I rotate razors and blade types (DE, Gem, injector) constantly. And I maintain varying amounts of facial hair. On top of that, most days I do at least the first pass with an SR. A blade is done, for me, when it takes to much effort to get my trouble spots to DFS.
I expect to get double digit shaves from a Gem and mid to high single digits from most DE (not Feathers). But I no longer count blade uses as religiously as a few years back.
The consequence of all thisrotation messing around and inattention is that most of my DE and Gem blades get replaced when I've lost track of the shave number or find a razor already loaded that I thought was empty. Not much of a system. Once in a while a blade definitely must go, but I give my many and varying lathers plenty of time to hydrate my whiskers, so my shaves are comfortable and rarely tug.
Because injector blade changes are slower, and I use injectors less often (but usually have several in the mix), Ichange injector blades toss an injector into the blade change queue after I have rejected that particular razor mid-shave and grabbed an alternate (or two).
So I find myself changing blades in 3 or 4 injectors at the same time. Or sweeping through the DE razor drawers ruthlessly binning blades of unknown vintage. Gem blades are rugged heavyweights and simple to move between razors, so I usually have a good use count. I often retire the current Gem when I want to use it for some paint scraping or other utility cutting task.
"Works" for me. Blades are not expensive, but I briefly regret tossing each one that might still have had a shave left in it.
I expect to get double digit shaves from a Gem and mid to high single digits from most DE (not Feathers). But I no longer count blade uses as religiously as a few years back.
The consequence of all this
Because injector blade changes are slower, and I use injectors less often (but usually have several in the mix), I
So I find myself changing blades in 3 or 4 injectors at the same time. Or sweeping through the DE razor drawers ruthlessly binning blades of unknown vintage. Gem blades are rugged heavyweights and simple to move between razors, so I usually have a good use count. I often retire the current Gem when I want to use it for some paint scraping or other utility cutting task.
"Works" for me. Blades are not expensive, but I briefly regret tossing each one that might still have had a shave left in it.
. I tend to use two razors per shave so I take that into account in my estimates. My motto is use inexpensive blades but change them often. My usual DE blades are Astra SP, Gillette Yellow, or BIC Chrome, depending on the razor.
