Rowlers (ATG/TSR)
  15. The Geordie Shaver (TSR)
  16. Glenn_Lee (TSR)
  17. You?
The list is open.
Legend: Waiting, Currently with, Completed
 
As I am just back after a lapse of a few years...I will probably give this fantastic offer a miss for now. I will however be very interested in the reviews.All shaving expenditure has now been frozen until I see hows this one pans out!
 
The razor is with me now. That was quick. Thanks, @Paul.
First impressions later. Pictures possibly tomorrow.
  1. sɐǝɹpu∀ / riverrun (ATG/TSR)
  2. Looney12345 (ATG/TSR)
  3. Mikey J (ATG)
  4. Mr_Smartepants (ATG/TSR)
  5. Mr Bigmem (ATG/TSR)
  6. p.b (ATG/TSR)
  7. Barry Giddens (TSR)
  8. Blademonkey (TSR)
  9. Luckypip (TSR)
  10. MPH (ATG/TSR)
  11. dadant / antdad (ATG/TSR)
  12. Bizzyberry (ATG/TSR)
  13. AndyMc133 (TSR)
  14. Rowlers (ATG/TSR)
  15. The Geordie Shaver (TSR)
  16. Glenn_Lee (TSR)
  17. Wayne (ATG)
  18. You?
The list is open.
Legend: Waiting, Currently with, Completed
 
Day 1 - First impressions

Packaging
The razor comes in a sturdy, brown cardboard box containing a piece of rustic, rough cloth, the razor and a little cardboard note with a red seal on it. Nothing over the top - just the way I like it.

The razor
The packaging tells me, that the razor is made from '316 Stainless Steel', it is however coated in black. There was a GEM blade in the head. Having seen the video on how to change blades (see my first post) I quickly removed the blade. The razor consists of three parts: The head (it's one single piece), a set screw (or grub screw) and the handle.
I got my measuring tools out and determined the vital statistics:
  • The complete razor is 92mm long and weighs 98.7g
  • The handle is 75mm long and weighs 72.0g
  • The head (with the screw) weighs the remaining 26.7g
  • The grub screw is an M5x0.8 screw and 20mm long.

The looks
This will be a Marmite razor. In my eyes it looks refreshingly different from 99% of what is out there. I like it. The guys at Rocnel are very good at thinking outside the box- with mixed results - but here they have succeeded. They also have the annoying habit of inscribing their heads with a lot of text. This time most of the engraving is black on black on the underside of the head and doesn't bother me at all. The handle has good knurling. It could possibly be a bit longer for my taste, but I'll see how it will work for me. The finish looks perfectly alright to me, but I'm easily pleased, especially without reading glasses.

Changing the blade
I'll be quite unfair and compare this razor with one of my absolute favourites - a humble British made Ever-Ready 1912. To change the blade in the 1912 you flip the head open, take the blade out, put a new one in, flip the head closed. I've tried this and it took me 6 seconds to do this.
To change the blade of the Rocnel you unscrew the handle, loosen the grub screw, slide the blade out of the head, slide a new blade in, tighten the grub screw and screw the handle back on. With the blade that was in the razor already, this process took me 25 seconds.
As I don't know where the blade in the head has been, I decided to put a fresh GEM blade of my own into the head. This is where the problems started. I assume that the slot for the spine of the GEM blade is not wider than absolutely necessary. To the best of my measuring capabilities the spine of my own GEM blade is 0.03mm thicker than that of the blade that was already in the razor. This makes all the difference. It took me at least two minutes to wiggle the blade into the head, needing to tap it from the side occasionally (yes - I did loosen the grub screw). Forget about using an old stropping blade in this razor - their spines are twice as thick. I'm writing this pre-first-shave, so I'm hoping that I didn't damage the blade edge in the process. I might have to de-spine the next blade I use in this razor. There is absolutely no reason why the slot for the spine couldn't be wider, as the blade is held in place by the grub screw, not by a tight fit (otherwise Feather FHS blades wouldn't work). From a £200+ razor I expect better.

So far my first impressions. I'll have a shave with the Rocnel now, but a shave report will have to wait until I return from shopping duties.

To be continued…
 
I have been advised by Rocnel that one side is best for loading as the head is asymmetric. However I tried two razors & found the blade loads the same from either side. Rocnel will make a new video about this shortly.
 
I have been advised by Rocnel that one side is best for loading as the head is asymmetric. However I tried two razors & found the blade loads the same from either side. Rocnel will make a new video about this shortly.
Ah!
... rushes off to the bathroom...
... rushes back from the bathroom...

Well, I never! You're absolutely right! Easy from one side, difficult from the other. It doesn't look asymmetric, but it obviously is...
 
If you want to try the FHS blades I would strongly recommend using a spine from a GEM blade. It is a bit awkward to fit in as you have to bend the spine to fit the FHS. Which means you have to pinch the spine as you slide it in.

I do not feel the FHS blade is secure enough without a spine.
 
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Which side, I honestly can't tell?
When you look at the front of the razor, it's easier to slide the blade in from the left hand side. The blade that was already in there goes in both ways, my own is much easier from the left and the difference in spine thickness is only 0.03mm if my digital caliper is any good (it's from Aldi :D)
 
Day 1 - Shave #1

  • Truefitt & Hill No. 10 shaving cream
  • MÜHLE 35K256 25mm synthetic brush
  • Rocnel SE-G
  • GEM stainless (1)
  • Alum block
  • Cella Colonia Classica

Truefitt & Hill No. 10 is good stuff, but too expensive for what it is. Luckily, my local Waitrose had it on the shelf for ages, but without a price label in front of it. Without knowing the price, nobody bought any, then they put it in a bargain basket for £4 a tub. I do love a good bargain.
The only thing I don't like about the MÜHLE brush is the colour of the handle, but I bought it as a bargain when Connaught got rid of MÜHLE products and the faux ivory was no longer available. Here's how much I have loved the MÜHLE brush this year: I've used it 112 times so far. All other brushes combined - 14 times.
But you're obviously not interested in all that, you want to hear about the Rocnel SE-G.
The same procedure as always: Four passes WTG↓XTG→GTX←ATG↑.
The first thing I noticed is that the little fellow is quite heavy for its size. It's slightly heavier than my 1912 with a 96mm stainless steel handle, but much shorter. This gives it a different balance to what I'm used to, but I don't think that's a problem for me.
The shaving angle should be easy to find for anyone who has used GEM blade SE razors before. Pretty much flat on the face and you can't go wrong.
One thing that sets this razor apart from vintage razors is the audible feedback. You can hear the blade shaving the stubble, but there is no "buttering toast" sound that many people like in vintage SE razors, but that is merely blade chatter because the blade is not held as firmly as an old stropping blade. I'm happy to report that the Rocnel holds the blade firmly without any vibrations.
During the shave the razor felt very 'assertive'. Maybe I should use the term agressive, but that sounds too dangerous. I could feel the blade and could feel that it was doing its job, but it fely very smooth at the same time. Not once did I think I would nick myself, and I didn't.
The razor is quite manoeuvrable. I had no issues shaving close to the nose or in any other tricky areas.
After the compulsory four passes, the alum block gave medium feedback, more than I'm used to from a 1912, less than, say, an R41.
Now for the important bit - the end result: smooth all over, without effort, no additional clean-up required. Pretty much perfect. I'm very impressed. And it is a long lasting result as well. It's now six hours since the shave and my face still feels pretty smooth. Based on this one shave I think I can already say that the Rocnel SE-G is up there with the best.
This is also the first time in months I've used Cella Colonia Classics. It's now officially summer and SWMBO complimented me on the nice scent. Quite a good shave all in all.
To be continued…
 
Day 2 - Obligatory Thames Barrier photo shoot

The first images were taken with a Feather FAS carbon blade in the razor, because it's black.


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When you look at the front of the razor, it's easier to slide the blade in from the left hand side. The blade that was already in there goes in both ways, my own is much easier from the left and the difference in spine thickness is only 0.03mm if my digital caliper is any good (it's from Aldi :D)
It's the same side used in the Rocnel video:
He slides it in from the right, looking at the back of the razor - that's left if you look from the front.
 
A thought or two on Feather blades in the Rocnel

I have inserted a Feather blade (FAS, not FHS) into the head for my photo shoot. I found it very easy to get the blade fixed into position by tightening the screw. But I'm not comfortable with blade alignment. The Rocnel doesn't have blade stops and aligning the cutting edge of the Feather blade (which is lacking a spine and therefore narrower than a GEM) with the front of the razor is mere guesswork, even if you manage to get it straight. This makes the razor "adjustable" - in a bad way:
RocnelFeatherBlade.jpg

I could put a GEM spine on a Feather blade, but I won't. I can't stand those Feather blades. They barely last for a single shave and I will only use them in a Valet Autostrop, for the simple reason that there is no alternative.
I think I'd rather try a carbon Treet blade in the Rocnel, given that I still have two left.
 
A thought or two on Feather blades in the Rocnel

I have inserted a Feather blade (FAS, not FHS) into the head for my photo shoot. I found it very easy to get the blade fixed into position by tightening the screw. But I'm not comfortable with blade alignment. The Rocnel doesn't have blade stops and aligning the cutting edge of the Feather blade (which is lacking a spine and therefore narrower than a GEM) with the front of the razor is mere guesswork, even if you manage to get it straight. This makes the razor "adjustable" - in a bad way:
RocnelFeatherBlade.jpg

I could put a GEM spine on a Feather blade, but I won't. I can't stand those Feather blades. They barely last for a single shave and I will only use them in a Valet Autostrop, for the simple reason that there is no alternative.
I think I'd rather try a carbon Treet blade in the Rocnel, given that I still have two left.
That last photo made me shudder - and I am a person who shaved for years with a straight !
 
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