I've been using a safety razor for a couple of years now, have watched countless videos and read many guides and I think I'm getting somewhere but the one thing I can't seem to figure out is how to make the blade last more than one or two shaves. So how many times should I be able to use a 'Feather NEW Hi-Stainless double edge Platinum blade'?

Currently I'm using a Merkur razor with Feather blade and usually with some kind of shaving creme, soap or gel (still trying to find something that's cheap and works for me). The first shave with the new blade is great, no snagging etc but on the second shave I get a bit of pulling and resistance from the blade and the third shave is awful no matter which side of the blade I use, cuts, rash, tugging etc.

I always dry the blade between strokes after rinsing off lather and I always rinse and dry after use and I've even tried soaking it in surgical spirit between shaves. I do have very coarse thick stubble which grows at a shallow angle so if I do have to use a new blade every time I shave then that's fine, but just wanted to know if I'm doing anything wrong etc? I have tried different blades but it seems sharp blades irritate and cut me (sensitive skin) and blunt blades don't get the through the stubble and just tug and pull! I think the feather feels somewhere between sharp and blunt, that right?