Thread: How many uses from a double edge safety razor blade?

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?

I wonder if the drying between strokes and after use is the culprit, if you're wiping the edge to dry it. I have heard that DE blades have a coating if some kind; I've even had DE blade packages (can't recall brand) that advise not to wipe the blades. After use, I loosen the head to get air-flow to the blade and just let it air dry.

Others will know more, but you might try forgoing the wiping (if you are), and see if you get more life from a blade. I usually see 5-8 shave with no real trouble.

In general DE blades will give from 3-5 shaves depending on the blade and your beard. That's all they are designed for. They have coatings on them which wear off and once that happens they don't work. There are contraptions out there designed for honing the blades but most were designed for the old carbon blades like the Gillette Blues which had no coatings and were heavier blades. The old Lillicraps glass hones are probably the ones you see the most.

I think deepweeds hit it right on the nose. With a straight razor we have to be careful when stropping so that we do not dull the blade. Im would really think drying the DE aids in bluntiong the edges. Just try to leave it wet after rinsing the DE. And after use leave the DE on top of a cotton towel for a lil bit for the cotton to soak up any excess water.

Originally Posted by deepweeds

I wonder if the drying between strokes and after use is the culprit, if you're wiping the edge to dry it. I have heard that DE blades have a coating if some kind; I've even had DE blade packages (can't recall brand) that advise not to wipe the blades. After use, I loosen the head to get air-flow to the blade and just let it air dry.

Others will know more, but you might try forgoing the wiping (if you are), and see if you get more life from a blade. I usually see 5-8 shave with no real trouble.

OK thanks, that makes sense I'll try it. I actually only started drying the blade as the directions for one of the creams I tried stated to do so.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

In general DE blades will give from 3-5 shaves depending on the blade and your beard. That's all they are designed for. They have coatings on them which wear off and once that happens they don't work. There are contraptions out there designed for honing the blades but most were designed for the old carbon blades like the Gillette Blues which had no coatings and were heavier blades. The old Lillicraps glass hones are probably the ones you see the most.

Cool thanks for that info, with the low cost of DE blades there's no way I'm sharpening them :-)

Originally Posted by dexter90723

I think deepweeds hit it right on the nose. With a straight razor we have to be careful when stropping so that we do not dull the blade. Im would really think drying the DE aids in bluntiong the edges. Just try to leave it wet after rinsing the DE. And after use leave the DE on top of a cotton towel for a lil bit for the cotton to soak up any excess water.

Will do, thanks.

I use mainly a Gillette TTO, I remove the blade after every shave, wipe the residue of the blade & edge with a QTip under running water, lay it on a towel, pat it dry & insert it again for the next shave. I get 7 great shaves out of a Feather & 5 out of Sharks. Drying the blade does not effect the edge as far as I can tell.

The shave takes a little longer,,,but this week went to an open comb 3 piece Gillette, 4 great shaves out of a Shark with leaving the blade in each time, onlt wiping water off the head & handle.

I've heard everything from 1 shave to 10. There will be many factors that determine how long a blade will last - beard thickness, prep, technique, blade care - but keep in mind that these are mass manufactured products and QC can certainly be a variable.

With my beard and technique most blades will last for 3 comfortable shaves, any more than that and I court irritation. I have experimented with a technique called palm stropping; if I palm strop after the initial 3 shaves I can make a blade last 5 shaves, but I've found diminishing returns at that point. At an average cost of $0.50 a blade (or less for some) I'm not going to complain

After going to the open comb & not taking it apart to clean the blade each time, I saw no difference in the amount of shaves from the blade. I think I was over doing it with the TTO, so I'm just going to leave the blade in until after my blades are done,,,then clean the razor out & put a fresh blade in.

Four max on a feather.