The Numbers Game

Gentlemen:

The number of shaves per double edge razor blade varies for me. For years I had a general rule of replacing blades after the third shave. Recently I have refined the number. After using a wide range of blades, I have settled on Feather, Super Iridium, Gillette 7 O'Clock "Sharp Edge" "yellow pack," Personna "red pack" and Derby. The number of shaves per blade is as follows:

Feather: Two shaves. The Feather blade dies after the second shave.
Super Iridium: Three shaves.
Gillette yellow: Three shaves
Personna red: Two shaves
Derby: Two shaves

What's your numbers game, gentlemen? Or do you have one?

Been using Feathers exclusively. I usually regret pushing a blade to a fourth shave. Three or less seems to be the ticket for me.

I quit using feathers because the most I could get was 2 without irritation...sometimes the ATG on the second shave wasn't so hot either.

So right now:
Personna Reds - 4 shaves
Astra SP - 3 shaves
Super Iridium - 3 or 4 shaves

That's all I really use right now...but I am interested in trying med preps and see how they stack up against the reds.

Usually three is optimal. For Gillette 7's yellow: three very good shaves--same for Astra. I've gotten three off Lord Platinum, Derby and Treet--but I prefer two. I can also get three good shaves off of Feathers.

I can get three from the feather however I'm kind of pushing it. The German Wilkinson I can get 4 from and the Iridium Super I can also get 4 from.

I try to stick to the 3 shave rule, but to be honest I can usually eke out a fourth shave without many issues for most blades. I have managed to get to a fifth shave on one or two occasions using Crystal blades, but those are rare cases.

I have a fairly light beard. I could easily get ten good shaves out of most blades. I usually changed them around 5 though just to always have that keen edge and because they wern't too expensive :)