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

That last photo made me shudder - and I am a person who shaved for years with a straight !
Wuss. The blade was safely secured by the screw. Not only do you get an adjustable, you get a slant as well. :p
I don't even have a plaster on my finger... anymore... I did cut myself taking those pictures...
 
Day 3 - Shave 2
  • Wickham 1912 Irish Fern
  • MÜHLE 25mm synthetic brush
  • Rocnel SE-G
  • GEM blade (2)
  • Alum block
  • Sir Irisch Mood ASL
  • Sir Irisch Moos EdT

I didn't need a shave yesterday. The first shave with the Rocnel was that good.
Today's shave didn't seem quite as good as the last one. The blade didn't feel as smooth as I expected. I have changed blades several times playing with the razor in the last two days and maybe the blade suffered a bit in the process. I didn't have a terrible shave, it just wasn't as terrific as the first one. I'll use a fresh blade tomorrow and see how it goes.
On a positive note, I was able to use Wickham 1912 and match it with Sir Irisch Moos. I love the stuff, but SWMBO hates the scent, so it's a rare treat.
To make up for this shortish review, here are two more pictures of the Rocnel:

IMG_0940.jpg

IMG_0947.jpg

To be continued…
 
Day 4 - Shave 3
  • Tabac Original soap
  • MÜHLE 25mm synthetic brush
  • Rocnel SE-G
  • GEM blade (1)
  • Alum block
  • Cella Colonia Classica

I'm getting mixed signals from this razor. Today I put a fresh GEM blade in and although I inserted it from the "easy" side, it was a slight struggle. It is a clever way to insert a blade, but I find it too fiddly. Any of the vintage shovel head SE razors is so much easier to load and the way you load a 1912 and the spring at the back pushes the blade against the blade stops.... genius.
The lack of blade stops in the Rocnel bothers me. I inserted the blade best I could and it looked OK, but it felt markedly more aggressive than on my first shave. I can't be certain that the blade exposure is the same every time you insert a blade.
I had a very close shave, but also a minor blood bath on my lower neck - well... just a few weepers to be honest, but I'm not used to that from a GEM blade in, say, a 1912.
My initial enthusiasm has faded a bit. I need to compare the Rocnel side by side with my 1912 and maybe try a Treet carbon blade.
(No pictures today)
To be continued…
 
If any spaces left (not yet 20 taken so should be ok), can I please be added to the queue?
Sure.. two more spaces left now...
  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. shevsky (TSR)
  19. You?
The list is open.
Legend: Waiting, Currently with, Completed
 
My initial enthusiasm has faded a bit. I need to compare the Rocnel side by side with my 1912 and maybe try a Treet carbon blade.
(No pictures today)
To be continued…

When you say a Tree carbon Blade....are you referring to the Durasharp....or is this a blade I am not familiar with?
 
Day 5 - Shave 4
  • Calani Iberische Sonne soap
  • MÜHLE 25mm synthetic brush
  • Rocnel SE-G
  • Ever-Ready 1912 with 96mm stainless steel handle
  • GEM blade (2)
  • Alum block
  • 4711 Portugal ASL
  • 4711 Portugal EdC

The plan:

Use the same GEM blade in the Rocnel and the 1912 on alternating passes.

Reality:

Excellent lather with a lovely orange grove scent. The GEM blade on its second outing in the Rocnel felt rather aggressive again. Is there something wrong with the blade or is it the blade exposure?
After the first pass I tried to remove the blade from the Rocnel, making sure that I have dry hands, but the razor is fighting back. I found it very difficult to move the blade at all. After a long struggle, whacking the blade on the side of the spine and finally using some small pliers the Rocnel finally let go of the blade. I like the blade change malarkey less and less.
I put the blade in my trusty 1912, expecting the worst. Sharp, yet smooth as butter - exactly the type of shave I'm used to from a 1912 with a GEM blade. The second pass was pure joy. Nothing at all wrong with that blade.
For the third pass I took the blade out of the 1912 and tried to put it back into the Rocnel. The blade went in halfway, then it became a struggle again. I had enough, pulled the blade out of the Rocnel, put it back into the 1912 and finished my shave without so much as looking at the Rocnel.
Third and fourth pass were wonderful.
So far, I have used my own GEM blades. I'll try one of those @Paul has included in the pass around. Maybe they are a fraction of a millimetre thinner and actually work properly with this razor. Mine are from Connaught as well, though.
Right now, I don't care anymore how wonderful the first shave with the Rocnel was. Changing the blade is a pain in the derriere and completely spoils the fun for me.
I shall persevere though.
To be continued…
 
I have tried another blade from the same batch and it worked just fine... even from the other side of the head...
It really seems to depend on the individual thickness of the spine of each blade... The Rocnel needs a slightly wider slot... (or a lot wider if you want to try an old stropping blade)
 
I have tried another blade from the same batch and it worked just fine... even from the other side of the head...
It really seems to depend on the individual thickness of the spine of each blade... The Rocnel needs a slightly wider slot... (or a lot wider if you want to try an old stropping blade)
Pretty much what I've found with my own Rocnel and various boxes of blades. PITA.

Sent from my Redmi Note 3 using Tapatalk
 
This is really bad if the Rocnel is your only razor taking GEM blades. Now I know, any blade that doesn't fit perfectly will be used in my 1912. They need to fix this, though..
I have many others, my favourite being Natural Angle. I'll just keep using blades in those, but it's not too good if the blade manufacturing tolerances are so wide that they won't always fit this precision head. Clearly the "slide in slot" unitary head design won't work consistently with these blades, and I guess the ATT/Blackbird etc. traditional "blade sandwich" relying on the slot and notches to hold it will win over.

That said, this thing is a great razor if the fooling around with the blade is out of consideration.

Sent from my Redmi Note 3 using Tapatalk
 
I have many others, my favourite being Natural Angle. I'll just keep using blades in those, but it's not too good if the blade manufacturing tolerances are so wide that they won't always fit this precision head. Clearly the "slide in slot" unitary head design won't work consistently with these blades, and I guess the ATT/Blackbird etc. traditional "blade sandwich" relying on the slot and notches to hold it will win over.

That said, this thing is a great razor if the fooling around with the blade is out of consideration.
The slot for the spine needs to be 0.1mm wider. That's all, as far as I can tell. 1mm wider if you want to accommodate vintage blades.
The set screw would still work just fine. The blades were here first. The razor needs to be designed to deal with them.
 
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