Please excuse the newbie question here, but I've been trying different razor blades lately and had an unusual find this morning. I put in a new Astra and found what looked like petroleum jelly in the corners of the blade and now gummed on my razor. I assume this was the adhesive that held the packaging together. Should I be wiping this off before I use the blade?
Blade Goo
- Thread starter colacowboy
- Start date
It's wax, really annoying IMO. Some people scrape it off, some people use hot water, others just put it in there and clean their razor after ward.
Shawn
Shawn
I just plunk the blade wax dots down in my razor. Over the course of a shave they'll disappear.
They can be especially annoying and are the telltale sign of a blade that has been manufactured in the St. Petersburg, Russsia plant that's owned by Gillette.
IMO a telltale sign of an awesome shave to come
Yeah, those blades from the St. Petersburg plant are pretty good.
The glue thing is still a problem though however slight it may seem. This is the only beef I have with those blades.
FWIW, Astra and Iridium Super are probably my top two blades
Those and Feathers 
To me, part of the ritual that is shaving is rinsing a new Astra under hot water and wiping the blade with a face washer. Then it's time to get busy!
4 dots of wax ="A shaving phenomenon will commence in 5...4...3...2...1."
I generally don't associate those dots of glue with a great shave to come. Truth be told, Astras are probably my least favorite blade out there. I prefer IP's, which are blessedly glue-free.
I like the Astras they're my go-to DE blade.
That said, I make sure to put the dots down. Once they stuck to the inside of the butterfly doors and I really had to work to open it up after three shaves.
That said, I make sure to put the dots down. Once they stuck to the inside of the butterfly doors and I really had to work to open it up after three shaves.
