Weck Gem Pass Around

I want to thank everybody who is participating in this pass around. Yes this style of Gem razor has some issues and the lightweight plastic construction doesn't help. Regarding shaving technique and how to use this razor properly its kind of "on the fly" . Yes shaving most areas with the head flat against your face works the best.  I have found going across the grain under the nose works fantastic although you have to repeat yourself to get BBS.  This razor can be printed in various metals such as aluminum and copper. Aluminum with shipping runs about $200 and copper about $500. You still have to attach the handle to the head which might not be easy.  One other note these print shops don't make their living printing razors. Shapeways for instance prints over 28 thousand items everyday and I doubt if any of them are razors.

I want to thank everybody who is participating in this pass around. Yes this style of Gem razor has some issues and the lightweight plastic construction doesn't help. Regarding shaving technique and how to use this razor properly its kind of "on the fly" . Yes shaving most areas with the head flat against your face works the best.  I have found going across the grain under the nose works fantastic although you have to repeat yourself to get BBS.  This razor can be printed in various metals such as aluminum and copper. Aluminum with shipping runs about $200 and copper about $500. You still have to attach the handle to the head which might not be easy.  One other note these print shops don't make their living printing razors. Shapeways for instance prints over 28 thousand items everyday and I doubt if any of them are razors.

I am glad you posted that slantman, partly because the pricing information provides relevant and important perspective.

I should also mention that the razor is on its way to gvw755.

Well, after 10 days  of disappearing in VA, the Mars Rover decided to send the diverted package back to Earth and I received it today. Dave's repair is still holding up and is barely visible and so that was a good thing. I also happen to receive my Elite Razors 28mm Manchurian White Fan mounted in Madagascar Rosewood brush that I got on BST today (that took only a week to get to me from CA).

So tonight, I decided to try out both at the same time:



I went with a dark theme tonight because of the dark brown brush handle and the Weck Gem colors. I decided to use my A&E Cannabis Santal soap just to put a nice base scent on my new brush.

Tonight I loaded the Weck Gem with a carbon steel blade only because they seem to work better in the 3D printed razors. Wednesday, I will us a stainless steel blade. This razor was significantly better than the EndGem that was passed around earlier. Of course the EndGem was a one dot head, but still, the Weck Gem seemed to secure the blade better by getting rid of the lather catcher feature. Getting the cap lying flat against your face was very easy for most spots with the exception of going WTG under your nose, however ATG and XTG was easy enough in that area. The razor shaved very smooth and efficient and I could have gotten away with a two pass plus touch up BBS, but did a full XTG pass only because I had a lot of soap left on an excellent brush.

Tomorrow is slant night and so my next shave with the Weck Gem will be Wednesday, although I might move that up to tomorrow because it was such an impressive shave.

Well, after 10 days  of disappearing in VA, the Mars Rover decided to send the diverted package back to Earth and I received it today. Dave's repair is still holding up and is barely visible and so that was a good thing. I also happen to receive my Elite Razors 28mm Manchurian White Fan mounted in Madagascar Rosewood brush that I got on BST today (that took only a week to get to me from CA).

So tonight, I decided to try out both at the same time:



I went with a dark theme tonight because of the dark brown brush handle and the Weck Gem colors. I decided to use my A&E Cannabis Santal soap just to put a nice base scent on my new brush.

Tonight I loaded the Weck Gem with a carbon steel blade only because they seem to work better in the 3D printed razors. Wednesday, I will us a stainless steel blade. This razor was significantly better than the EndGem that was passed around earlier. Of course the EndGem was a one dot head, but still, the Weck Gem seemed to secure the blade better by getting rid of the lather catcher feature. Getting the cap lying flat against your face was very easy for most spots with the exception of going WTG under your nose, however ATG and XTG was easy enough in that area. The razor shaved very smooth and efficient and I could have gotten away with a two pass plus touch up BBS, but did a full XTG pass only because I had a lot of soap left on an excellent brush.

Tomorrow is slant night and so my next shave with the Weck Gem will be Wednesday, although I might move that up to tomorrow because it was such an impressive shave.

Nice stuff Les

Well, after 10 days  of disappearing in VA, the Mars Rover decided to send the diverted package back to Earth and I received it today. Dave's repair is still holding up and is barely visible and so that was a good thing. I also happen to receive my Elite Razors 28mm Manchurian White Fan mounted in Madagascar Rosewood brush that I got on BST today (that took only a week to get to me from CA).

So tonight, I decided to try out both at the same time:



I went with a dark theme tonight because of the dark brown brush handle and the Weck Gem colors. I decided to use my A&E Cannabis Santal soap just to put a nice base scent on my new brush.

Tonight I loaded the Weck Gem with a carbon steel blade only because they seem to work better in the 3D printed razors. Wednesday, I will us a stainless steel blade. This razor was significantly better than the EndGem that was passed around earlier. Of course the EndGem was a one dot head, but still, the Weck Gem seemed to secure the blade better by getting rid of the lather catcher feature. Getting the cap lying flat against your face was very easy for most spots with the exception of going WTG under your nose, however ATG and XTG was easy enough in that area. The razor shaved very smooth and efficient and I could have gotten away with a two pass plus touch up BBS, but did a full XTG pass only because I had a lot of soap left on an excellent brush.

Tomorrow is slant night and so my next shave with the Weck Gem will be Wednesday, although I might move that up to tomorrow because it was such an impressive shave.

Very nice writeup Les. Looks like you scored a mighty fine brush too.

Very happy you got the razor Mike and first shave was a success. FYI I just order an AC Printed razor from Shapeways that was created by [font=Roboto, sans-serif]Roger Quintero.  This system of holding the AC blade is different from the Gem style razors as its two piece. The blade slides in the head and slightly tightened by the handle that is screwed into the head. I should have the razor in about a month.[/font]

Tonight I decided to put off my slant razor night and finish off my time with the WeckGem. I loaded a PTFE stainless steel blade. I immediately noticed that the shave was more comfortable. Tonight, I was more experienced with the razor shape and so shaving under my nose area went well even WTG. I was also able to finish two passes without any problem. What I noticed after two passes however was that the shave was not as close as last night's shave. I guess even though the stiffness of the carbon blade produced a slightly stiffer shave, it also produced a more efficient one.

Tomorrow night, I will pull out my TNNSER and do a shave off with the TNNSER getting the PTFE and the WeckGem getting the carbon steel blade.

After two nights of getting familiar with the WeckGem, I decided to have a shave off with my original 3D printed Gem - the TNNSER 3D.

For tonight's shave I decided to load the carbon steel blade in the WeckGem and let it shave the left side of my face. If this sounds like I am giving the WeckGem two advantages in this shave off, I actually was and it was only because I shaved enough with the TNNSER to know all it's advantages and quirks.



The WeckGem started off with a WTG pass on the left side of my face. Immediately the razor shaved very smoothly and cleared most of the stubble efficiently. The TNNSER followed with a WTG pass on the right side of my face. It was also very efficient, however the blade did make some noise. Clearly the TNNSER also preferred a carbon steel blade. In comparing both razors, the TNNSER felt like I was operating a truck versus driving a nimble sports car with the WeckGem.

ATG pass went well with both razors, however both left just enough stubble to require a XTG pass along my jawline and under my chin (which is normal for me except with the best razors. When rating the closeness of the shaves between both sides, the WeckGem won by the slightest of margins, however both sides left me with a two and a half pass BBS.

When comparing razors, the WeckGem definitely had the advantage in blade loading, although the blade was too easy to unload from the razor making me think that maybe it might happen during the shave. The WeckGem also was way ahead in size, handling, and maneuverability. I know SlimGem has been following this thread, and so I will say that this WeckGem is a great design and definite improvement over the earlier EndGem.

I also want to thank slantman for allowing the rest of us to preview this WeckGem.

The razor is being packed up now and will be sent back either tomorrow or Friday hopefully by regular mail and not via Mars Rover.

The Weck printed razor has been returned to me by Les. Thank you