Sorry to take so long Chuck. Depending on the make i get 5 to 8 or 10. The longest lasting ones also are the best, Schick Deluxe with Krona Edge. Here's a pic of the dispenser@Mouser , how many shaves, on average, do you get from vintage blued carbon steel blades in excellent condition? Thanks in advance!
I understand the concept of experiencing a razor "as it was" by using a period appropriate blade. But, in terms of practicality, there is a major technological break point to consider, and that is the transition from carbon steel blades to stainless.Should we be using blades that most match what was actually available and used at the time that razor was made? I would assume this will give the most authentic shaving experience with it, in how it actually performed.
Wow, I can only get 3 or so from a modern blued blade!Sorry to take so long Chuck. Depending on the make i get 5 to 8 or 10. The longest lasting ones also are the best, Schick Deluxe with Krona Edge. Here's a pic of the dispenser
Do you do any post shave care? After your shave, take the blade out of the razor, rinse it, then dip it in either alcohol or mineral oil to displace any water on it. ( I use alcohol). Then place the blade on a piece of tissue paper to dry. This will stop or at least slow down the rusting or corrosive process and your blade will last longer.Wow, I can only get 3 or so from a modern blued blade!
The closest I'll probably get to the full razor/blade vintage experience with my '54 Flare Tip is to load it up with a Spoiler and just pretend that it is 1965.
I'd recommend a modern carbon steel blade, like one of the Treets. They are really nice."Vintage blades" would have lost their sharpness and efficiency by now. Or if you would permit a pun, they "would have lost their edge."
I would have no interest in shaving with a blade that is over say 25 years old, or maybe less. I have tough whiskers and blades in storage do deteriorate. Shaving with a vintage blade would not be a pleasant experience. I would rather shave with a new Derby or Dorco blade, if you get my drift.
What is your reason to say that its impossible to degrade over time? Because they will. The ones I use have been kept double, triple airtight sealed otherwise they would have too. But I wouldn't use any that old anyways. In fact I had and tried those very blades myself with the same results as you but that is not what they were like when they were new or most men would have worn beards. They absolutely were able to put an edge on all sorts of things every bit as sharp as today, especially seeing how razor blade manufacturers today are not using the best technology and production processes available or they'd price themselves out of their target markets.A couple of years ago I used a WW2-era Personna blade from a mailer made for sending to troops. It was brand new in the wrapper. See below.
It was a pretty rough shave. Not because blades get duller over time, because that's impossible. It was because of the technology changes. The blades today have sharper edges, and the coating on them really help out. I use the blade a couple of times, but my face really felt it after each shave.
I remove the blade from the razor, dab it dry on tissue paper, and let it dry on the tissue paper. I was not seeing rust on the blade edge, but the blade had definitely dulled.Do you do any post shave care? After your shave, take the blade out of the razor, rinse it, then dip it in either alcohol or mineral oil to displace any water on it. ( I use alcohol). Then place the blade on a piece of tissue paper to dry. This will stop or at least slow down the rusting or corrosive process and your blade will last longer.
What is your reason to say that its impossible to degrade over time? Because they will. The ones I use have been kept double, triple airtight sealed otherwise they would have too. But I wouldn't use any that old anyways. In fact I had and tried those very blades myself with the same results as you but that is not what they were like when they were new or most men would have worn beards. They absolutely were able to put an edge on all sorts of things every bit as sharp as today, especially seeing how razor blade manufacturers today are not using the best technology and production processes available or they'd price themselves out of their target markets.
I ain't got a dog in this fight, but I remember hearing/reading that a piggy bank left untouched will see the heavier coins work their way to the bottom, something about barely perceptible vibrations from traffic, people walking in the house etc....They're steel items wrapped in a container. By what process could the edges possibly get duller? I'm assuming no rust on the blade. The edge is just sitting there, doing nothing. Not a chance that it just dulls with age. But if you can quote some scientific principle that steel edges get dull over time without any usage, I'm happy to hear it.
Ok, most of you probably know I'm a vintage only blade guy. Ill keep it short and won't relate how I've acquired the info and my opinions. Back when all the world used safety razors there were different grades of blades produced for different markets, price points. Men of developed countries could afford and wanted the best made. When that market switched to multibladed razors the only blades left in production were the less expensive options. By far the biggest market for razor blades are third world men. Vintage blades even at their original list prices adjusted for inflation are more expensive than the top end current models because they were higher quality. Better blades could be made today with modern technology but shavers like us are not enough to make them profitable.
First of all, oxidation occurs unless its wrapped airtight, extremely airtight rust never sleeps and it doesn't matter if the blades been used or not. And local climate can speed up the process,, a little thing called humidity. Then there's the process of atomic migration. It has been explained to me as another cause of an edge dulling over time but my understanding is limited. You'll have to Google it. " can an unused blade dull over time and how", I'd suggest.They're steel items wrapped in a container. By what process could the edges possibly get duller? I'm assuming no rust on the blade. The edge is just sitting there, doing nothing. Not a chance that it just dulls with age. But if you can quote some scientific principle that steel edges get dull over time without any usage, I'm happy to hear it.
First of all, oxidation occurs unless its wrapped airtight, extremely airtight rust never sleeps and it doesn't matter if the blades been used or not. And local climate can speed up the process,, a little thing called humidity. Then there's the process of atomic migration. It has been explained to me as another cause of an edge dulling over time but my understanding is limited. You'll have to Google it. " can an unused blade dull over time and how", I'd suggest.
I do the same with my blades. But most carbon blades, vintage blades, are too far gone for that to help. I'm careful to ask for the provenance of carbon blades especially. Where they've been and how they've been stored all these years.I ordered some vintage blades on eBay where the wrappers look good, just to give them a try and report back. I strop all blades before using them, which should help with the "minute oxidation".
They date from around the WW2 era. There is a thread discussing the razors here Vintage Military Razor ID needed - Federal Simplex brass and Bakelite razors? - https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/vintage-military-razor-id-needed-federal-simplex-brass-and-bakelite-razors.443041/My brother gave me these. Has any one tried or know anything about them? I haven't tried to shave with them yet.
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You got a good rundown from @Alum Ladd on the provenance of these blades. I would add that, like all DE blades made before about the mid-1960s, these are carbon steel (as opposed to stainless). Carbon steel is very susceptible to corrosion so the condition of the edges of these blades, even though new and sealed, is likely not great at this point in their life. I have some of these myself, but I doubt I'll summon the courage to try them.My brother gave me these. Has any one tried or know anything about them? I haven't tried to shave with them yet.