The 'Fergiebilly' Shim

Hi Billy,
This is my second day of using a Gem junior Bar , using a shim with a Gem S/S blade. Whilst the shave felt aggressive even tuggy, for me the finish was poor,despite taking longer to shave than usual.

I thought perhaps down to new blade, but the experience today was similar. Near the end of the Shave, I removed the shim and immediately the razor became milder,and I finished off my shave. Tomorrow will do the whole shave without the Shim,and see how it goes.

I guess it might be the case of what suits one, does not always work for others.Will let you know how it goes on SOTD.
Regards Mike
 
Hi Mike
Yeah the razor does become more aggressive. and the shaving angle has to be spot on with the shiim or it will be a bit tuggy, and of course it's maybe not for every body as you say.......It took me more than a moment......The razors almost flat on the face with the Shim.....

Good to hear youre enjoying the G Bar Junior:icon_razz:
 
@Fergiebilly,
I carried out the modification today, and well....I doff my cap to you Sir, many thanks.
I wouldn't have thought it possible to improve upon the perfection in the 1912 but this most certainly does. Not entirely sure how it manages to become more aggressive whilst still maintaining the smoothness. The latter is why I have always been taken by the 1912.
I guess I'm just going to have to get some original blades and a stropper now!
 
@Fergiebilly,
I carried out the modification today, and well....I doff my cap to you Sir, many thanks.
I wouldn't have thought it possible to improve upon the perfection in the 1912 but this most certainly does. Not entirely sure how it manages to become more aggressive whilst still maintaining the smoothness. The latter is why I have always been taken by the 1912.
I guess I'm just going to have to get some original blades and a stropper now!
Glad you found the benefit..It just seats the blade to the correct Bevel Setting..The Original Stropping Blades are a Different Experience again because they haven't a Factory Multi - Faceted Edge..There are Issues with that as Well..The Stropping blades are Far Smoother anyway & if you find any Different its because they are Not Shave Ready..:)

Billy
 
Glad you found the benefit..It just seats the blade to the correct Bevel Setting..The Original Stropping Blades are a Different Experience again because they haven't a Factory Multi - Faceted Edge..There are Issues with that as Well..The Stropping blades are Far Smoother anyway & if you find any Different its because they are Not Shave Ready..:)

Billy

Kit wise, what blades and stropper should I be looking out for?
 
I tried this today with my Ever-Ready 1914 and it improved the shave ... don't have enough experience to tell you exactly how it did that but it was 'better".
Thanks
That's Great..:)

I think the sooner Folks use the Shim the more benefits they feel from it because they haven't been using SEs that Long & they haven't Burned in any expectations of the Razor..Moreover..Folks that have been using Older SEs without the Shim for a Sustained period of Time unwittingly Burn in a Shaving Angle that they are Comfortable with that Compensates for the blade being at the Wrong Angle in the First Place..:eek:

Because the Shim Changes the Angle of the Blade albeit Very Subtly it also Changes the Shaving Angle To more Flatter Against the Face..Folks that have been using them without the Shim for a Sustained Period of Time can get thrown by this & perhaps be Outside their Comfort Zone..Old Habits Die Hard..I am just going by the Large amount of Feedback that I have got and this has become very apparent through Peoples self Reports..;)

Oh..Yeah & I reckon the Shim makes a Huge difference to the 1914 in Particular..:D


Billy
 
Last edited:
Hi Billy,
There is a pass around box here in NZ and included is a GEM G-Bar that is rather aggressive to be polite ... ripped me a nice case of razor burn. Do you think the shim will help that razor too?
I might do a link to this thread for the guys in the hope of making SE razors more popular and spreading the word about this site.
 
Hi Billy,
There is a pass around box here in NZ and included is a GEM G-Bar that is rather aggressive to be polite ... ripped me a nice case of razor burn. Do you think the shim will help that razor too?
I might do a link to this thread for the guys in the hope of making SE razors more popular and spreading the word about this site.
The G Bar is Generally considered on the Milder side of the Spectrum & I would Concur with That..Its No Pussycat for Sure but it should be a Very Smooth Shaver because it was One of the Later SEs that were Designed to take a Modern Gem Blade thus it Doesn't Require a Shim..If its offering a Rough Aggressive Shave then there are other issues going such as Angle & stuff..The G Bar Shaves at a Different Angle to earlier SEs..It was designed to have an Angle more Like a DE..Not Quite but not that Far Away..Somewhere in between a DE & an Older SE..:)

Billy
 
Thanks Billy I'll give it another try it with your advice in mind. All the guys who have tried the G have had the same result so I guess we are all making the same mistake.
 
Thanks Billy I'll give it another try it with your advice in mind. All the guys who have tried the G have had the same result so I guess we are all making the same mistake.
There could be something wrong with it perhaps..That said all SEs especially the later Ones with the Exception of the OCMM & Clog Pruf shave at a Different Angle to Older SEs..You have to shave with every SE on its Own Merits..The are Not All Like for Like..It annoys me when Folks tell New Folks Flat Against the Face as if its Applicable to all SE s Cause it Sure Aint..:eek:

Put the G Bar Sorta Flat Against the Face & Drop the Handle till You Feel it Cutting..Its more Subtle than Older SEs..The Top Part of the Razor should be around 25 Degrees from the Face when it Cuts..:p

Billy
 
thanks again Billy I had better check it out before it kills again. I have had a 1912 and now have a 1914 and experienced no issues at all, I did try the open comb SE ... Micromatic? and that was nasty as well.
Just purchased a straight razor so it would seem that I'm a slow learner too !
 
thanks again Billy I had better check it out before it kills again. I have had a 1912 and now have a 1914 and experienced no issues at all, I did try the open comb SE ... Micromatic? and that was nasty as well.
Just purchased a straight razor so it would seem that I'm a slow learner too !
Well..Yeah the OCMM can be a Nasty SE..I never did take to it myself..:eek:

Billy
 
Back
Top Bottom