I'm sure it's been asked a billion times, but how long do go before changing blades?

[nycalling]

I know a lot of it has to do with a host of different factors, from the blades themselves (Feathers, love them) to the frequency (generally every day, alternating with BBS or as close to it and bumping the ugly off) and how your hair comes in (pretty thick : I pretty much need to shave every day, but I can't go for a BBS every day or my skin gets a little irritated.)

The reason I ask is that the esteemed gentleman who first got me into shaving was telling me how he changed his blade every three shaves. I've been going about nine to ten myself (basically a week and a couple of days I find myself changing my blade) which he was surprised at. Of course, I was trumped by another wet shaver who stated he goes every two weeks. He also said he drags his feather across a cork when he first changes it. Never heard of that before, and he highly recommended it.

So, I'm curious as to how often you guys change blades, the blade type, and if you know what the hell the cork does to help. I appreciated any advice possible.

 

[cb91710]

Before I went to Str8s, I was able to get 0 good shaves from a Derby, 3 from an Astra-SP, and I had just finished the 4th on my first 7:00-Yellow and felt that it would have been good for #5, but I moved on to straights.
Some claim 2 good shaves from a Feather, others claim 20.
Other blades offer different results.
I still use carts to shave my head and I go a full 7 days before changing. I can sometimes push to 8 or 9, but at some point I'm going to start getting nicks and burn, so it's just easier to remember to change the cart every Sunday night.


"Corking" the blade will tend to smooth some of the roughness left from the factory sharpening.
It's not unlike stropping a straight razor.
Don't put any pressure on the blade. As you said, he just "drags" the blade over the cork. It might put a tiny cut in it, but not much.

 

[TGilly]

I usually get a good 4 shaves from Sharks and Derby blades. Doing 2-3 passes each time. I guess it depends on your amount of pressure and the number of passes per shave.

 

[Toothpick]

im a one shave and out guy. any blade. one shave. personally i don't like the thought of using a used blade on my face.

 

[dchapman]

im a one shave and out guy. any blade. one shave. personally i don't like the thought of using a used blade on my face.

+1

With pretty much any blade(I get BBS from DerbyX and then change it the next time) @7 cents a blade I'm not complaining. With any blade(in my experience) it's never as good as the first.

 

[Lion and the Fox]

Do what feels right. It's your money, and your blades. YMMV, so it really depends on a myriad of factors. I personally use a DE blade about 4-5 shaves (3 passes) and an SE for 6 shaves (2 passes). But, I've run into certain blades that I've used once and thrown away in disgust, or I may have had 2 shaves and tossed.

 

[Omp]

I've made a decision over the last week or so to always stop at 2 shaves per blade. I just seem to get a bit of pulling as a blade gets older. Given how cheap they are, I don't see the point in trying to max out the use of a blade at the risk of discomfort.

 

[tmurzz]

I currently do 5 with feathers -- 2-3 pass shaves with a slant, I could probably do another but I don't.

 

[Alpine Dad]

I am brand new to double edge wet shaving so I am doing three shaves per blade and then out. As I am currently working on every single aspect of my technique, I thought it would be easier to simply replace the blade every three shaves. So far I am pretty much bleeding every day, so I do not need to complicate things by trying to get more shaves out of a blade.

Cheers, Chris

 

[ChiefBroom]

I use Astra SPs in a ball-handled LC New. Bought 200 for about 10 cents per blade. I shave twice with one and then re-load. I could probably get more shaves, but the second is the best, and it goes downhill from there. At a nickel per shave, I'm happy.

It's hard to say how many passess I do. I do one WTG and then one ATG, but the latter comprises countless short strokes that blend into polishing.

Before the switch to LC News, I used Feathers in TTOs and generally swapped after about 3 shaves, which is what I used to get for the most part out of cartridges.

 

[Jawaburger]

This is a very personal thing. Everyone has different facial hair and not everyone uses the same blade. Some blades seem to last longer than others so that is a variable too.

In conclusion, shave with the blade until it is no longer a satisfactory shave. For me, I usually average 3 comfortable shaves per blade.

 

[sir-nix-alot]

You can get a lot out of a blade if you need to... I shaved with a Bic Chrome Platinum for 19 consecutive days and stopped not cause I needed to but because it was skipping hairs that I could have easily snagged with XTG / ATG passes (at the time I was doing 2x WTG "experiment"). I think the guys who are 1 and done are nuts cause my more comfortable shaves are always shaves 2-3 on any blade. I've been changing out at 3-4 just cause I have a ton of blades to sample.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...ual-quot-One-Blade-in-February-quot-Challenge

 

[Magnaminous_G]

two shaves... sometimes three, and then I toss an Astra SP. They are cheap.

 

[attime6]

On average every 4 shaves. This may be different for you depending on what brand and how thick your beard is.

 

[abrasive]

before i went to str8s, i was able to get 0 good shaves from a derby

lmao

 

[InHotWater]

3 or 4,then out the door

 

[sk0ttomann]

I usually get 5-6 good shaves out of a feather blade. I find that the first shave with a fresh feather is always the worst, no matter which razor I use. I wish I could just skip the first shave with a feather, because I love how they perform after they're broken in...

 

[ChiefBroom]

lmao

+1

 

[Bubblehead]

I get 3 weeks of comfortable daily shaves with a Hydro 5 cart, or longer if I were willing to tolerate nicks (which I'm not). Wait, you guys are talking about DEs. Nevermind.

 

[PugslyCat]

Blades will tell you when they have been in the razor too long. They will do so in a not very nice manner by dragging, tugging and causing extra nicks and cuts.

I change blades every Monday rather than wait for that little memo from the blade. That means I'm getting 5-7 shaves per blade. There has usually been some life left in each blade, but at under a dime per blade it just isn't worth using them until they bite.

A couple of blades have been duds and needed to be changed after just a few shaves. Never argue when the blade tells you it needs changed. Just stop in the middle of your shave and do it, or else.