Threshold for changing blades.

[AceyMan]

I normally use them until I notice some loss of performance, or until I have too many blades in progress to keep track of.

This is my "Board o' Blades" that's affixed next to the medicine cabinet in my den.

It's a small dry erase board & pen with neodymium magnets (fwiw, nearly all these boards are magnetic now) in strategic spots. A permanent fine Sharpie sits on top in case I want to track shaves by putting marks on the blade or some similar tactic.

Easy peasy.

/Acey

You'll notice the clock position of the blade matches the number of shaves. That way if one gets "erased," I have the other one to fall back on. Plus, it's just cool to do it with the clock method .

 

[namya]

A very subjective topic of discussion but Feather and Kai go on for 10-14 easily for me. They get oh-so-smooth after the 3rd shave and continue changing character after each use without getting unusable. I am using Timor currently and changes blades every 3 shaves.

 

[Frasier]

The first sign of a slight tug or pull and it goes bye bye. I have really coarse hair, and typically get 3 or 4 shaves out of a blade.

 

[BigJ]

I use a blade until it is ‘done’ (by definition until it is uncomfortable.) Some blades are only good for 2-3 shaves. In contrast, my ‘top-tier’ blades are routinely good for 7-10 shaves, sometimes more.

 

[Highspeedlane]

I generally try to use a stainless steel blade for at least 2 shaves but that's about it. The rationale is I have so many blades that I'm going to pass on and leave behind thousands of blades, so better get moving and enjoy them while I can. Carbon steel blades are one and done.

 

[Lane101]

Ok would like to get some people's thoughts on this subject. Yes I understand that some people will change blades no matter what at 1,2,3,4 shaves and then blade is done, but for those that don't have a fixed life of a blade what do you look for before changing a blade?

I thought about this when today was my 8th shave (i'm a freak and do WTG,ATG and XTG every shave with a ton of touch ups to where there is zero chance of a single hair that can be felt. I am really picky in what i call BBS. I mean nothing nowhere. usually after multiple passes on those "impossible spots" I usually get a weeper here and there, but can cut my face today and it will be shave ready tomorrow morning. No trace of a cut or weeper.

Today I got 3 weepers, even though very small, still weepers. but realized this is the 8th or 9th day I have used the Game Changer .84p on the same blade but got a perfect BBS. So is this a sign that I should change the blade even though it's still giving me a BBS?

What's your threshold?

Generally when the blade starts to feel a bit rough, likely due to tugging. Depending on brand this means my blades average anything from 3-7 shaves (Derby Extra) to 8-12 shaves (Dorco). Happy to go above these ranges if the blades are still good with some outliers hitting the low 20's.

One thing I've learned is that if there is a sudden deterioration from one shave to the next that it may be something in my technique such as insufficiently slick lather (not enough water) or a failure to adjust from a mild to more aggressive razor. Realizing this has delayed a significant number of blade from premature disposal enabling many more excellent shaves from the same blade.

 

[Lane101]

This is my "Board o' Blades" that's affixed next to the medicine cabinet in my den.

It's a small dry erase board & pen with neodymium magnets (fwiw, nearly all these boards are magnetic now) in strategic spots. A permanent fine Sharpie sits on top in case I want to track shaves by putting marks on the blade or some similar tactic.

Easy peasy.

/Acey

You'll notice the clock position of the blade matches the number of shaves. That way if one gets "erased," I have the other one to fall back on. Plus, it's just cool to do it with the clock method .View attachment 1994739

I like it - great way to track a blade rotation that looks as complex as my soap rotation! My big decision for each shave is to choose one of my soaps or creams. For blades I only ever have one in play at a time not changing until the blade is worn. Also I use the same razor for the life of the blade, once installed it stays there until it's time for disposal. Great hobby here that we are all able to tailor to our preferences.

Curious, do you notice a difference in the shave quality of your different blades? In my case shave quality across my four brands is similar with the exception of blade longevity.

 

[cranewarrior]

I personally feel like I could use a blade dozens and dozens of times, provided I am willing to accept that it doesn't feel like a new blade. Anyone know what I mean? Once a blade has been used maybe 5-6 times, it simply won't feel the same. The coating has been shredded probably and the hone from the edges are gone. But for me, I can keep going it seems indefinitely. The blade will still cut hair - it won't feel as nice and yeah I have to spend time cleaning up more than with a fresh blade, but it's still usable.

I have two budget blades, a FlyDear and a Treet Dura Sharp, that I have shave counts in the 30s on. I haven't binned them because this is a game I am playing with myself - I certainly do not need to stretch the life of my blades as I have thousands. But when does the game end? I don't have bad shaves with them. No tugging, no skin irritation nor razor burn if I prep well.

So my answer to OP is I dunno.

 

[CdnShaveGuy]

I generally try to use a stainless steel blade for at least 2 shaves but that's about it. The rationale is I have so many blades that I'm going to pass on and leave behind thousands of blades, so better get moving and enjoy them while I can. Carbon steel blades are one and done.

Agreed! Since I've recently migrated from Electric Shaver and Disposable Razors combination… I'm trying new DE blades and was averaging 3 shaves but dropped to 2 shaves per day so I can get through Sample Packs (5 per brand) quicker to determine which ones I like for eventual repurchases.

Since DE blades are so cheap, I look at this whole process as a new adventure while also learning (a) what works better for my skin/facial hair type and sadly, (b) what I've been missing out on at the same time.

 

[Orlandez]

I agree with all those who said that this a subjective matter also related to the blade brand and model.
I generally don’t use a blade more than 3 or 4 times; this week, however, I’ve used a Personna Med Prep for 5 times without noticing any differences so I’ll continue with that until it becomes unable to produce a BBS condition.

 

[WThomas0814]

Four and out.

Lab Blues are $11.99/100 at NOS Barber Supply. Less than $0.03 per shave.

I didn't care for AccuForge blades, and, since I already blew February GRUME, I ordered another 500 yesterday. Now I'm set for about 21 years.

 

[HoosierTrooper]

Four and out.

Lab Blues are $11.99/100 at NOS Barber Supply. Less than $0.03 per shave.

I didn't care for AccuForge blades, and, since I already blew February GRUME, I ordered another 500 yesterday. Now I'm set for about 21 years.

How much do they charge for shipping?

 

[HoosierTrooper]

How much do they charge for shipping?

Disregard, I went to the site and put some in my cart, $14 for shipping. No thanks.

 

[WThomas0814]

How much do they charge for shipping?

Free shipping if you spend $100. I didn't bother. Shipping was $13.99, which is a bit high. So, $73 for 500 blades. Cheaper than Amazon.

 

[D19M]

I prefer to use a blade only 2 or 3 times, that's a blade a week for me, I don't have to remember how many shaves it's been used for, every Sunday a fresh blade.

 

[HoosierTrooper]

Free shipping if you spend $100. I didn't bother. Shipping was $13.99, which is a bit high. So, $73 for 500 blades. Cheaper than Amazon.

Yeah, $14 for shipping is way too high and I would never buy 500 blades at a time.

 

[WThomas0814]

Yeah, $14 for shipping is way too high and I would never buy 500 blades at a time.

Especially since the total distance they will travel to my door is about 100 miles.

I probably wouldn't have bought 500 either, but I expect the supply of Personna Lab Blues to eventually dry up, since numerous online stores now only have AccuForge. As I said, I didn't really like them and they are WAY more expensive than Lab Blues, which is the only blade I use.

I know they are supposed to be the same, so, maybe it was me, but, I found the AccuForge to be a harsher blade. Shave one on a Lab Blue is the roughest, and its still pretty smooth. The second shave on an AccuForge feels rougher than the first on a Lab Blue, then they are pretty much dead after the third shave. I always get four out of a Lab Blue.

They feel almost like Med Preps, which are the worst blades I've ever used. They are horrible for me, not to mention they are insultingly expensive.

 

[Odinarcade00]

I normally use them until I notice some loss of performance, or until I have too many blades in progress to keep track of.

I second that. Whenever the shave feels less satisfactory I toss.

 

[motto]

SOTD 20250301
Prep: Razorock pre barba
Bowl: Ceramiche di Sicilia
Brush: Wald Nimbus J4
Soap: Razorock Plague Doctor
Razor: Barbaros TR3
Blade: Personna Platinum Chrome
Post: Alum Rub
AS: Razorock Plague Doctor

Best Regards
Marco

 

[njpaddy]

In my experience tossing a blade one or two shaves too early is better than one shave too late. When I shaved every other day, two shaves on a blade were my limit to avoid irritation. Now well into retirement and only shaving a few times a month, I toss even my most expensive, sharper blades after one use. Even the most expensive blades are only $.50-$1, less than a cup of coffee, so I never understood extending their use.