Expiration date on de blades -

[ORGANIC MAN]

Has anyone ever heard of brand new unused & unopened DE blades expiring...in other words do they ever rust before in a certain amount of time before ever used just while sitting on shelf?

[xraygun]

Depends on how and where they are stored.

[franz]

If they are carbon steel (very few modern blades are), they will tend to oxidize after a certain number of years. Stainless, as far as I know, can be stored indefinitely without suffering ill consequences. An airtight container with a packet or two of desiccant should be pretty fool-proof.

Did I get anything wrong? I'll let the blade hoarders weigh in :tongue_sm

[Useless shaver]

I hope they never! Otherwise, how would I be prepared for the Shavepocalypse?

[Scott0079]

If they are carbon steel (very few modern blades are), they will tend to oxidize after a certain number of years. Stainless, as far as I know, can be stored indefinitely without suffering ill consequences. An airtight container with a packet or two of desiccant should be pretty fool-proof.

Did I get anything wrong? I'll let the blade hoarders weigh in :tongue_sm

As a current owner of a 14,000 blade stash (I think that meets the hoarder criteria:wink2:) I will concur that stainless blades that are stored properly will outlive you.

[Arcadies]

An airtight container with a packet or two of desiccant should be pretty fool-proof.

+1

This is similar to how I store mine. While not airtight, I keep my blades in a old wood cigar box with a medium sized pack of a silica.

[Poodle Soup]

Any metal can oxidize if not stored properly, keep it dry and like someone said above it will out live you. Even carbon steel.

[Sledgehammer39]

If they are carbon steel (very few modern blades are), they will tend to oxidize after a certain number of years. Stainless, as far as I know, can be stored indefinitely without suffering ill consequences. An airtight container with a packet or two of desiccant should be pretty fool-proof.

Did I get anything wrong? I'll let the blade hoarders weigh in :tongue_sm

+1

[joglander]

As a current owner of a 14,000 blade stash (I think that meets the hoarder criteria:wink2:) I will concur that stainless blades that are stored properly will outlive you.

Sir--I am in awe! Do you shave just once a day? Do you discard your blades after each shave? Where do you keep them? One has to guess that you are not married.

[Comet]

Laughed out loud



sir--i am in awe! Do you shave just once a day? Do you discard your blades after each shave? Where do you keep them? One has to guess that you are not married.

[Scott0079]

Sir--I am in awe! Do you shave just once a day? Do you discard your blades after each shave? Where do you keep them? One has to guess that you are not married.

Yes, 2 shaves and out, 3 shelf bins in the bottom of the closet, and I am surprisingly married (though she often questions why).

[smalltank]

If you have a pac of DE blades..never been opened..could go beyond 10 years..depending on the environment they are stored in.

[rajagra]

Where do you keep them?
My guess:
http://blurppy.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/1raiders_endscene.jpg?w=620&h=409 (http://blurppy.com/2011/08/31/%E2%80%98raiders%E2%80%99-damon-lindelof%E2%80%99s-love-letter-to-a-%E2%80%98perfect-movie%E2%80%99/)
Wow. ROTLA is 30 years old. Hope my blades endure that well.

[Wildalaska]

Sorry to tell you this but using a blade past its expiration date will cause extreme flatulence, usually during a first date. I remeber one time I was going out with a supermodel for the first time, we had a lovely dinner planed at Spago. I was trying to be especially careful of my grooming since its not everyday you get to go out and maybe score with one of the SI Swimsuit Girls...

Anyway, I went to shave and found that my blade had expired the day before....so what I said, I've eaten expired chicken...so I shaved away...

So there I was, sitting at Spago, dressed to the 9s, dreamily gazing into the eyes of ******** and envisioning her in a bikini on a mag cover, when it started, in between the escargot and the melon proscuitto canapes...

Faint rumblings like you hear in a train station....then, the pain, as I involuntarily clenched...whats wrong, my date inquired...nothing, ma belle, I replied, as the sweat beaded my brow...just a bit of a twinge from that old war injury I was telling you about even though its secret because us Delta Force Operators cant talk about it...here, may I refill your glass with this lafitte rothschild......

Meawhile, pressure waves were reverberating through my intestines...I couldnt hold back, and before I could even say excuse me and run to the john, I eruprted like Mt St Helens on crack. I mean my date turned green and fell over in her chair...the fire alarm went off...I saw a waiter clutching his throat and spinning insanely through the dining room trying to escape...a matron wearing furs and diamonds was on the floor sobbing...I tried to get up an run to save folks, but every step I caused a strange and pungent hissing noise...folks were falling like flies.....

Needless to say, my date was ruined. All becasue I used an expired blade. Best thing to do is dispose of them. If they are still wrapped, you can PM me for my custom blade disposal service.

[bkfist]

sorry to tell you this but using a blade past its expiration date will cause extreme flatulence, usually during a first date. I remeber one time i was going out with a supermodel for the first time, we had a lovely dinner planed at spago. I was trying to be especially careful of my grooming since its not everyday you get to go out and maybe score with one of the si swimsuit girls...

Anyway, i went to shave and found that my blade had expired the day before....so what i said, i've eaten expired chicken...so i shaved away...

So there i was, sitting at spago, dressed to the 9s, dreamily gazing into the eyes of ******** and envisioning her in a bikini on a mag cover, when it started, in between the escargot and the melon proscuitto canapes...

Faint rumblings like you hear in a train station....then, the pain, as i involuntarily clenched...whats wrong, my date inquired...nothing, ma belle, i replied, as the sweat beaded my brow...just a bit of a twinge from that old war injury i was telling you about even though its secret because us delta force operators cant talk about it...here, may i refill your glass with this lafitte rothschild......

Meawhile, pressure waves were reverberating through my intestines...i couldnt hold back, and before i could even say excuse me and run to the john, i eruprted like mt st helens on crack. I mean my date turned green and fell over in her chair...the fire alarm went off...i saw a waiter clutching his throat and spinning insanely through the dining room trying to escape...a matron wearing furs and diamonds was on the floor sobbing...i tried to get up an run to save folks, but every step i caused a strange and pungent hissing noise...folks were falling like flies.....

Needless to say, my date was ruined. All becasue i used an expired blade. Best thing to do is dispose of them. If they are still wrapped, you can pm me for my custom blade disposal service.

lmao

[DOLLARBILL]

WOW! So all 12000 of my Gillette Blue Blades must be expired should I stop using them and trash them,maybe I shouldnt shave :(
Enjoy Your Shave !

[turtle]

WOW! So all 12000 of my Gillette Blue Blades must be expired should I stop using them and trash them,maybe I shouldnt shave :(
Enjoy Your Shave !

Oh yea, you need to get rid of those "expired" bad boys. Pass them over here. I will be glad to help "dispose" of them for you (one at a time) :wink2:

[BBrad]

Sorry to tell you this but . . . my date was ruined. All becasue I used an expired blade. Best thing to do is dispose of them. If they are still wrapped, you can PM me for my custom blade disposal service.

Since we don't want things like this to happen to anyone, I too will be glad to help with the disposal . . . :lol:

[BroJohn]

ORGANIC --

In answer to your question, if blades are kept in a cool, dry place they will last decades.

BTW, I enjoyed the little story of the Supermodel date, etc.

-- John Gehman

[phillylion]

So most of you recommend putting a silica pack with the blades? How long does silica last--does it go bad? And where would you buy it?

[Go West Young Man]

So most of you recommend putting a silica pack with the blades? How long does silica last--does it go bad? And where would you buy it?

Buy a pair of shoes, it'll come with a couple.

[bkfist]

So most of you recommend putting a silica pack with the blades? How long does silica last--does it go bad? And where would you buy it?

It doesn't go "Bad" but it has a very limited capacity to absorb water. Once saturated with moisture, it can absorb no more. It can be "rejuvenated" by placing it in an oven and heating it gently (You'll have to google the time/temp to get an idea.)

Silica descant is used for many different purposes. You should be able to find larger quantities at hobby/craft stores (used for dehydrating flowers) or gun supply sites (used to protect firearms from rust.)

By the time a small pack gets to you from a shoe, or a piece of electronic equipment etc. it is usually nearly fully hydrated and close to useless, unless heated/dried out before use.

Another option you can find at gun sites is a Vapor Barrier rust prohibitor paper/packets. These products give off a vapor that prevents rust, and are quite effective at preventing rust... Generally preferred for very long-term airtight storage of firearms, along with some silica gel to absorb remaining water when doing things such as storing firearms underground for long periods of time in PVC tubes.

[rajagra]

So most of you recommend putting a silica pack with the blades? How long does silica last--does it go bad? And where would you buy it?
When exposed to open air, the moisture level of silica gel equalises quickly. After that they can help stabilise moisture, but won't dry anything.
You can regenerate them by putting them in a hot oven for a few hours. After that, keep them in an airtight container (alone, or with the items you want kept dry.)

Easiest way to buy silica gel:

199276

[Shave A Buck]

They're metal, what could happen to them.

[ctr]

WOW! So all 12000 of my Gillette Blue Blades must be expired should I stop using them and trash them,maybe I shouldnt shave :(
Enjoy Your Shave !

Just sell them to me - I'll make the sacrafice and take them off your hands.

Gillette Blues are the best, smoothest blade I EVER EVER put to my face.

Back to the ops questions, most blades won't go bad. I have purchased and used a number of vintage blades over the years. A few packs hear and there had oxidized and were not that great. Overall, though, the sealed/wrapped blades held up better than those in a dispenser. Some of the blades I used were over 40 years old.

[Shave A Buck]

I'm heading to the minalmist light slowly as I downsize so I don't think I will have to worry about any of mine going bad.

[phillylion]

Thanks guys.