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What are your tricks?

mrscottishman

mrscottishman

I have heard of many life extending tricks for razor blades. Some dip the razor in alcohol, some in mineral oil or baby oil, others use a hairdryer to dry them.

Let's get them all together in one thread. Here are the questions:

What do you do to extend the life of your blades?

Do you find different soaps or shave oils extend or reduce the life of your blades?

Do you hand strop or strop DE blades in any manner?

(optional)

Did you really buy the pyramid to keep your blades sharp?

Do you hear voices when you don't wear your aluminum foil hat?

Looking forward to your comments,
mrscottishman
 
mblakele

mblakele

I palm-strop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogq4wfpT7hc) before the first shave with a new blade. I don't do this to save money, though: I find that it improves the first shave. Some say that this straightens out microscopic irregularities on the blade's edge, others that it removes excess coating, and still others that it dulls the edge. Possibily everyone is correct.

I have tried palm-stropping blades after every shave, and also after the first tug, but neither seemed to help. I have also tried a squirt of scrubbing bubbles on a sensor cartridge: that did seem to help, but not so much that I've bought any more sensor cartridges.
 
Last edited:
ouch

ouch

Stjynnkii membörd dummpsjterd
mblakele said:
I palm-strop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogq4wfpT7hc) before the first shave with a new blade. I don't do this to save money, though: I find that it improves the first shave. Some say that this straightens out microscoping irregularities on the blade's edge, others that it removes excess coating, and still others that it dulls the edge. Possibily everyone is correct.

I have tried palm-stropping blades after every shave, and also after the first tug, but neither seemed to help. I have also tried a squirt of scrubbing bubbles on a sensor cartridge: that did seem to help, but not so much that I've bought any more sensor cartridges.
Click to expand...

Just don't do any "palm corking".
 
Stubblefield

Stubblefield

mrscottishman said:
I have heard of many life extending tricks for razor blades. . . .

Did you really buy the pyramid to keep your blades sharp?

Do you hear voices when you don't wear your aluminum foil hat?

Looking forward to your comments,
mrscottishman
Click to expand...

My solution: buy more blades. I have never found that the techniques mentioned have any affect at all on blade life. But that's me.

I did have a friend use a pyramid, he said it worked. He kept one under his bed too. I didn't ask why.

I prefer a stainless steel mixing bowl to tinfoil, as stainless steel is aligned to the seventh vibrational frequency of the earth's magnetic field, while aluminum is too hard to pronounce, and therefore evil.

Plus mixing bowls come in handy if you ever need an emergency haircut.

ouch said:
Just don't do any "palm corking".
Click to expand...

Yeah, if you do you will likely need to start palm shaving. So I have heard.

"palm corker" would make such an excellent user title, BTW. For someone else.

Carry on.
 
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GoldenMonkey

GoldenMonkey

I palm strop and I alcohol bath, but neither is to really extend blade life...the stropping is for a smoother shave, and the alcohol is to dull the pain...wait, that's not it...the alcohol is to kill germs (prior to shaving) and to speed drying (after shaving).

I also thigh hone, ear lather, back scratch, and elbow grease.
 
njpaddy

njpaddy

I palm-strop after shaving, mostly to make sure any glue or debris is off the edge and not because I notice any difference in the shave. The blade gets tossed after 2-3 shaves. I'd rather not wait for the irritation or blood to tell me the blade is dull.
 
Alacrity59

Alacrity59

Wanting for wisdom
I keep my blades out of the moonlight and under a pyramid.

I think that proper prep helps with blade life. I'm pretty happy with blade life and have been changing blades after 5 shaves but sometimes when I'm forgetful I've gone 7. I've been doing the straight razor thing for over a month now and was pleased too that the blade (Derby Extra) that was sitting in my DE had no rust on it. Perhaps not messing with my blade helps.

Oh before I forget . . . just kidding about the pyramid. I don't think the moonlight reaches the washroom counter.
 
DE Shaver

DE Shaver

Considering the current cost availability of blades, I don't spend any time extending their life. However, I do dip the razor head with the blade in isopropyl alcohol to displace water after each use. This has the dual benefit of drying of the blade and disinfecting at the same time. A dry blade won't corrode and I find they last longer. For me, I do this mainly to disinfect the blade, however.
 
Futur

Futur

I just got me a strappin' "new" stropper in the mail :)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280460004295

If this works as good as I think, the 200+ blades I have in the drawer will last me a lifetime ;-) The instruction manual say to strop new blades before use, as it makes them smoother and better and to dry them after use by stropping them a few turns. I'm really looking forward to testing this very clever little device :)
 
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