Thread: Which edge?

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

Originally Posted by BobH

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.

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

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

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.

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.