I have about 500 blades left. I'm afraid if I use one blade a month, I'll run out. (I'm 67).
Extending the life of DE/SE blades.
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Rhody
I'm a Lumberjack.
Any extra DE blade handling IMO just risks injury over any possible benefit such as extended blade life.
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Very true. I'm doing it mostly for science and fun, rather than finding a way how to shave my entire life with a single DE or SE blade. So far everything that i've tried doesn't work even one bit or maybe i'm doing it wrong.
Shave with baby or body lotion
Rhody
I'm a Lumberjack.
This is good to hear. I trust your experience and I’m more than satisfied that I don’t need to do any more maintenance!
I personally don't agree with any of the theories about prep, angle of attack, micro-chipping of the edge etc etc
All these variables remain the same for me and yet at home I get 7-10 uses from Polsilver and at my in-laws I get 4-5.
I read a study last month that basically showed carbonate in tap water builds up on the edge and degrades the sharpness.
I fully agree with this because at my in-laws place, my razor turns white in under a week and at home, it takes around a month or so.
All these variables remain the same for me and yet at home I get 7-10 uses from Polsilver and at my in-laws I get 4-5.
I read a study last month that basically showed carbonate in tap water builds up on the edge and degrades the sharpness.
I fully agree with this because at my in-laws place, my razor turns white in under a week and at home, it takes around a month or so.
Correct. Only makes a difference with carbon blades. I use vintage blades only of which a very carefully chosen few are carbon. I give them a rinse then a dip in rubbing alcohol. Same effect, less messy. No need with stainless, the "stain" referred to is rust.
Honestly, I couldn't care less how many shaves I get out of the blade.
That said, I always dismantle my razor after each shave, rinse it under hot water and dry it with a paper cloth or toilet paper. I also dry the blade and then insert it back and re-assemble my razor.
FWIW, as I only use one razor (at a time) and one blade type (Feather) I don't have to bother storing blades in paper wraps and dotting them or what not.
That said, I always dismantle my razor after each shave, rinse it under hot water and dry it with a paper cloth or toilet paper. I also dry the blade and then insert it back and re-assemble my razor.
FWIW, as I only use one razor (at a time) and one blade type (Feather) I don't have to bother storing blades in paper wraps and dotting them or what not.
Do you strop DE blades on a leather strop?
No, I use the heel of my hand. I’m mainly trying to get any residue off the edges. I think the metal is probably too far to develop a burr.
Chandu
I Waxed The Badger.
Perfectly correct. Perpendicular means that you are cutting through as little hair as possible. A saggital slice is gong to make a longer cut and put more wear on the blade.
What I bet many miss is what you call out, you MUST consider the angle your whiskers come out of the skin.
Another possible contributor
knifesteelnerds.com
What Causes Razor Blades To Dull - Knife Steel Nerds
A recent article in the journal Science claimed that micro-chipping is the cause of dull razors. Is that true?
knifesteelnerds.com
The best shaves come after about the first 20.
I've never considered the angle except to know some directions pull a bit in certain areas of my face. I easily get over 100 shaves/blade.
Many theories sound good, but in practice, the way to get more shaves/blade is to shave more with the same blade. Eventually, our mind adapts without us knowing what changed.
The only blade I try to extend is the GEM and it really works for me. I will normally remove all blades and pat dry and keep.
Only with the GEM blade, I will strop on the linen (with paste) and on leather. So far, that blade is on the 14th use and it is now much smoother and sharper compare to the first few shaves.
Only with the GEM blade, I will strop on the linen (with paste) and on leather. So far, that blade is on the 14th use and it is now much smoother and sharper compare to the first few shaves.
That's pretty insightful. I'm going to give it a try.
I think I disagree.
I think it's likely to be the same wear, or close to it.
A diagonal slice is a longer cut, but less of the hair is cut along that length.
And an mit study showed that a perpendicular cut can cause micro chipping in the blade, on the sides, as the hair bends while being cut.
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I put to you that life is too short to miss out on the smoother shaves found after the second use.
But each to his own.
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IMO, I think it can be good to have a glance (how extensive is up to you) through the Excalibur thread, I think there's some great info in there.
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