This is a blatant copy of Doc's thread on how many shaves you can get from a straight without honing it. In this case, I am going to use a Feather RG, DX, or SS and a Pro-Guard blade to see how many shaves I can get from it without changing out the blade. Most of the time, I just pop a new blade in if I've used it three or four times.
My reasons are probably shallow - I just want to do this for me.
What got me thinking about it was my experience on a camping trip this weekend. I shaved on the campsite on Saturday with a Japanese style RG and a Super-Pro blade. I did a two pass and had a DFS. Sunday, I was home and shaved with a Pro and an RG folder. Again, two passes and I had an excellent DFS with BBS available if I had gone ATG on my cheeks. Today, I used an SS folder and a Pro-Guard blade - which is a likely blade choice for a new person - at least it seems that way since most resales of them include the razor and a partially used pack of Guard blades.
The Guard is less aggressive but still damn sharp and it gives a good shave. However, Guard blades are expensive... they are essentially the Pro blade with a wire shield on them. If you do Bistro math on them, they end up being about twice the cost of a pack of Pro blades. They probably give a new shaver a little ease of mind - maybe a false sense of ease to at least a little extent since they can still cut you. However, I admit that I used them as my first blades and was relieved to find out I didn't give myself a face peel. Of course, I then found out the other blades were just fine, too.
Because I have purchased several used AC razors (think Gold Dollars only... uh... more expensive and... uh... totally different ) - I have several nearly full packs of Guard blades so I decided to use them and began wondering what the outcome would be.
The shave today was identical to the shaves with the Pro and the Super Pro. I did notice that the blade wasn't as aggressive but it carved off the whiskers just fine. I decided to use it until I didn't like the result. Typical reports of seven shaves with a Pro seem to mean I can get seven shaves out of this. We'll see!
I am pretty particular about the sharpness and I will not push the limits on the blade. If it starts to tug, I will stop the test. I don't want to test the far limits. This test will probably only be valid for me but, like with Doc's thread, it will be a data point.
Things I will use/do each time:
1. AOS Badger Brush
2. Keep brush warm in travel scuttle by Dirty Bird
3. Warm water prep and leave lather on until scuttle gets warmed up
4. Two pass (wtg, xtg except on the neck where I do wtg and then atg)
5. Alcohol splash and then witch hazel
6. ASB will be Lubriderm 3 way
7. Same Pro-Guard blade
Monday Morning Shave
1. Feather SS folder
2. Cheech by Razorock - face lather (I get pretty eclectic about this but will stay with known soaps for the test)
3. Clubman Citrus Musk
Result - very smooth shave (DFS with BBS if I had done atg on my cheeks). I took the blade out and wiped it down before installing it again and letting the razor rest. I typically do that with all my AC blades.
My reasons are probably shallow - I just want to do this for me.
What got me thinking about it was my experience on a camping trip this weekend. I shaved on the campsite on Saturday with a Japanese style RG and a Super-Pro blade. I did a two pass and had a DFS. Sunday, I was home and shaved with a Pro and an RG folder. Again, two passes and I had an excellent DFS with BBS available if I had gone ATG on my cheeks. Today, I used an SS folder and a Pro-Guard blade - which is a likely blade choice for a new person - at least it seems that way since most resales of them include the razor and a partially used pack of Guard blades.
The Guard is less aggressive but still damn sharp and it gives a good shave. However, Guard blades are expensive... they are essentially the Pro blade with a wire shield on them. If you do Bistro math on them, they end up being about twice the cost of a pack of Pro blades. They probably give a new shaver a little ease of mind - maybe a false sense of ease to at least a little extent since they can still cut you. However, I admit that I used them as my first blades and was relieved to find out I didn't give myself a face peel. Of course, I then found out the other blades were just fine, too.
Because I have purchased several used AC razors (think Gold Dollars only... uh... more expensive and... uh... totally different ) - I have several nearly full packs of Guard blades so I decided to use them and began wondering what the outcome would be.
The shave today was identical to the shaves with the Pro and the Super Pro. I did notice that the blade wasn't as aggressive but it carved off the whiskers just fine. I decided to use it until I didn't like the result. Typical reports of seven shaves with a Pro seem to mean I can get seven shaves out of this. We'll see!
I am pretty particular about the sharpness and I will not push the limits on the blade. If it starts to tug, I will stop the test. I don't want to test the far limits. This test will probably only be valid for me but, like with Doc's thread, it will be a data point.
Things I will use/do each time:
1. AOS Badger Brush
2. Keep brush warm in travel scuttle by Dirty Bird
3. Warm water prep and leave lather on until scuttle gets warmed up
4. Two pass (wtg, xtg except on the neck where I do wtg and then atg)
5. Alcohol splash and then witch hazel
6. ASB will be Lubriderm 3 way
7. Same Pro-Guard blade
Monday Morning Shave
1. Feather SS folder
2. Cheech by Razorock - face lather (I get pretty eclectic about this but will stay with known soaps for the test)
3. Clubman Citrus Musk
Result - very smooth shave (DFS with BBS if I had done atg on my cheeks). I took the blade out and wiped it down before installing it again and letting the razor rest. I typically do that with all my AC blades.
