Your thoughts on OneBlade

grim, props to you for trying a GEM at least. May I offer a few suggestions as the things you are saying are pretty common with these blades compared to DE blades, & not just in the OneBlade either.

To understand where I'm going here you must first consider this; the Feather FHS-10 blades behave like a DE blade rather than an SE blade. They last about as long as their DE cousin does & they even feel like them in use. So I hypothesize then that the blade edges are made similarly.

The GEM blade is a different monster altogether. Trying to make one feel like the other is setting yourself up for disappointment. The GEM is a true SE blade while the Feather is merely a one-sided DE blade. The GEM therefore brings with it some very different shave characteristics, most noticeably more tactile feedback which requires you to either slow down and/or shorten your strokes. Taking long swooping strokes isn't the best idea when starting, especially for those with coarser & denser stubble like me. Short, quick buffing type strokes work amazingly well, especially ATG (think under the nose here for those who struggle in this area using a SE). If you don't slow down & shorten your strokes then you will very likely feel tugging & develop razor burn.

Finally, please give palm stropping (or other method of stropping) the blade a shot. In my experience it completely smooths out the blade for what otherwise could be 2-3 rough shaves.

SharpSpine , this is very useful info, thank you:

The GEM is a true SE blade while the Feather is merely a one-sided DE blade. The GEM therefore brings with it some very different shave characteristics, most noticeably more tactile feedback which requires you to either slow down and/or shorten your strokes.

If I may ask: You say that the Feather FHS is merely a one-sided DE blade. Isn't it thicker and more rigid than the DE? I use Feather Platinums in my DE razors, and I find the FHS much different. The GEMs that I have seem even thicker still.

In any event, I think your advice on the shorter strokes with the GEM blades makes good sense-if only I could get the courage to despine and use one

I'm pretty sure that I will come to believe that the GEM is best for me. I would encourage everyone to at least try the GEM. I don't have any concern about lack of stability with the Gem in the OneBlade.

I'm really repeating what I've learned from SharpSpine. Having said that, stropping the GEM is important.

SharpSpine , this is very useful info, thank you:

The GEM is a true SE blade while the Feather is merely a one-sided DE blade. The GEM therefore brings with it some very different shave characteristics, most noticeably more tactile feedback which requires you to either slow down and/or shorten your strokes.

If I may ask: You say that the Feather FHS is merely a one-sided DE blade. Isn't it thicker and more rigid than the DE? I use Feather Platinums in my DE razors, and I find the FHS much different. The GEMs that I have seem even thicker still.

In any event, I think your advice on the shorter strokes with the GEM blades makes good sense-if only I could get the courage to despine and use one

Physically, yes, the Feather SE blade is more SE like. I'm simply saying that it performs more like a DE blade. Perhaps it has more to do with how they set the bevel or how many facets it has. I'm not sure if Feather shares that information. I'm pretty sure that the GEM blade has 3 facets. I'm going off of memory here but I'm pretty sure that is accurate.

OK, thanks everyone for commenting.

This morning I gave the Gem another go. I did proper prep (Proraso pre-shave and hot towel). (I FORGET ALL ABOUT THE HAND STROPPING - its too early in the AM). It was better this time. No tugging, but I can tell the difference. I noticed more auditory (not tactile but auditory) feedback. It just didn't feel as sharp.The final result was a rougher shave. I can tell because the alum had hot spots. I then use Thayers Lemon witch hazel in the summer and this seems to lift and separate the whiskers and in certain spots I could feel it was not BBS. Certainly socially acceptable. Some aftershave later and I know its not as close a shave as the feather.

OK, I got more blades and will try again and REMEMBER to hand strop first and short strokes. Thank you

As promised, I did Round 1 of the ShaveDown - half my face shaved with a Feather 10 and the other half with a Gem.  Many things were so close that I’ll be doing this again switching sides.  Current thinking is that it will take at least four rounds to become really comfortable with my findings.

The Setup:

I used my OneBlade, a new Feather 10 and a new Gem de-spined.  I showered before shaving, washing my face thoroughly in preparation.

Shaving Soap:  Razorback XXX that is currently sold.  Note:  The scent is awesome.  Just the right amount.  Smells like a man more than anything else I have.

Brush:  Maggard Purple Haze

Pre-shave oil:  homemade, olive oil, mineral oil, lavender essential oil.

Scoring:  Scoring will be on a 1-10 scale

Overall Score: Feather 9 Gem 9

Preparation:  Feather 7 Gem 9

Many wouldn’t score this way.  The glue on the Feather gets on my last nerve.  Running it under hot water and wiping it doesn’t get all of it off.  

The Gem does require de-spining, which I find very easy.  Also, the Gem needs to be stropped.  I have no issue with either of these, though some may.

Smoothness, lack of drag, comfort, etc…. during shave:   Feather 10   Gem  10

They were so close I won’t be able to detect a difference until doing the same exercise while swapping which side of the face gets which blade.  It is possible that the Feather will come out 1/2 or 1 point better.

Shaving the sensitive areas, against the grain:  Feather 10   Gem 10

I have some areas on my face that are much more sensitive than others.  Normally, I don’t shave against the grain on the third pass.  Today I did.  Both blades performed admirably.

Closeness of shave:  Feather  10 Gem  9

I did get a slightly closer shave on the side using the Feather.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised as the Feather is generally considered the sharpest blade on the market.  Don’t get me wrong, I got pretty close to a BBS with each.   I also got one weeper on the side with the Feather.  It’s possible that I was pressing a little harder because the the shave may have been smoother with the Feather, but I won’t be able to make a definite call until I do more rounds of the shave off.

Summary

In summary, both blades are very, very good.  At this point, I expect the Gem to be my go to blade.  The glue on the Feathers gets on my last nerve.  Also, I like to shave twice a day, with the evening shave being a relaxing transition into the evening where I think about my day.  

I won’t be able to shave again this evening - there won’t be anything to shave, meaning that normally, the closer shave from the Feather won’t be a benefit.  If I would going out on the town, I would shave beforehand  with a Feather though.  I was thinking about selling my remaining Feather blades, though don’t expect to do that.

There is no doubt that the Gem blades are a better value for the money.  Having said that, let’s be honest with ourselves.  Nobody who will be reading this is into wet shaving to save money.  

I would definitely recommend that OneBlade owners try both blades, especially those with sensitive skin.  I would expect one or the other to be better for some.

As you all get to know me, you’ll se that I am old school and really prefer things from before WWII.  Having said that, I believe the OneBlade folks may have actually invented a better mouse trap, especially for those of us with sensitive skin.

Fantastic post, Pete123 thanks for doing that experiment.

I've got to agree with you on the glue on the Feather blades for the OneBlade. I use Feather Platinums in my DEs and there's much less glue on those.

I've written to OneBlade to let them know of the issue. They said that the glue wouldn't affect the performance of the razor, but I'm just not willing to put that much glue in that razor head,

I've also written to Feather, and haven't heard back.

Usually, grim's technique works-I take a thick terry washcloth (the blade is so sharp it pierces through the thinner ones-ask me how I know), wet it with hot water, and the glue usually comes off with a bit of coaxing.

SharpSpine thank you-that's a good insight that the Feather FHS performs more like a DE. I've got a bunch of GEM razors, and coated blades, and have yet to use either one. How would you compare the performance of the GEM blade in the OneBlade vs a Clog Pruf or a 1912?

Finally, Pete, I too love my old Gillettes and vintage gear, but the OneBlade may be the better mousetrap. I can get close, near BBS or BBS shaves with other razors and either a lot of attention (Mongoose or King Cobra) or multiple passes and lots of touch up with a DE (Wolfman, Timeless, Feather, Ikon Slant, Gillette Super Speed or Tech, etc.). If I go at it with ANY excess pressure with the Cobra or Goose or if I get carried away with touch up, buffing, J hooking, etc. with a DE, I'm prone to some razor burn from 'overblading' the face.

But with the OneBlade and minimum passes-2 and touchup-it delivers every single time without a hint of irritation. And I hate admitting that!

Tried it again today. Hand strop, short strokes. It works fine, the blades are just not as good as the Feathers. Useable, sure.

BTW, the glue? When I first saw that, it did look irritating but OneBlade or someone said just put a bit of lather on the blade before inserted. I tried that for awhile and its too much work, so I just stick the blade in without doing anything. Works fine. Sure, the razor can look a bit gunky but every once in a while just put it in a cup of simple green for a bit and its spotless.

A quick note on stropping. I've been saying hand strop. I noticed SharpSpine saying hand strop or a different way of stropping. I'm going to move to a different method that using my hand as I've realized that I'm getting little cuts on my hand.

A quick note on stropping.  I've been saying hand strop.  I noticed SharpSpine saying hand strop or a different way of stropping.  I'm going to move to a different method that using my hand as I've realized that I'm getting little cuts on my hand.

Pete, honestly, if you are hand stropping (aka palm stropping) and getting little cuts then I don't think you have the angle of the blade right.  Whether correct or not, I palm strop my blades (both DE and SE) every time I shave and I have never cut or nicked myself.  Obviously, caution should always be used but if all you are getting are little cuts then I have to wonder why.  Perhaps SharpSpine or others will chime in.