Whats with the Wax on Blades?
- Thread starter shevy_14
- Start date
Wax sticks the blade to the wrapper to prevent the blade edge from abrading on the wrapper paper. Vintage razors are tough enough that there's no need to remove the wax from the blade. Wax is only a problem if you want it to be.
No worries.
The wax spots
don’t hurt anything.
The wax spots
don’t hurt anything.
I think the Petersburg Product International facility in Russia run by Gillette/P&G are the only ones using the wax spots. The wax prevents the blades from moving within the folded wrapper during shipping and storage. Although the wrapper contains a wax coating, any vibration can cause movement between the blade and the wrapper, resulting in slight deterioration of the edge. The wax prevents such movement, protecting the quality of the blade. Although many people complain about the wax, it does not seem to bother anything during use and the PPI blades have a good reputation for quality.
As long as the wax is not on the blade edge, just shave on! It’s not a problem.
Note that I have never seen wax anywhere close to the blade edge.
Note that I have never seen wax anywhere close to the blade edge.
+2! Not a problem for me! Blade performance is what I want!
(Although some really dislike wax on their blades.)
It tends to mess up your razor. Ruin the finish.
If you want to get rid of it, grip the new blade by the tab with pliers, and rinse with boiling water, but it's hardly worth the effort.
Or scrape off using the outgoing blade.
It’s not just Gillette. Feather blades have wax on them as well.
As others have said, ignore the wax , load up and get your shave on.
Its going to hurt my brain but how is the wax ruining the finish?
I hope this doesn't hurt your brain but here goes. I got some on my newly nickel plated razor and it was very difficult to get it off. To me it's not necessary to put so much on as some blades do.
I recall a friend of mine went to the 1st "Karate Kid" movie when it 1st came out. He indulged bigly in some of the local p. semilacetia that grew freely in Kitimat, B.C. in the rainy fall/autummn where we grew up. He told me he was the only one laughing hysterically during that 'wax on, wax off' scene for some reason. I don't have a prob with a few wax globs if it helps preserve the edge for me on my blades, eh? It is a long way from where l live in the sticks of B.C. far from where the blades l buy are manufactured, so l am grateful for any protection offered to preserve the blades l bought so l may use 'em as intended.
Fair enough, just odd to think something as malleable as wax could damage any sort plating.
I was surprised myself how hard it was to get it off.
Unpopular opinion here, but I personally don’t believe the wax does anything to keep the edge sharp. It probably has more to do with stabilizing the blade during the wrapping process and keeping the wrapper closed so it doesn’t foul up final packaging. There a several sharp blades that don’t use wax.
This is the first time I've ever seen reference to the wax having something to do with a blade's sharpness. Think its generally accepted that its part of the packaging process.
Some have said the purpose of the wax is to keep the blade stationary within the rapper so the edge doesn't rub against the wrapper during transport and storage, thereby keeping the edge pristine. I don't personally buy that theory, as I doubt a company would pay for the materials (the wax) and the processes (how the wax is applied) to prevent the possibly of the blade somehow dulling throughout the supply chain.
For the record, I personally do hate the wax. I don't have an excellent reason for hating it, but I do.
