Extending the life of cartridge and perhaps DE blades

[DEGuy]

I read an interesting post on Amazon Fusion cartridge blades’ reviews. The guy used 'Clean Shower' spray to extend the life off his cartridges from several days to several weeks. Before you say ‘He’s full…’, check out the post and the many comments. Check the first review, it’s by Jonathan Sabin-–see the link below. I'm not switching to cartridge razors--but this technique may also work on DE blades; I'm going to pick up some Clean Shower and give it a go. If this has been posted in the past, mea culpa from a new guy to B&B.


[FONT=&amp]Sabinhttp://www.amazon.com/Gillette-Fusion-Manual-Cartridges-Count/dp/B004B8AZH0/ref=pd_sbs_hpc_1 [/FONT]

 

[MondoJ]

Wow lots of confirmations that it works, gonna have to try it on a de razor. Thanks for the tip.

I read an interesting post on Amazon Fusion cartridge blades’ reviews. The guy used 'Clean Shower' spray to extend the life off his cartridges from several days to several weeks. Before you say ‘He’s full…’, check out the post and the many comments. Check the first review, it’s by Jonathan Sabin-–see the link below. I'm not switching to cartridge razors--but this technique may also work on DE blades; I'm going to pick up some Clean Shower and give it a go. If this has been posted in the past, mea culpa from a new guy to B&B.


[FONT=&amp]Sabinhttp://www.amazon.com/Gillette-Fusion-Manual-Cartridges-Count/dp/B004B8AZH0/ref=pd_sbs_hpc_1 [/FONT]

 

[Seraphim]

Interesting....

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/stuff/7949sci2.html

 

[smalltank]

For DE blades you can palm strop...dulls the blade evenly on both sides

 

[DEGuy]

Interesting....

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/stuff/7949sci2.html

Excellent article! Thanks for passing it along. I used to get C&EN at I worked for an engineering society.

 

[Go West Young Man]

1. Cleaning and drying your blade will extend the life somewhat, by reducing corrosion which degrades the edge.
2. People will put up with lousy shaves in the name of saving a few cents.
3. Cartridges hit a certain level of dull after a few shaves and then don't get much worse so if you're willing to put up with a bad shave you can keep the same cart going for months.

Conclusion - dip you blade in alcohol and don't sweat changing it out after 3 or 4 shaves, is much cheaper than buying some dodgy system off the internet.

 

[noahpictures]

I read an interesting post on Amazon Fusion cartridge blades’ reviews. The guy used 'Clean Shower' spray to extend the life off his cartridges from several days to several weeks. Before you say ‘He’s full…’, check out the post and the many comments. Check the first review, it’s by Jonathan Sabin-–see the link below. I'm not switching to cartridge razors--but this technique may also work on DE blades; I'm going to pick up some Clean Shower and give it a go. If this has been posted in the past, mea culpa from a new guy to B&B.


[FONT=&amp]Sabinhttp://www.amazon.com/Gillette-Fusion-Manual-Cartridges-Count/dp/B004B8AZH0/ref=pd_sbs_hpc_1 [/FONT]

I did that when I was shaving with carts. The Clean Shower gets rid of the moisture. Stropping the cart on denim jeans works much better than spraying it with Clean Shower. Although I don't use carts anymore I still have the Fusion from years ago; it has months of shaves on it. I shave with it when I travel with acceptable results. Unfortunately for me all carts cause major razor burn and often ingrowns.

 

[KipNoxzema]

Thanks for the interesting article. This sounds like a classic urban legend. I noticed this is dated 5 years ago, too. I believe the blade wears out after 3 or 4 shaves because of the steel; not any amount of rust. To prove that, I can say I've been using a Bolzano DE blade for 6 days now; face and whole head shaving. I keep it dry after each use like I do any other time and yet it's lasting longer than an Astra SP. I bought it because of the claims it uses better steel and I'm beginning to believe it.
This urban legend is like saying you put 2 lbs more of air in your tires and you're "getting FANTASTIC miles per the gallon now!".

 

[Link8382]

I tried an experiment just prior to giving a straight a whirl and soaked my fusion blades in olive oil after shaving. It did seem to work and you don't have to do anything other than dropping the razor in a small cup of olive oil after your done shaving. The next shave a quick rinse and the leftover olive oil helps with razor glide. For the cost of de blades I wouldn't bother.

After the extreme expense of quality cartridges I am done with them. De's give better shaves for a fraction of the cost. Having said that I probably spend tons more on soaps, creams and after shaves. Lol, so much for saving money.

 

[johnf7478]

After the extreme expense of quality cartridges I am done with them. De's give better shaves for a fraction of the cost. Having said that I probably spend tons more on soaps, creams and after shaves. Lol, so much for saving money.

Ditto to that, I INITIALLY started DE shaving with savings in mind, then I quickly caught the bug, (which has eased off considerably over the last couple of weeks thankfully)
I was shaving last night with a 9cents blade from my bulk pack, and a badger brush with some TOBS sandlewood and a super adjustable, the entire experience felt like pure unbridled luxury, the thing is, the blade part of that only cost 9 cents, ergo, I cannot see the point in trying to squeeze the life out of them. Maybe it's just me, but I shave twice then bin the blade, which means it cost around 30cents a week for blades, always new, always sharp.

If I got so much as one nick or cut, or an irritated face due to me trying to save 9cents, I really would feel absoloutley terrible. However, I have started taking the blade out and cleaning/drying it after use as part of my routine.

 

[Seraphim]

I did that when I was shaving with carts. The Clean Shower gets rid of the moisture. Stropping the cart on denim jeans works much better than spraying it with Clean Shower. Although I don't use carts anymore I still have the Fusion from years ago; it has months of shaves on it. I shave with it when I travel with acceptable results. Unfortunately for me all carts cause major razor burn and often ingrowns.

That denim stropping , may not be working as well as you think, given the results you have experienced. Try popping a new cart in there and see how it treats you. You mahy be pleasantly surprised.

 

[YetiDave]

I can see why people may want to extend the life of carts. But DE blades? Why?

 

[BigBull]

I can see why people may want to extend the life of carts. But DE blades? Why?

My thoughts exactly.

On another note, when people talk about stropping a cart on denim what are they referring to? In one direction only? Both directions? Please enlighten me.

 

[ateace]

I can see why people may want to extend the life of carts. But DE blades? Why?

Even my "expensive" DE blades are too cheap to try to squeeze one or two more shaves from.

 

[PugslyCat]

I can see why people may want to extend the life of carts. But DE blades? Why?

Even my "expensive" DE blades are too cheap to try to squeeze one or two more shaves from.

+1 - No matter how effectively 'Clean Shower' spray does work, is it cost effective to save a couple of ten cent blades each year?

 

[Jawaburger]

+1 - No matter how effectively 'Clean Shower' spray does work, is it cost effective to save a couple of ten cent blades each year?

What he said!

So, you spend $7-$8 dollars for a bottle of Clean Shower to make a DE blade last a little longer? That is the cost of ~50 blades. Doesn't seem to be much of a cost savings to me. YMMV.

 

[Shave_Rat]

I did that when I was shaving with carts. The Clean Shower gets rid of the moisture. Stropping the cart on denim jeans works much better than spraying it with Clean Shower. Although I don't use carts anymore I still have the Fusion from years ago; it has months of shaves on it. I shave with it when I travel with acceptable results. Unfortunately for me all carts cause major razor burn and often ingrowns.

So razor burn and often ingrowns are "acceptable results" enough to shave with a cart still when you travel? I'd suggest picking up an inexpensive DE to travel with, and sending a few blades through the mail to your destination if you don't want to check in luggage at the airport... lol

 

[DEGuy]

Gentlemen:
The idea of trying Clean Shower on a DE blade is to perhaps maintain the sharpness of a blades' edges by slowing its decay from environmental sources for whatever number of shaves one comfortably uses a blade.

I found Clean Shower selling locally for $2 per one-quart bottle, not $7 to $8.

The idea of this post was to bring forward another person's experience; one that might be an interesting experiment for some B&B's members; and one that just might make for more all-round efficient wet shaves.

 

[oldbluelight]

Getting two more shaves out of a blade might be a toss-up on savings, but if the product would prevent soap scum from building up on razors it might be a very good investment. First a good and thorough detailing then a spray of this modern miracle might not be a bad idea. Just my properly pinched two pennies.

 

[vertelselaar]

Reminds of that other technique of storing used razorblades under an exact model of a pyramid. Works all the time, dull blades get sharp again and nobody quite figured out how it works. It's a great trick of the old Egyptians .