Thread: My advice for DE newbies; blades

Gentlemen,

I use a new blade for every shave. After going through a parade of blades through the years, my lineup includes Feather, Super Iridium, Polsiver Iridium, Personna Medical Preparation and Personna Red Pack. My stash also includes Perma Sharp Super, Gillette 7 O'Clock yellow packs, Astra and Derby, all of which will not be replaced once gone.

Well, each to their own when it comes to use once and trash it or go for multiple uses. Personally, I am in the camp that hates to waste something no matter how little it costs. I get smooth comfortable shaves for a number of uses out of a DE blade. The number of uses varies with blade brand. When I feel the edge is just starting to degrade for me it gets pitched no matter the number of shaves in. Much the same as I would with a straight razor when deciding when to use a touch up on a finishing hone.

I think too the better your shaving technique and lather is the longer a DE or straight razor blade will last before being pitched or touched up. Ham handed technique will ruin either blade type quicker.

Bob

In my experience, a new blade is a better shave. What i was saying in the original post is that for beginners with a thick beard, it's just too convoluted to involve all of those details. My beard is thick enough that my best shaves are with a new blade. I am not sure what could happen to a blade that can possibly make it better on the 2nd or 3rd use.

I would say for the first month, at least, use a new blade for each shave. Again.....thick beard + no skills. Its like driving a manual transmission. Until you get the clutch and shifting down, you dont operate the radio, change stations, work the wipers, roll the windows down, and drink coffee all in traffic. You go to a vacant parking lot...turn off the radio, and stop and go until you get it.

When learning any new skill, it is always best to eliminate multiple variables at first. Then you can start to experiment with the 'art'. Thats all I am saying.

Please do not read this as if I feel I am an expert...I am a newbie, myself (1year). I am still learning, too.

Been shaving for over 50 years and it' has gotten to the point we have to buy blades on line especially in rural areas. I have a medium beard and Personna Reds or Astra SP gives me 3 comfortable BB shaves with 2 passes +touchup. With my Gillette Fatboy/ Slim or Weber PH. I do miss those Gillette Blues tho.
Some of the drugstore brands I'd have to change blades mid-shave or risk buying lots of Band-aides

I use feather blades exclusively and in the feather DS-2 razor I get three great shaves with them. After that I pitch em. I could probably get a couple more shaves however it's not worth it because the shave starts to degrade.

Since I only shave maybe 2 times a week, sometimes less, I toss a blade after one use. For the same reason, I mainly straight shave....straight razors don't clog!

I used to shave every other day. I shave seven days a week now.(unless I get lazy)(which some times I wish would be every day)

I have a stash of
Wilkinson Sword Classic DE Blades White Container 25-packs of 5 razors ea.
Wilkinson Sword Classic DE Blades Black Container 36-packs of 5 razors ea.
Raley's Generic SS/DE Razor Blades {Made by Wilkinson Sword} 15-packs of 10ea.
Astra Superior Platinum DE 21-packs of 5 razors ea.
CVS Generic SS/DE Razor Blades {made by Personna} 9-packs of 5 razors ea.
ASCO Super Stainless Steel Blades 3-packs of 5 razors ea.
Feather Hi-Stainless Razor Blades 5-packs of 5 razors ea.
Derby Extra Super Stainless DE, 3-packs of 5 razors ea.
Personna Platinum 4-packs of 5 razors ea.
POL/SILVER Super Iridium 3-packs of 5 razors ea.
Gillette 7o'clock Sharp Edge 6-packs of 5 razors ea.
Shark Super Stainless 21-packs of 5 razors ea.
Rapira Platinum Lux0 2-packs of 5 razors ea.
and 144 single wrapped razor blades, it took too long to count them.

I bought the Wilkinson Sword blades in the black containers, I started out with 30 packages. I also bought some of the Wilkinson Sword Blades in the white container. I bought 100 blades, I was given as a PIF 16 packs of 5 razors ea. I bought 100 Astra SP DE razor blades, and was given most of the rest of the Astra, with my Weber 3pc.Razor W/Classic handle. I bought the CVS Generic, I also bought Raley's Generic SS/DE Razor Blades, I bought all of them that they had in a store in Winnemucca
NV. (my wife aka SWMbO and I were traveling in our RV, and stopped to buy groceries)They were closing them out (re-modeling the store) less than a buck a pack. And being as most places don't carry DE razor blades any more I couldn't pass it up. The rest I have received all of them in numerous PIF's I have taken part in.

I usually use a blade for no more than 7 shaves. If I use pre-shave oil I can get 7 to 10 shaves out of a blade. I find that if I take my time not rush thru my shave I never and yes I said never get any "Nick's or Weeper's" if I do not take my time I look like I rubbed a Red Devil Dragon Skin Paint Scraper on my face rather than shaved with a DE/SS Razor. With as many blades that I have , I could use one blade every day. I do change blades usually at 7 uses, or and no more than 10 shaves. If the blade seems to pull I will put in a new blade. I never shave in the shower, and I usually use "Cold Water" to shave. Doing that it seems that I never get Razor Burn.

I average over a year per DE blade.

My safety razor sits unused, on a shelf next to my sink, except when I do a rushed single pass shave and afterwards notice that I missed a small spot. For those minute straight razor failures, I make use of the safety razor, only because they are noticed after I have already cleaned my straight.

I agree..........its wasteful to throw a blade out that has 3 or 4 more shaves on it. I use feathers, and get at least 5 shaves before I feel any sharpness loss.........I was wondering tho.......does it do any good to flip a blade over to get more shaves????

Was curious as to the blade flip as well?

Originally Posted by hozhead

I agree..........its wasteful to throw a blade out that has 3 or 4 more shaves on it. I use feathers, and get at least 5 shaves before I feel any sharpness loss.........I was wondering tho.......does it do any good to flip a blade over to get more shaves????