Actual Blade Life

[salisburyyates]

I was speaking to my brother, who just recently got a futur and some MWF to start out wetshaving - and he said that prior to this, he would use his cartridge blades for 3 months/blade. He said my 5-7 uses of the DE blade was wasteful. So it got me thinking. Is it necessary to change it every week? I have been drying off the blade post shave and haven't noticed it dulling after starting this.

Has anybody here stretched out their blade life? I was on shave #7 with my red IP's yesterday and it still shaved fine.

 

[johsa]

I normally used a cartridge for 20 shaves. The last ten was definitely not as close as the first shaves. Main reason for sticking with the cartridge was the price of it.

Not with DE blades that is not a problem, and I change as soon as I get any indication that the blade is dulling. If that only gives me 4-5 shave it is no problem since they are so cheap.

So with the current blade prices I don't see any reason to try to push the blade beyond its peak.

 

[taffy]

My friend was telling me that he gets 3 months out of a fusion cartridge though when i used them 2 weeks was a stretch, as for blades i only change when needed and thats easily identified, though diffeent blades do perform differently some i can get 5-7 days, some 3-4.

 

[michiganlover]

I keep hearing these stories of excessively long cartridge usage, and my only response, is that they must really hate their face!!

When I used a cartridge I might have been able to get 5-7 shaves out of it comfortably. Can you use the same cartridge for 3 months? Sure but 2.75 of those months is going to be a very uncomfortable shave with many nicks/ weepers, and a very bad case of constant razor burn.

Since discovering traditional wet shaving, I actually care more about my shaves, and overall look.

Sorry, but there is no way I am pushing a blade beyond 3-4 shaves, as a top quality shave is very important to me.

You said the Red IP at 7 shaves still shaved "fine". To me there is probably a distinction in quality between "fine", and "excellent". Blades are so cheap, I want to toss it before it crosses the threshold from "excellent" to just "fine".

 

[salisburyyates]

It still gives me the same smooth shave after 2 passes that it did when I started using it.

 

[dwnwrdishvnwrd]

Sorry, but there is no way I am pushing a blade beyond 3-4 shaves, as a top quality shave is very important to me.

I fully agree. I normally use a blade for 2-3 shaves and then switch to a new one. I don't wanna chance a nick or weeper because I want to save 10 cents.

Welcome to B&B.

 

[gone down south]

Good lord, even before picking up all the good habits from here I know enough to throw out a Mach 3 cartridge when it started hurting my face - about every 5th shave. 3 MONTHS?????? A butter knife would be sharper at that point!

 

[strat1117]

I fully agree. I normally use a blade for 2-3 shaves and then switch to a new one. I don't wanna chance a nick or weeper because I want to save 10 cents.

Welcome to B&B.

bingo.

 

[nmerth]

I normally used a cartridge for 20 shaves.

I was speaking to my brother, who just recently got a futur and some MWF to start out wetshaving - and he said that prior to this, he would use his cartridge blades for 3 months/blade

.

I just can't Imagine the pain of this. I have pretty course hair...and My shaves with M3/Fusion was painful after two to three shaves...I maybe extended it to four or five....Again with the cost. I also procrastinated shaving because of pain/cost. Except while enlisted lol...I just shaved everyday.and was miserable...or took the yelling if I didn't lol. I now Shave still only two times even with my feathers....Cost isn't really an issue now..(not counting AD for the others stuff) So I am enjoying the very smooth comfortable shaves these fresh blades are providing. And even if Im using more razors....tucked away in the case 10 blades is less of an impact on a landfill than 1 M3 cartridge!

 

[Mr Peat]

I was speaking to my brother, who just recently got a futur and some MWF to start out wetshaving - and he said that prior to this, he would use his cartridge blades for 3 months/blade. He said my 5-7 uses of the DE blade was wasteful. So it got me thinking. Is it necessary to change it every week? I have been drying off the blade post shave and haven't noticed it dulling after starting this.

Has anybody here stretched out their blade life? I was on shave #7 with my red IP's yesterday and it still shaved fine.

I tried for a 3rd or 4th time with my Red Personna blades. Remember that I do a 4 pass shave and I got some razor burns a little today. Once I realized what was going on, I changed the blade immediately so my razor burn isn't that big of an issue. But when I tossed on the Pinaud's Bay Rum, lets just say it felt like my neck was on fire. So I know the blades I use can't go no 3 months before changing.

 

[Zen Head]

Not everyone who uses a cartidge for long time is going to get razor burn and cut their face up.

My brother can do it. I can't. YMMV.

 

[Token Kipper]

I changed cartridges weekly whether used every day or not. Since swapping to DE I change my blade every 4 to 5 days. Shaving is such a pleasure now that my weekend rest from shaving, unless going out, has been consigned to the past. I might get through more blade changes than cartridges but cost is no longer an issue and, as I said before, it is a pleasure even as a newbie.

 

[DSB]

Since discovering traditional wet shaving, I actually care more about my shaves, and overall look.

Sorry, but there is no way I am pushing a blade beyond 3-4 shaves, as a top quality shave is very important to me.

You said the Red IP at 7 shaves still shaved "fine". To me there is probably a distinction in quality between "fine", and "excellent". Blades are so cheap, I want to toss it before it crosses the threshold from "excellent" to just "fine".

I fully agree. I normally use a blade for 2-3 shaves and then switch to a new one. I don't wanna chance a nick or weeper because I want to save 10 cents.

I agree with the above. For me, 3 shaves per blade and it's gone.

 

[salisburyyates]

He mainly did it for the waste per person ratio. He is very environmentally conscious (hence switching to DE) and don't imagine he would switch it very often regardless of the price - simply due to the 100 blades/year he would be using up if he were to frequently change them. I am not so inclined, and will switch them up every 7 days.

 

[_JP_]

Wasteful?

OK, so I buy a hundred pack of Derby blades for about $15 and use each blade for three or four shaves. That makes for a year's worth (or more) of shaving for $15 in blade cost. And each and every shave is with a sharp blade. A cartridge can't deliver that for the same price.

 

[salisburyyates]

What can I say, he is a little too environmentally conscious?

 

[le_paulo]

After telling a colleague how cheap the DE shaves are, he responded by saying that he uses his disposable blades for 2-3 months at a time. Now THAT is madness! Or better said: he feels silly for spending $4-5 per blade compared to my 30 cent blades (that also give a better shave BTW

I'm sticking to a week per blade, max.

 

[bill mcdill]

Life is too short to shave with a dull blade. I'll go without the extra pack of gum and change my blades liberally. Ahhh, isn't consumerism great!

 

[igmatto]

Good lord. I could only get at most 3 shaves out of a Mach 3. The insane costs contributed a little towards my drive to DE shaving. I can only get 2 shaves out of a feather, but it's still significantly cheaper (and smoother).

Maybe I'm the ideal candidate for a straight.

 

[nav]

I used to use a M3T cartridge for about 16-18 shaves with shaving oil. The blade was great up to 12 shaves, good for the next 3 and then started getting blunt.

I use all DE blades for 3 shaves, 4-5 for feathers only. DE gives a better, more comfortable shave so its worth it...plus its much more fun!!