Question about Gem blades

Hey all you single edge strokers out there! I need help. I bought an immaculate OC Gem Micromatic on my last trip across the country and need some advice on blades. My first pack was purchased at a drug store and I believe these are Gem carbon as they discolor almost immediately. They do an ok job but are a tad tuggy. Next up was a whole box of the Ted Pella Gem PTFE coated stainless. They will shave but pull like a totally worn out DE blade. (Not comfortable at all). So what's the deal here? Have I just gotten unlucky in my blade purchases? Seems these two blades have a strong following amongst single edge users. My beard prep is the same as when I DE or Straight shave. The angle on the gem seems pretty straight forward but I have monkeyed about with that too. I've tried palm stropping, towel stropping, denim stropping, and no stropping and see little change. I want to like this razor but I've ether got to step up my game or find a much sharper blade. The way it chatters now is going to leave me permanently mangled if I keep this up. HELP!

Personally, I would blame that on the razor. I have tried many vintage GEMs and the MMOC is the only one that I just could not use. I don't remember it being tuggy, but the irritation it inflicted in my face was intolerable. I know many people can get great shaves from it, but it just did not work for me. Also, I didn't purchase my PTFE blades from Ted Pella. I got them from Connaught Shaving. I wonder if they are the same blades. Any chance you could post a picture of the box? Mine are these:
http://connaughtshaving.com/gemss.html

These are them good sir

For angle, a GEM razor should be used with the head flat on your face. Really ride the cap. There are three basic variations of GEM shaving blades, the carbon steel that are usually very sharp but have a short life, the regular Stainless Steel and the PTFE coated stainless steel.

The first thing to check on your new razor is that the blade is really secure; is it against the blade stops (are they even there) and held firmly in place so that the edge does not chatter? Is the blade sitting fully on the positioning posts? Is the cap closing uniformly and even across the blade?

Personally, I would blame that on the razor. I have tried many vintage GEMs and the MMOC is the only one that I just could not use. I don't remember it being tuggy, but the irritation it inflicted in my face was intolerable. I know many people can get great shaves from it, but it just did not work for me. Also, I didn't purchase my PTFE blades from Ted Pella. I got them from Connaught Shaving. I wonder if they are the same blades. Any chance you could post a picture of the box? Mine are these:
http://connaughtshaving.com/gemss.html

For angle, a GEM razor should be used with the head flat on your face.  Really ride the cap. There are three basic variations of GEM shaving blades, the carbon steel that are usually very sharp but have a short life, the regular Stainless Steel and the PTFE coated stainless steel.

The first thing to check on your new razor is that the blade is really secure; is it against the blade stops (are they even there) and held firmly in place so that the edge does not chatter? Is the blade sitting fully on the positioning posts?  Is the cap closing uniformly and even across the blade?

Thanks for your help. WyzeOne: I posted pics of my blades including the reorder number folks say are indicative of th "shaving" variety regardless of "industrial use" statement. I wonder....

Jar: razor really is immaculate. Blade stops are present. Blade hugs positioning posts like they were made for each other?. Blade exposure looks even and cap seems to hug the blade perfectly. I can see or sense no blade movement at all.

Those are the correct blades. They are Personna GEM PTFE Stainless blades. One thing to note about GEM blades is that they often become smoother after a few shaves. If you've gone several shaves on the same blade with both Blue Stars and the PTFE SS and still hate them then GEM blades just might not be a good fit for you. No sense in torturing yourself to enjoy something that isn't working out.

I don't think the GEMs he purchased are the same one's that are really popular, the PTFE Coated Personna Gems. The reorder number on mine is 62-0178. Looks like he has the 62-0165. wyze0ne hit the nail on the head with him post about getting some from Connaught.

I palm strop the GEMs before first use and find them to be nice.

Based on personal experience, I would suggest reviewing your beard prep. When the weather is hot, taking a shower doesn't prep my whiskers, I have to hold a hot, moist wash cloth over my face after the shower to soften the whiskers enough for a really smooth shave.

Check the box for an edge thickness. GEM shaving blades have a thickness of 0.09mm and "scraper" blades have a thickness of 0.10mm. It may not seem a lot but it really makes a HUGE difference in edge feel and durability.

An industrial scraper blade being thicker would probably feel extremely tuggy instead of cutting clean through. A shaving blade would dull extremely quickly if used to scrape even light acrylic paint off glass. I know because I have an old PTFE blade I use to clean my glass practice plate for airbrush painting...


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Ted Pella only carries (and Personna GEM only produces) one coated stainless GEM blade. They are three-faceted and the correct blade for shaving. I can't speak to the reorder number discrepancy.

Thanks so much Gents. I'll get a few other blades gathered up and see if perhaps SE is or is not for me. Worst case scenario is I won't run out of box cutter blades any time soon. Just picked up some treet blades. Perhaps that'll be the ticket. I also like the plan of putting a couple more shaves on a blade to see if they smooth out. I wish the root of my issue was that I am so manly that my razor is made by stihl but alas, that is not the issue.