Do you do anything to Prolonging DE Blades life? If so what?

[Kwikrp]

Do you do anything to keep your DE blade sharp and clean which would prolong the life of the blade?
I have heard of using jeans and rubbing blade in upward (non) cutting direction.
in? Cleaning with alcohol. Dipping in oil etc.

 

[Pedro Navaja]

I find them cheap enough to not have to be bother by try to keep them longer. I just dry as much a possible and replace weekly.

 

[jamesspo]

I loosen the blade up a bit, rinse in really hot water for a few seconds, blow on it hard from a couple of different directions until I don't see any more water on the edge. Pop the razor in the stand until next time. I get 10 shaves minimum from Feathers...sometimes more than 20.

 

[gus1942]

I loosen the blade up a bit, rinse in really hot water for a few seconds, blow on it hard from a couple of different directions until I don't see any more water on the edge. Pop the razor in the stand until next time. I get 10 shaves minimum from Feathers...sometimes more than 20.

James, you must have the beard of an angel if you get 20 shaves from a Feather.

Gus

 

[groovyd]

Spritz with alcohol and then give it a couple reverse rubs/strops on the towel around my waist. Last easily twice as long doing this.

 

[Copierguy]

Minimum pressure and proper angle doubled the number of shaves I could enjoy from a blade (plus a more comfortable shave). The thing I notice first that causes me to swap out the blade the time of day I first notice stubble. It will change by an hour or two before the next morning when a blade starts to tug.

 

[dcobranchi]

I do nothing to try to prolong its life.

 

[ERVARGASNY]

I don't do much either but replace the blades after 3 shaves on the average, sometimes just two shaves, specially if I do ATG pass, that seems to dull them fast, weather it's Feather or Polisilver blades.

I know there is this old vintage rust color block that seems to be made of some kind of smooth Ceramic that is suppose to sharpen the blades, I think you stop it while it's in the razor, This way you don't cut yourself. Anyone here ever tried it ?

 

[Joe_Karp]

Aside from rinsing the blade and razor after each use, I do nothing special. When the blade needs changing I can feel the difference and do so.

 

[Eeyore]

No. I don't risk my skin for a 15 cents blade.

 

[OkieStubble]

Spritz the blade and razor with alcohol, dry it off and put it back together for the next shave.

 

[Lakebound]

Besides soaking the entire razor, blade and all in alcohol while I clean up I do nothing really. I don't touch the blade, strop it, remove it or flip it. Just soak and shake and we're done.

And that, is probably overdoing it really.

Frank

 

[Woodekb]

With about 400 blades waiting in the wings, and at about .15 cents apiece, I just rinse it in the razor, give it a quick shake or blow, leave the top cracked on my 3 pieces ( or doors cracked on my TTos) and change them out after 4 or 5 days.

 

[jamesspo]

It's pretty stiff actually - sandpaper like after a day. Now the blade is not as stunningly sharp as the first few shaves, of course. But plenty sharp enough to give great shaves. I generally use razors that allow for a low angle of attack, and I think that's a big part of it. On the occasion that I do a run of shaves with any of the Gillette TTO's (which generally force you to a 30 degree angle and up), I don't have as good a blade life. If I use the R41 on the steep side (which is rough) I'd be lucky to get two shaves out of it. It's already starting to fall of substantially after the first shave used that way. I'm also only doing two passes these days plus a partial pass. I can get BBS now with just the two (WTG/ATG), plus an second ATG run over my jawline. So that factors in as well... not as many passes over time.

James, you must have the beard of an angel if you get 20 shaves from a Feather.

Gus

 

[Face Bannon]

I squirt alcohol on them. Can't really tell if it makes much difference. It did on multiblade disposables.

 

[wagstaff]

I squirt alcohol, but that's to prevent rust when the blade rests in stainless razors. I don't have the issue in plated razors, and I don't notice that it prolongs the life of the edges. I just don't want rust stains.

 

[aihpcfl]

I don't do anything. I can imagine if our water had a high mineral content I might think of doing something, or maybe not.

 

[bosseb]

Mark Herro (mantic59) has researched this topic and has a report in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyxBfGcHDbM

I wipe the blade against my towel after shaving. The idea is to use the blade as consistently as possible and to make sure that my life time blade stash really lasts my lifetime.

I get 9 to 11 shaves from my Shark SS and red IPs and about 12 to 15 from my black Indian Gillettes. I do 2+ passes and get a BBS daily.

 

[Eeyore]

That's impressive! I only get 4 good shaves from my PPCs. But I don't treat them in any way.

My Wilkinson Profile cartridges (vintage, platinum chrome coated) last 6 shaves without special treatment.

 

[chilliman64]

Do you do anything to keep your DE blade sharp and clean which would prolong the life of the blade?
I have heard of using jeans and rubbing blade in upward (non) cutting direction.
in? Cleaning with alcohol. Dipping in oil etc.

how many shaves do you want from one blade?

I heard if you go to bed with a golfball in your mouth and put the blade between two slices of bread and then place it under your pillow while you sleep it will transform over night to a new blade. don't believe those that might tell you about using pyramid power as that's rubbish, but the golfball and bread trick works!