System for both sides of a DE blade?

[dszpiro]

I have read several posts here discussing shaving with a DE razor and DE blades, but I don't recall any advice on switching between the two edges of a DE blade.

I suppose one could switch between sides during a single shave (e.g., one half of the face with one side, one half with the other). Alternatively, you could switch between edges on different days. What's your technique?

Thanks,

[rusirius]

I and I assumed many many others use both sides all the time. In other words, I makes a few strokes with one side, flip it to the clean side and make a few strokes with it, then rinse... Effectively cutting "rinsing" down by half...

[NMMB]

I and I assumed many many others use both sides all the time. In other words, I makes a few strokes with one side, flip it to the clean side and make a few strokes with it, then rinse... Effectively cutting "rinsing" down by half...

This is my method... and I think that it is the method used by many here... am I right?

[Marcus83]

I and I assumed many many others use both sides all the time. In other words, I makes a few strokes with one side, flip it to the clean side and make a few strokes with it, then rinse... Effectively cutting "rinsing" down by half...


Yeah....What he said...:wink2:

I always collect water in the sink for rinsing the razor, and just give it a
half twist after a shake in the water...

[Quagmire]

I and I assumed many many others use both sides all the time. In other words, I makes a few strokes with one side, flip it to the clean side and make a few strokes with it, then rinse... Effectively cutting "rinsing" down by half...

That's the way I do it baby!!http://img84.echo.cx/img84/4866/agreed8mv.gif

[PalmettoB]

I and I assumed many many others use both sides all the time. In other words, I makes a few strokes with one side, flip it to the clean side and make a few strokes with it, then rinse... Effectively cutting "rinsing" down by half...

Yeah, for some reason or other, the first day or two of using a DE razor I thought I would be all "efficient" and actually keep track of which side I was using. I guess I thought I could then know exactly how much of each side I had used?? But I just use both sides now. The efficiency part comes in not having to switch hands or make too many twists of the handle since I can use either side.:wink: Like one side for N-S, and then just turn it over for S-N against the grain pass.

[msandoval858]

I shave in quadrants, pretty similar to the 3x cutting forms but slightly modified to suit my needs. I flip sides every time I change quadrant. Works well to equally work both edges of the blade.

[SLider]

I use a merkur HD and a slant, and if my eye does not deceive me, I feel like on each razor one side has slightly more blade exposed than the other. Nothing drastic, but just a bit more on one side than the other, almost like it has two settings. Anyone else notice this, or am I making something out of nothing?

[crispy]

Yea, I do the shave, flip, shave, rinse method as well.

[Scotto]

Flip between passes. The razor, that is.

[kozulich]

I and I assumed many many others use both sides all the time. In other words, I makes a few strokes with one side, flip it to the clean side and make a few strokes with it, then rinse... Effectively cutting "rinsing" down by half...
Yup, that's my system.

[J_P_K]

I have my razors marked "Odd" on one side and "Even" on the other. Each morning I go to www.random.org and generate a list of numbers. I consult the list before each stroke and use the appropriate side of the razor.

:biggrin:

[Coche_y_bondhu]

Hello Slider,

What you say about the blade exposure being different on each edge of the Merkur is true. Very slight, but true. Could be the reason I get better shaves with my vintage Gillettes. The head geometry being different on the Gillettes could also be a contributing factor in the shaves.

I take a few strokes, flip the razor around and take a few more strokes, rinse, flip, etc. Simple reason why a DE will last twice as long as a single edge.

Cheers,
Richard
Plano TX

[Folie]

It saves so much time to use both sides of the razor before a rinse.

[Jonnybc]

It saves so much time to use both sides of the razor before a rinse.

That's exactly what I do, or there abouts.

[MasonM]

I and I assumed many many others use both sides all the time. In other words, I makes a few strokes with one side, flip it to the clean side and make a few strokes with it, then rinse... Effectively cutting "rinsing" down by half...
Ditto

[_C_]

I'm a flip, shave, rinse kind of guy. That way I don't have to remember anything. :smile:

[Ashe]

I don't shave, I just flip the razor continuous during my morning ritual...

Ow wait, yes I do shave. Every 2 or 3 strokes I flip the razor, makes it go quicker and more efficient.

[thestubblefactory]

Yea, I do the shave, flip, shave, rinse method as well.


Ditto: The flip is a time honored tradition

[guenron]

I love this question! Every few months someone asks... Therefore, I am keeping it a secret that I switch edges every stroke or two..

[Ashe]

I love this question! Every few months someone asks... Therefore, I am keeping it a secret that I switch edges every stroke or two..Hi Ron, thanks for confirming you switch every stroke or two. :001_smile

Much appreciated! :thumbup1:

[giraffejumper]

I must be really weird.
I know that I get three shaves a side on the personnas I use.
I've marked with a sharpie on the underside of one side of the razor and simply use one side for three days and use the other side for the other three.
If I use the fatboy, I can tell by the number settings which side I am on.
This way I never have to guess whether the blade is getting dull or not.
How do you guys tell when you do the "rinse and flip" routine when it is time to change the blade until it is too late?
And then do you change it in mid-shave?
I would use this method if I could figure that kind of stuff out.
I guess I am just too ocd to not know exactly how much I have left.
-phil

[rikrdo]

I have my razors marked "Odd" on one side and "Even" on the other. Each morning I go to www.random.org and generate a list of numbers. I consult the list before each stroke and use the appropriate side of the razor.

:biggrin:


I dont care who you are...thats funny !
Thats comedy, Baby.:laugh:

[moses]

I must be really weird.

Well, maybe. :wink: But aren't we all. I mean, really. :rolleyes:

Anyway, my solution is, once I have an idea how long a particular blade will last, I just use it almost that long, then change. It is true that I may not use the sides exactly the same amount, but by flipping and rinsing and general randomness, it is pretty close. So if one edge of a feather will last me about 4 days, the whole blade will last me about 8. So I just replace after a week or so, if I haven't already. Really, it isn't that much less precise than your method, and does not require finding out the hard way that it is time to change. The only difference is that one edge may get used slightly more due to randomness. It is so little difference, though, that it doesn't matter, IMO. And it definitely is not worth introducing more complication and things to check and worry about into a relaxation exercise to do anything more precise.

Anyway, I tend to change setups once a week or less, anyway, and usually change the blade when I do so. Waste a little blade life that way, but not so much, really...

[vespergo]

I used to use one side for the first pass then another side for the next, but after a few months switched to just using the both sides whenever. Switch when it fills with cream, don't worry too much about keeping track of which side is getting used more, just take two swipes or three with one side, then two with the other, rinse, repeat.