Tried the Schick Injector for the first time today...

Ken T M

Ken T M

Messages
323
..and almost tore my face off.

I think that, because it felt like a cartridge razor in weight, balance and form, I thought I could apply the same angle and pressure.

How wrong.

I shaved half of my face with it, the other half with my recently acquired classic flare tip, which I also struggled to find a good angle with, although I did only nick myself once with that. Surprisingly mild (had a Feather in it).
 
I have only the older preadjustable era ones. The only time that I had trouble with any of them was when I didn't have the top closed completely. If you've opened it to clean it; it's not as easy, I've found, to make sure it's really closed and in place. I 'Ve had to use a small flat head screw driver to do it. You might want to check.
 
It seems pretty secure to me - there's no play at all in the head, or in the blade. It is (I believe) an older model, although I'm not too well up on Injectors. It is in fairly knackered condition, and the blade might have warped (it had been sitting at the top of the injector for God knows how long before I used it yesterday).

Nonetheless, I think this was what ICT specialists would call a PEBCAK issue. I'm going to give it another chance, and a lot more respect.

I must add that I didn't find the flare tip particularly easy or comfortable to use either, despite not nicking myself or getting any rash, but that is perhaps because I have become used to a Merkur head, the Fisher Price of the shaving world.
 
These suckers are a sharp shave.
Contrary to popular advice I use a light touch with one if these.
Same in fact as using a DE.
The angle is different. So plenty of lather.
Try not to go over any areas without lather otherwise you will have tasty little rash.
Pre prep with an oil too that may help.
I used a Gillette blade in one of these and nicked myself but after I got some really close shaves.
Short light strokes I reckon.
Cheers
Tim
 
Slick said:
These suckers are a sharp shave.
Contrary to popular advice I use a light touch with one if these.
Same in fact as using a DE.
The angle is different. So plenty of lather.
Try not to go over any areas without lather otherwise you will have tasty little rash.
Pre prep with an oil too that may help.
I used a Gillette blade in one of these and nicked myself but after I got some really close shaves.
Short light strokes I reckon.
Cheers
Tim
Click to expand...

Thanks Tim, I will try that.

I was using long strokes, a good shave oil in prep, but shall try shorter strokes nesxt time.

It has struck me that I am using the injector blades that the previous owner threw in for free, which are K-Mart blades, so probably not the best. I have just ordered some Personnas from Connaught, which I shall use next time.
 
Slick said:
These suckers are a sharp shave.
Contrary to popular advice I use a light touch with one if these.
Same in fact as using a DE.
The angle is different. So plenty of lather.
Try not to go over any areas without lather otherwise you will have tasty little rash.
Pre prep with an oil too that may help.
I used a Gillette blade in one of these and nicked myself but after I got some really close shaves.
Short light strokes I reckon.
Cheers
Tim
Click to expand...

I find the angle of attack a bit confusing - should the handle be travelling almost parallel to my face?
 
Well ken Oxford.
The Schick I have sits about 45degrees away.
I just lay the flat plate against my face and that's it.
The injector I have is an adjustable from the 70's I think.
Ta
Tim
 
Hi Ken,

I'll make this quick as possible, but it'll be up to you for reading more about injectors from other forum posts. No idea what model you have, but I'd guess the blades aren't the problem here.

Injectors can be anywhere from extremely mild (adjustables) to quite aggressive (early E and G types). The later models starting in the 1950s are gonna all be preset to about the same #4 Gillette setting, which is on the fairly mild side.

Blades definitely do make a difference, but there's a little technique to be learned before they really matter much.

It'll take you maybe 4-5 shaves before the injector thingy starts becoming clear.

Once the right combo's found and technique's perfected, these little things can shave like crazy. It's not something you're gonna walk right into though.

Martin
 
I only recently discovered this myself. I dialled right down (if you have the option) and took it really slow.The angle came with practice (definitely got that and the pressure wrong for the first 2 or 3 shaves).
 
dodgy said:
Hi Ken,

I'll make this quick as possible, but it'll be up to you for reading more about injectors from other forum posts. No idea what model you have, but I'd guess the blades aren't the problem here.

Injectors can be anywhere from extremely mild (adjustables) to quite aggressive (early E and G types). The later models starting in the 1950s are gonna all be preset to about the same #4 Gillette setting, which is on the fairly mild side.

Blades definitely do make a difference, but there's a little technique to be learned before they really matter much.

It'll take you maybe 4-5 shaves before the injector thingy starts becoming clear.

Once the right combo's found and technique's perfected, these little things can shave like crazy. It's not something you're gonna walk right into though.

Martin
Click to expand...

Thanks Martin. Mine looks to be a type J (non Hydro-Magic), so one of the milder ones, then.

What advice would you offer with regard to technique? What's the appropriate angle for a single edge blade, given that they are thicker and thus presumably the edge is a bit steeper (greater 'wedge')? the same, less or more pressure than when using a DE (although less would probably not even take off the lather)?

Any hints and tips welcome!
 
Ken T M said:
[Thanks Martin. Mine looks to be a type J (non Hydro-Magic), so one of the milder ones, then.

What advice would you offer with regard to technique? What's the appropriate angle for a single edge blade, given that they are thicker and thus presumably the edge is a bit steeper (greater 'wedge')? the same, less or more pressure than when using a DE (although less would probably not even take off the lather)?

Any hints and tips welcome!
Click to expand...

Ok, the J type's one I really like and it'll be an easy injector to learn on. Man, you musta been doing something seriously wrong for that one to bite you as it did.

I gotta be sure and mention something about trying these things. If you've only recently started using a DE set up, this SE type of shaving is gonna make things harder to refine your DE technique. I'd think there's too much tweaking needed to handle both shaving systems at once right now. Maybe after a couple more months of using the DE might be the time for injectors. Either that, or skip the DE altogether for a while and figure out the injector. It'll be tough doing both at the same time.

Far as the angle goes, I'm not good at describing that sorta stuff. Just error on the side of caution and start with a shallower one than you might need. It'll come naturally after a short while.

There's a recent thread somewhere on injectors and that's where I'd look for a lot of your questions to be answered. Injectors have some stuff going on with em.

Martin
 
I first used a Schick Injector in the late 1970s when my mother got me one for my 18th birthday. I remember it was sharp, and they were being advertised on TV at the time.
 
Ken T M said:
dodgy said:
Hi Ken,

I'll make this quick as possible, but it'll be up to you for reading more about injectors from other forum posts. No idea what model you have, but I'd guess the blades aren't the problem here.

Injectors can be anywhere from extremely mild (adjustables) to quite aggressive (early E and G types). The later models starting in the 1950s are gonna all be preset to about the same #4 Gillette setting, which is on the fairly mild side.

Blades definitely do make a difference, but there's a little technique to be learned before they really matter much.

It'll take you maybe 4-5 shaves before the injector thingy starts becoming clear.

Once the right combo's found and technique's perfected, these little things can shave like crazy. It's not something you're gonna walk right into though.

Martin
Click to expand...

Thanks Martin. Mine looks to be a type J (non Hydro-Magic), so one of the milder ones, then.

What advice would you offer with regard to technique? What's the appropriate angle for a single edge blade, given that they are thicker and thus presumably the edge is a bit steeper (greater 'wedge')? the same, less or more pressure than when using a DE (although less would probably not even take off the lather)?

Any hints and tips welcome!
Click to expand...
Same as with the Gem SE's: head flat against the face and no pressure. Just let it glide over your face. The correct angle has been built in in SE's.
 
Used it again yesterday. Got the right angle I think, but it really was too mild. Hardly took anything off at all. Ended up having to do a full pass with the HD.

I think I'll be PIF'ing it (it's too beaten up to sell) - not that keen on the shave, the blades, or how it feels against my face.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom