I have no idea, but I'm going to find out - I have 496 left in my den.
So. How far would YOU go?
- Thread starter Mick
- Start date
I have no idea, but I'm going to find out - I have 496 left in my den.
Keep us up-to-date. I'm curious now.
..
Update for the three first weeks and three days:
I was so excited when I received the Wilkinsons I immediately started using them in the middle of the week. I did three shaves and one full week with this setup, except for daily variations of the aftershave.
Week 1
26 mm Pur Tech synthetic brush, US C2 Tech on Connaught handle, Mystic Waters Vanilla Sandalwood, the Wilkie and Old Spice
Week 2
31 mm Pur Tech Synth, British Flat Bottom Tech on Connaught handle, Mystic Waters Vanilla Sandalwood, the Wilkie and DRH Windsor ASB
Week 3
US Aristocrat '34, M&F Chief, the Wilkie, Mystic Waters Vanilla Sandalwood, and Castle Forbes Lime ASB
All in all I can report that the blade has now reached the 'buttery edge' status and that the shaves are very predictable, comfortable and effortless.
By going to a slightly more efficient razor each week I keep the clean up pass very short thus sparing the blade.
I was so excited when I received the Wilkinsons I immediately started using them in the middle of the week. I did three shaves and one full week with this setup, except for daily variations of the aftershave.
Week 1
26 mm Pur Tech synthetic brush, US C2 Tech on Connaught handle, Mystic Waters Vanilla Sandalwood, the Wilkie and Old Spice
Week 2
31 mm Pur Tech Synth, British Flat Bottom Tech on Connaught handle, Mystic Waters Vanilla Sandalwood, the Wilkie and DRH Windsor ASB
Week 3
US Aristocrat '34, M&F Chief, the Wilkie, Mystic Waters Vanilla Sandalwood, and Castle Forbes Lime ASB
All in all I can report that the blade has now reached the 'buttery edge' status and that the shaves are very predictable, comfortable and effortless.
By going to a slightly more efficient razor each week I keep the clean up pass very short thus sparing the blade.
Week 4 report, currently on shave No. 25.
Vie-Long 24/50 all white custom horse brush, Rocket HD, MV Vanilla sandalwood, the Wilkie and 4711 AS
About my shaving : My way of shaving consists of a shower, face wash to exfoliate, brush soaking in cold water during shower, cold water shaving with 2+ passes (XTG, ATG + clean up), cold water rinse and an AS. I pick up the soap from a puck or apply the puck or stick directly to my face. I apply extra moisturizer once a week or daily during cold/dry season. I shave every day and all my shaves for the last five years have been BBS.
I have for the last year become interested in how to improve my shaves and while talking to an elderly gent I came to realize that the modern wetshaver is using only a fraction of the capabilities of a DE blade. I started stretching the blade life and much to my amazement I found that this blade stretching positively affected the quality of the shaves.
So this obsession with blade life is not about saving money - that ship has for me sailed several years ago! - rather it's about elevating the quality of the shaves. I do see that my interest in this comes from the fact that I DE shave on doctors orders after messing up my skin with a rotating Philips ( Norelco) contraption and alcohol based splashes many years ago.
Life is too short for inferior shaves.
Vie-Long 24/50 all white custom horse brush, Rocket HD, MV Vanilla sandalwood, the Wilkie and 4711 AS
About my shaving : My way of shaving consists of a shower, face wash to exfoliate, brush soaking in cold water during shower, cold water shaving with 2+ passes (XTG, ATG + clean up), cold water rinse and an AS. I pick up the soap from a puck or apply the puck or stick directly to my face. I apply extra moisturizer once a week or daily during cold/dry season. I shave every day and all my shaves for the last five years have been BBS.
I have for the last year become interested in how to improve my shaves and while talking to an elderly gent I came to realize that the modern wetshaver is using only a fraction of the capabilities of a DE blade. I started stretching the blade life and much to my amazement I found that this blade stretching positively affected the quality of the shaves.
So this obsession with blade life is not about saving money - that ship has for me sailed several years ago! - rather it's about elevating the quality of the shaves. I do see that my interest in this comes from the fact that I DE shave on doctors orders after messing up my skin with a rotating Philips ( Norelco) contraption and alcohol based splashes many years ago.
Life is too short for inferior shaves.
I just finished up 47 shaves with a vintage English Wilkie. They are very nice blades. However, I will say that that's only a couple of shaves more than I do with modern Feathers.
See here for more on extended blade life: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/431416-Excalibur-Club-Blade-Longevity-DE-SE-and-Injector
It's possible, but I get 40+ shaves from any given Feather ( and most other blades), so in my case it's no anomaly. It's the norm.
The effort from Turtle to go 100+ seems to be unreachable for the time being. I do know that I don't have the exact same variant of the English Wilkie as he had. The main difference might however be that he did 4+ pass shaves and I do 2+ passes - he did twice as many passes as I do...
Didn't know about the Excalibur Club - will visit!
I'm up to day 12 using a Feather, though there has been some degradation of the blade - but nothing major.
Actually, I want to get my technique up so I can finally use this:
This blade is said to be close to the widely revered Light Brigade blades. Then, I can be just like Turtle.
Actually, I want to get my technique up so I can finally use this:
This blade is said to be close to the widely revered Light Brigade blades. Then, I can be just like Turtle.
Out of respect of the fact that the OP Mick (Turtle) doesn't seem to be posting any more on these boards I have decided to continue my reporting on my adventure with the old Wilkinson blade over at the Excalibur Club thread: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...vity-DE-SE-and-Injector?p=6899536#post6899536 .
Last edited:
A Palmolive shave stick too. I use that. After reading http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/445023-100-shaves-on-one-blade/page3
I might have a go at prolonging the life of my blades. I usually need to perform 3 passes then a touch up. Only new blades in my arsenal too but on that thread a guy mentioned feathers lasting a very long time.
I might have a go at prolonging the life of my blades. I usually need to perform 3 passes then a touch up. Only new blades in my arsenal too but on that thread a guy mentioned feathers lasting a very long time.
