Astra SP Finally Comes Good - After 18 shaves

[Renato1]

The answer to my question which I first posted at
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...ore-an-Astra-SP-acts-like-a-standard-SS-Blade

is that an Astra SP blade starts behaving like a regular stainless steel blade after about 18 shaves.

Today I finally had a nice, smooth, close, nick free shave from my Big Roc razor and Astra SP blade, which had progressively been given me less and less nicks in the course of the previous 17 shaves. The soap I used was Proraso.

I still had lots of Alum stings though, so I expect the blade to be thoroughly worn in and good for optimal use in another 10 shaves or so.

Regards,
Renato

 

[imfallen_angel]

Have to say that I'm intrigued.

Sounds like that add on eBay for a cartridge or disposable that's used, claiming that it's still perfect after something like 88 shaves, and must be fluke (the 1000 miles per gallon of gas comes to mind).

I can understand that someone with very soft whiskers might get more out of a blade, but at some point, I'd love to see a microscope image to see such a long lived blade, I'd say over 10 shaves.

 

[Renato1]

Have to say that I'm intrigued.

Sounds like that add on eBay for a cartridge or disposable that's used, claiming that it's still perfect after something like 88 shaves, and must be fluke (the 1000 miles per gallon of gas comes to mind).

I can understand that someone with very soft whiskers might get more out of a blade, but at some point, I'd love to see a microscope image to see such a long lived blade, I'd say over 10 shaves.

I'm the opposite to you as I'm always intrigued when I see people say they throw out their Astra SP blades after 2 shaves.
My whiskers don't feel soft to me - my wife reckons they're annoyingly tough.

Many years ago, using canned foam it used to take me 5 shaves to get my English made Wilkinson Sword blade to the point where it would stop nicking me, and then I'd get two or three weeks use out of it (the blade would be blunt at the end, but I kept persevering not wanting the pain of breaking in a new one). The Astra SP seems to take 18 shaves to get broken in. Standard stainless steel blades with good creams or soaps need a shave or two to be broken in for me.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[redtide]

Amazing.
I noticed a not so great shave with my polsilver Iridium at first, but it's been a dream to use now. I guess there is a break in period for a razor blades - who would have thought.

 

[Renato1]

Amazing.
I noticed a not so great shave with my polsilver Iridium at first, but it's been a dream to use now. I guess there is a break in period for a razor blades - who would have thought.

I've always thought the break-in period was a given.
Interesting our differing perspectives.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[nvpliers]

Would "palm stropping" shorten or eliminate the need for such an extended break-in period? If you do, stay safe with the method.

 

[Mick]

I seem to get a weeks shaves +/- out of most DE blades. After that amount of time they become "uncomfortable" and get the toss.

SE blades last twice as long and the disposable straight blades in the Cobra seem to go a bit further still before tugging.

 

[imfallen_angel]

I'm the opposite to you as I'm always intrigued when I see people say they throw out their Astra SP blades after 2 shaves.
My whiskers don't feel soft to me - my wife reckons they're annoyingly tough.

Many years ago, using canned foam it used to take me 5 shaves to get my English made Wilkinson Sword blade to the point where it would stop nicking me, and then I'd get two or three weeks use out of it (the blade would be blunt at the end, but I kept persevering not wanting the pain of breaking in a new one). The Astra SP seems to take 18 shaves to get broken in. Standard stainless steel blades with good creams or soaps need a shave or two to be broken in for me.
Cheers,
Renato

I would gather that various blades have varying lifespans, I know that a few I tried to go over 3-4 shaves, I ended up with a lot of tugging and such, so I've been going with 3 shaves per blade.

I have over 300 blades in stock now, and as I shave about 2-3 times a week, if I go with trying to make them last longer and had any that would last over 10 shaves, I'd have enough blades for the rest of my life probably.

I just find that the risk of a bad shave with irritation (that might come out after the shave) hasn't been worth the price of a blade (at pennies)... considering that cartridges used to rip my face off, would barely last a few shaves before it would pull, snag, and be clogged to no avail (and all the other problems I'd have with them), at multiple dollars for each, I've been fairly care free.

But the thing is, I've yet to nick or cut myself with a DE, and I've been at it for over a year now, so that's probably loads to do with my perception about it.

Which is why, I know that some in here have done the microscope thing. But I'll have to check about degradation between shaves, if no one has done it, I might just have to get my microscope out.

 

[little Big feather]

I get 7 days on an ASTRA SP....That's the end for me.

 

[rajagra]

I got 25 great shaves from an Astra SP in the February challenge.
I probably would have got more if I hadn't jinxed it by putting the blade in a different razor. A mild razor protects the blade as well as your face.

 

[deafficianado]

The most I'll use a blade is 5 times. Usually after 3 times, I toss them.

 

[Renato1]

Would "palm stropping" shorten or eliminate the need for such an extended break-in period? If you do, stay safe with the method.

Hi,
I don't really know what "palm stropping" is, how to do it, or what the objective is. Could you please enlighten me?
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

I seem to get a weeks shaves +/- out of most DE blades. After that amount of time they become "uncomfortable" and get the toss.

SE blades last twice as long and the disposable straight blades in the Cobra seem to go a bit further still before tugging.

Have you noticed a difference in time between Astra SPs and stainless steel blades before they become uncomfortable?
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

I would gather that various blades have varying lifespans, I know that a few I tried to go over 3-4 shaves, I ended up with a lot of tugging and such, so I've been going with 3 shaves per blade.

I have over 300 blades in stock now, and as I shave about 2-3 times a week, if I go with trying to make them last longer and had any that would last over 10 shaves, I'd have enough blades for the rest of my life probably.

I just find that the risk of a bad shave with irritation (that might come out after the shave) hasn't been worth the price of a blade (at pennies)... considering that cartridges used to rip my face off, would barely last a few shaves before it would pull, snag, and be clogged to no avail (and all the other problems I'd have with them), at multiple dollars for each, I've been fairly care free.

But the thing is, I've yet to nick or cut myself with a DE, and I've been at it for over a year now, so that's probably loads to do with my perception about it.

Which is why, I know that some in here have done the microscope thing. But I'll have to check about degradation between shaves, if no one has done it, I might just have to get my microscope out.

Well, that's a huge difference between you and me.
I've tried lots of cartridge razors, and they are working fine for me, I rarely get a nick from them - and they easily lasted 10 or more shaves for me, before I bought a Razorpit (now they last longer). But nicks from DE razors is a common occurrence, especially with brand new blades or with very sharp blades.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

I get 7 days on an ASTRA SP....That's the end for me.

That's longer than what most people use them for.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

I got 25 great shaves from an Astra SP in the February challenge.
I probably would have got more if I hadn't jinxed it by putting the blade in a different razor. A mild razor protects the blade as well as your face.

That's totally consistent with my experience.
The Big Roc razor I've been using is very mild - normal stainless steel blades don't work very well in it, as they don't shave close enough.
It's good to know that I'm not some one who is totally unique in the experience I described with the Astra SP.
Regards,
Renatp

 

[Renato1]

The most I'll use a blade is 5 times. Usually after 3 times, I toss them.

As I said above, I find that sort of change over time intriguing.
Regards,
Renato

 

[nvpliers]

Hi,
I don't really know what "palm stropping" is, how to do it, or what the objective is. Could you please enlighten me?
Regards,
Renato

Here's the link for palm stropping....where I learned about it. I believe the goal is to smooth out the microscopic imperfections to shorten break-in.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/298889-Palm-Stropping?highlight=palm+strop

 

[CHSeifert]

I wouldn't know Renato, since I like my Astra Sp from pretty much the first shave and then use it for 3-4 shaves before I toss it.
DE blades, even Feather, are so fairly priced that I don't want to test them to see how long they last - I simply use them 3-4 times and then throw them out - sorry poor environment

I do prefer Feather for sharpness and Gillette 7 o'Clock Blues for comfort over my Astra SP - but overall the Astra SP is my goto De blade, when I test new razor heads out

 

[Renato1]

Here's the link for palm stropping....where I learned about it. I believe the goal is to smooth out the microscopic imperfections to shorten break-in.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/298889-Palm-Stropping?highlight=palm+strop

Thanks. I'm a tad skeptical, but I'll give it a try.
I have a cheap leather and canvas strop for a straight razor, and I suspect that I may do a better job of destroying the coating and blunting the blade than my palm would - making the 100 Astra SP blades I have useful to me on more razors.
Regards,
Renato