Blades don't last in a R41

[shave/brush]

I've see other people say on this site that they don't get as many shaves out of their blades when using a Muhle R41. I don't have a heavy beard so with a good blade like Polsilver or Feather I can get 9 or 10 shaves out of it. But when I'm using my R41 the blade really starts to pull after about 5 shaves. Could it be I haven't found the right angle for the R41 yet?
Anyone care to guess why this might be?

 

[martym]

I only get 2 shaves with an Astra SP in my 2011 R41 Grande.
Just 1 of those things I guess.

 

[wagstaff]

A guess is that the geometry of the head keeps the blade relatively flat, so more flexible than if it were more curved like, say, a Merkur. Then the "extreme" blade exposure means the edge in particular is not held as rigid. For these reasons most folks find they need to shallow out the angle more with this razor than most. But even if you don't notice any blade "chatter" in the shave, there probably is something like it, with the edges flexing and snapping back during strokes. Stresses the edge.

There's one theory, anyway.

 

[shave/brush]

A guess is that the geometry of the head keeps the blade relatively flat, so more flexible than if it were more curved like, say, a Merkur. Then the "extreme" blade exposure means the edge in particular is not held as rigid. For these reasons most folks find they need to shallow out the angle more with this razor than most. But even if you don't notice any blade "chatter" in the shave, there probably is something like it, with the edges flexing and snapping back during strokes. Stresses the edge.

There's one theory, anyway.

Sounds like a good theory.

 

[wagstaff]

Sounds like a good theory.

Thank you -- I don't have any real scientific observation, here. But I do have, and use, a 2011 edition R41. I had tended to use blades for about 3-4 shaves already, so didn't particularly notice a problem with blade longevity. But I was also more likely to just go ahead and change blades after shave 3, no testing, with the R41 than other razors!