How many shaves do you get out of your SE blade?

[InfernoOrangeSS]

I am just curious how many shaves you guys are getting out of a blade. With my DE and a Gillette 7 O'Clock Black, I could get about 2-3 shaves out of each blade. I bought some of the GEM SS coated blades and tried to get a second shave out of it this morning. Yesterday, it was great and I had a BBS shave with very minimal irritation. This mornings shave was the exact opposite. It didn't feel like it wanted to go through the hair at all, and my face feels like it's on fire. I also have 3 nicks on my upper lip, which is rare for me anytime I'm shaving. Both times I used my Gold 1912 Ever-Ready SE. I just wondered if this was the norm and I should chuck a blade after each use, or maybe it was just an anomoly and was a bad blade for multi-use.
Both shaves were with Proraso shave cream. The only thing I can think of was it was the blade.
Any help would be most welcomed!


(If this should have been placed in the Razor blade forum, I apologize. I just thought this area would get more feedback from regular SE razor users.)

 

[HoosierTrooper]

Something's amiss because guys get as many as 10-15 shaves from the PTFE coated stainless blades.

 

[lowjax]

I've only tried 2 blades and got a good number of shaves out of the first one.
Am only on my 2nd shave with the 2nd blade.

 

[InfernoOrangeSS]

Something's amiss because guys get as many as 10-15 shaves from the PTFE coated stainless blades.

I thought I had read that on here. I just wanted to be sure from those who routinely SE shave. It is possible that it was just a bad blade. Everything else was the exact same for the shave. I chucked it out after the shave. It was a trying shave to say the least. I will say that I still was able to get a BBS shave out of it, but it was a brutal shave with nicks and lots of razor burn on my neck.
Thank you for your input!

 

[SEnSE]

12+ consistently when I try. Usually I change after 7 otherwise my 200 blades will just last forever.

 

[razorx]

GEM PTFE Stainless Steel Single Edge: 14 Shaves

 

[Batman]

With DE's, SE's and injectors, I don't push it past 3 or 4 shaves. They're cheap enough IMHO. I have no doubt they could go much further. It gives me an excuse to try new ones.

I have found that with SE blades, it's common to have a fresh blade that sucks out of the box.

 

[Mick]

I easily get 14 very comfortable shaves out of a PTFE coated stainless blade. I have one that is on its 3rd pass through the papers. 18 shaves on it at last count and it is still smooth and as sharp as a... well... a razor blade

Are you sure you got the blade set properly? If it is ON the blade stop notches not BEHIND then you are going to get some very nasty results.

When you load the blade make sure that it sets behind the blade stops not on top of them.

A very low blade angle is also a requirement when using a SE razor 5 degrees max. The head should almost ride on your face

 

[InfernoOrangeSS]

I easily get 14 very comfortable shaves out of a PTFE coated stainless blade. I have one that is on its 3rd pass through the papers. 18 shaves on it at last count and it is still smooth and as sharp as a... well... a razor blade

Are you sure you got the blade set properly? If it is ON the blade stop notches not BEHIND then you are going to get some very nasty results.

When you load the blade make sure that it sets behind the blade stops not on top of them.

A very low blade angle is also a requirement when using a SE razor 5 degrees max. The head should almost ride on your face

Yes. I did extensive reading before trying to SE shave. I always make sure it's seated under the stops. I also try to keep the head almost parallel with my face. As I said, the shave the day before was wonderful with the same blade. It didn't come out of the box bad. It's like something happened between yesterday and today. It's just weird.
I'll try again tomorrow with a new blade. I am guessing it was just an anomaly.

 

[cryhavoc]

My last GEM PTFE went 20 shaves before it gave up its ghost. I usually average about 15 shaves per blade

 

[Mick]

Yes. I did extensive reading before trying to SE shave. I always make sure it's seated under the stops. I also try to keep the head almost parallel with my face. As I said, the shave the day before was wonderful with the same blade. It didn't come out of the box bad. It's like something happened between yesterday and today. It's just weird.
I'll try again tomorrow with a new blade. I am guessing it was just an anomaly.

I bought a Damaskeene that had a defective cap spring and would not lock down. It shaved erratically

Check your razor over as you may have a problem with it.

 

[Zagnut]

I don't think it's the blade, it could just be your skin. It's a living thing, after all, and is constantly changing and renewing itself. Today, you might just have been having a thin-skin day, which is a real thing. (A human's skin cycles through thicker and thinner periods depending on a whole slew of factors.)

Generally with SEs, I think the razor has a lot to do with how long a blade lasts.

I have Gem teflon-coated blades last me twenty shaves with the mild (for an SE) Damaskeene or G-Bar. The same blades barely last ten shaves with the far more aggressive 1912 and MMOC.

In fact, I have taken a blade out of my 1912 that I thought was completely knackered and put it in my G-Bar, where it lasted another two weeks!

 

[oldmodnz]

I got 3 good shave days last week with a GEM SS coated, thing died halfway through the day 4 shave tho, pulling the whiskers out and really bad razor burn. I was disappointed to say the least. Still got 4 more blades to try and will I think after a few weeks recovery.

 

[Jayaruh]

I got my first 1912s in September of 2010. With the right blade, I don't know how many shaves I've gotten. Have lost count. I had gotten an Ever-Ready that came with five blades in an auction. I used one of the blades and about ripped my face off. As it turns out these blades were of box cutter quality. When I put in the other blade it was smooth. I have been using this one good blade in a five razor rotation since October. I am looking to get some Gems at Walgreens after reading this forum. I have learned a lot. I have used this one good blade in a Gem, 2 Gem Jrs, Ever-Ready, MMOC, and a Pushbutton. I also have been using a EJ89 and a Schick E, but I really love my 1912s.

 

[burntraven]

Normally I get between 5 to 6 full shaves. But I toss them as soon as they start tugging for me

 

[cpool222]

I get between 10 - 15 shaves with one. Have you watched this video to be sure you're using the right angle, etc.? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUG2B_-D0d4 The only other options I can think of would be that you have an incredibly tough, thick beard or that there could be a razor problem. Have you tried any other SE razors?

 

[JDTTO]

For SE blades I am not even counting but I think over 10 uses before I get the feeling they are past their prime.

During the first few shaves the Gem PTFE blades only improve for me.

 

[Floid_Maniac]

Since two years I am using the GEM PTFE blades (coated stainless steal) for a three pass shave and I get six very good to good shaves out of one blade. I tried to use a blade longer than those six times but with the seventh shave, the blades become too much unsharp against the grain and it is hard to get through my whiskers at the chin and hardest at my moustache. Got realy thick hairs at this two zones.

I like shaving with SE blades and SE razors. I began only with DE razors, nowadays I am shaving for 70% with SE razors and only 30% with DE razors monthly.
One week ago I ordered more than hundred Treet carbon blades. I am curious about how long they will last per blade...

 

[talibeard]

I get up to 9 or 10 shaves out of a coated GEM blade; the first 5 are great, the last only good but still better than most DE-blades at the 3rd or 4th shave. Most DE blades I like give me 2-4 good shaves.

 

[InfernoOrangeSS]

Cap locks down tightly, and holds the blade securely. I think the thin skin theory could be what is happening. As I said, just the day before, the exact same set up gave me a comfortable smooth close shave. I appreciate all the help with technique and other things. I think I have it down pretty good because the day before this shave, I had an amazing shave.
Many many thanks to all who have offered their input! One of the reasons I so love this site is the amazing information that people share.