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OK, I'm probably being obsessive and returning to the safety razor. Should have stuck with it all these years.
How do you keep track of the edge you are using so as to maximize the number of shaves you get? Do you use one edge exclusively and switch to the other when it starts to pull?
Do you use one edge on one side of your face and the other edge on the other side?
Do you just use an edge at random, throwing the blade away when one starts pulling?
OK, I'm obsessive compulsive.
I just use both edges during a shave and pitch the blade when it starts pulling.
Bob
Same here. Too much of a hassle to try and isolate one edge or the other. Blades are comparatively cheap.Quote:
Originally Posted by BobH
I use to method of, one pass, one rinse, one flip of the wrist and I use the other side and start over, I was taking the blade out also and flipping that for a new side or edge but the blade flexes so much and wraps around the whisker I doubt if it will make a difference. So much get thrown at the blade, shave cream lather, the whisker, dragging on the skin, maybe even some skin itself, it gets worn either way.
I'm with Bob, dotn pay any attention to which edge I'm using just change when it needs changing
I use both sides of razor blade during shaving. Usually shave until lather builds up on razor and then flip to the other side and fill it up and then rinse and repeat until shave complete. I only pitch blades when they start to drag which can vary widely based on the blade. Some only last 3 shaves and others I've had last 75 shaves. I've also thrown some blades out after the first shave due to them not shaving well to start with. My two favorite blades for comfort of shave and longevity are Wilkinson(Germany) and the Astra SP, but there are many others that are good too. YMMV
I go one edge till it loads with lather/whiskers, then use the other one till it does the same, then rinse and repeat.
There are enough things to worry about in this world besides some cheap DE blade and getting even wear from both sides. I've never given it a second thought.
What I really want to know is what does "The Donald" use to shave.
I was thinking more in terms of getting better shaves by using them up at their sharpest. If rather use 2 edges 2 times each as opposed to 1 edge 4 times and throwing it away because it's pulling.Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
When I DE shave I like to get the sharpest best shave myself, so I use a blad then pitch it, even feather blades don't cost so much I need to use them again, to each their own way, but it might be a month before I get back to it so that's what I do. Tc
Thinking about it I probably use both sides of a DE equally each shave with them. Tell you one thing I do, I pull the blade out of the DE, or SE, and rinse it off and lay it on the edge of a square scuttle. I pick it up the next time I shave with a contraption instead of a straight. Sometimes I have a sense of how many shaves I've gotten out of a blade, other times it is too long ago to recall. When I start the shave if it isn't smooth and comfortable I change the blade for a new one.
I noticed 30-40 years ago that if I left a blade in a DE it would begin to rust and stain the chrome or nickel on the DE. That was the main thing that motivated me to start removing the blade, rinsing it and setting it aside. Might be better for the longevity of the blade, maintaining sharpness, as well.
I don't worry about how many on each edge, etc. I usually have 7 or 8 types of DE blade in use at once, since I am in a testing phase. When I'm done with a shave, I dry the blade off, put it back in it's wrapper with a little dot from a permanent marker on that wrapper to indicate number of shaves on a blade.
I toss a blade when I can no longer get a clean, close, smooth shave from it. I have been averaging between 4 and 6 two pass shaves with touch up per blade.
I don't follow any pattern of use. I use both edges randomly and toss the blade after three shaves. Using straights, primarily, one blade will last quite a while. DE blades are relatively cheap so I never try to push it.
When I used to DE shave, I would use one side for 1/4 of my face and then the other side for the next 1/4, rinse and repeat for the other half of my face. I would shave every other day, and discard after a week's use (either Sat or Sun). I could probably get two weeks out of the blades (Lord), but it was easier to just replace on a schedule.
I usually do a pass with one side and the next pass with the other or if the razor really gets loaded with soap lather, I might switch sides before then. Lately, I tried turning the blade over after a couple of days, and I also tried rotating the blade, wanting to see if the numbering on the blade (1-4) was of much use and really made any difference. Flipping the blade did make a little difference, but I use yellow 7 o'clocks and get about five good shaves in my Merkur slant per blade either way. Of course, YMMV.
Prepare for the OCD side to come out...
I use feather blades mostly, which are labeled with a feather emblem near one edge and "hi-stainless" near the opposing edge. I will begin a shave with the "hi-stainless" side and do any major beard hacking, WTG and XTG passes. Then for a final ATG pass I switch and use only the emblem side. The idea is to keep my finishing tool as sharp as possible for every shave.
Probably an idea I picked up from working as a precision machinist. Does it make a difference? I dunno really, but I like to think so [emoji12]
This. sQuote:
Originally Posted by mainaman
To be honest i didn't worry about it, i would just use it until it stopped working effectively
My safety razor is a Gillette Fatboy and my theory was to use the red mark near adjustment knob to know what side, but that never worked because I didn't really pay attention. Though now if I decide to use my DE I can't get it wrong since i've been using my SE blades that I used in my shavette to try and use them up. My DE doesn't really see that much use though. Maybe a couple times in the course of going through my straight rotation to change things up.
LOL, if you don't pay attention to which side, statistically you use both sides equally. I look only which side was soapy to use unsoapy side minimize soap cleaning shakes in the water.
True, particilarly if you use the blade for several shaves. You would probably flip the razor when one side starts to pull and throw the blade away afterwards.Quote:
Originally Posted by cbaytan
When I started using a DE this issue worried me to no end. I solved it by affixing a barcode to the two sides and each time I flip I scan the barcode with a scanner. Now I know exactly how many times I use each side and for how long.
Just kidding.
I pay it all no mind these days. Three or four shaves at most with a blade and it goes in the trash period.
I realize I'm Obsessive Compulsive...LOL. I use a Merkur Furture set to 3 and have a moderately light beard. I shave one side with the blade on the "3" side and the left on the side with the "6". I pitch the blade after 7 shaves.Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
After several weeks now, I realize that I could probably use one side continuously and never realize a difference in the feel of my shave.
I was getting 65 shaves out of the 5 blade Fusion cartridges and was thinking my DE would last a very long time, but at about 40 cents per blade, I throw them out after a week and don't worry about it.