Do Blades "Spoil"?

[Ohio]

I just finished reading the thread on hoarding blades and how many (~750) and it was alluded to a couple of times that those excess blades will go bad.

Do properly stored blades really dull, and if so, how long does that take?
Does anyone have any real data?

 

[Luc]

Someone can chip in for this as I did not experiment it myself. I think that if they are properly stored it should be all right. Most blades are in somekind of waxed/greased paper that will prevent rust. As for being dull, if they are unused I cannot see how they can become dull.

 

[Ohio]

Someone can chip in for this as I did not experiment it myself. I think that if they are properly stored it should be all right. Most blades are in somekind of waxed/greased paper that will prevent rust. As for being dull, if they are unused I cannot see how they can become dull.

I hope not, I just ordered 200 more red packs...

Anyone else?

 

[Luc]

If those are brand new, I wouldn't worry too much. Store them in a dry place away from humidity if possible and you should be fine.

I was referring to vintage blades in my previous post.

 

[mmack66]

Just keep them under a pyramid and you should be good to go. They might even get more sharp over time.

 

[Shane]

A blade doesn't dull itself. If they're stored properly, they'll be fine. I've used Derby blades that are 3 years old and they are as sharp as a Derby blade fresh out of the wrapper. Not to mention, when you get blades, who knows how long they've been sitting around before you bought them anyhow? You still get them delivered to you sharp. Your blades will be fine.

 

[DunEdinRanger]

Well, Hypothetically speaking, suppose someone were to have an 8 year supply of blades on hand?

 

[mmack66]

Well, Hypothetically speaking, suppose someone were to have an 8 year supply of blades on hand?

 

[DunEdinRanger]

Well, Hypothetically speaking, suppose someone were to have an 8 year supply of blades on hand?

I most emphatically do not have such a supply. I was merely asking a purely hypothetical question for a friend.

 

[erudolph]

Well, Hypothetically speaking, suppose someone were to have an 8 year supply of blades on hand?

Hypothetically, if they were 35 years old, they should consider ordering another 50 years supply. However, I'm not sure about DE shaving an aged, lined and wrinkled face. Is that viable?

 

[NorthALABeeKeep]

Just keep them under a pyramid and you should be good to go. They might even get more sharp over time.

Does it have to be made out of millions of tons of rock?

 

[erudolph]

Does it have to be made out of millions of tons of rock?

If you remember the 70s, you'll recall that the razor-sharpening pyramid could be quite small and made out of cardboard.

I think the 70s was the CRAZIEST decade, a decade in which the mainstream culture tried to absorb the counterculture, generating all sorts of oddities.

 

[theperfectstorm]

Just keep them under a pyramid and you should be good to go. They might even get more sharp over time.

Well-played. Extra points for precision temporal irony.

 

[D.Irving79]

all of my blades were honed on a plumb line. they will never go dull.

 

[Ohio]

Boy, did my thread get hijacked!!!

Anyway, I know that theoretically corrosion will damage a finely honed edge. I was wondering if t were a real factor, and how bad is it.

IOW, have any of you ever used a 50 + year old blade, and how was it?

 

[mmack66]

Boy, did my thread get hijacked!!!

Anyway, I know that theoretically corrosion will damage a finely honed edge. I was wondering if t were a real factor, and how bad is it.

IOW, have any of you ever used a 50 + year old blade, and how was it?

Possibilities of rust and corrosion aside, I think those old DE blades were pretty rough compared to a modern, coated, stainless steel DE blade. There are, however, some modern carbon steel blades that some people like.

 

[Straight Arrow]

I use old stock blades almost exclusively. My stainless blades are mostly from the 1960s and 70s. They are sharp, smooth, and as good or better than most blades being manufactured today. I also use certain carbon steel blades (Pal, Sheffield, Don Juan, Star, Gillette Blue, Gillette Thin, and others) that are up to 50, 60, even 70+ years old. They are not as smooth and comfortable as stainless but that's how they were when they were brand new. They are fun to use and they complete the full circle of vintage DE shaving.

 

[D.Irving79]

Boy, did my thread get hijacked!!!

Anyway, I know that theoretically corrosion will damage a finely honed edge. I was wondering if t were a real factor, and how bad is it.

IOW, have any of you ever used a 50 + year old blade, and how was it?

ive used SE and DE blades that were both pre 1915. it required work to get them shaveable again, but it was well worth it.

 

[Stubblefield]

all of my blades were honed on a plumb line. they will never go dull.

I use lasers. Sharks with lasers.

I shaved with a blade from the mid-70's yesterday. It was fine. Your blades will be fine.

 

[FrankPoole]

Stainless blades will not rust if kept in at STP and in their original wrappers.