What to do with old blades?

[VeganSeason]

so when you are done with your de blade and it no longer has a use, what do you guys do with them? collect them in a can or what? curious...

[Dr Roadrash]

What? old blades. I just keep using them that is unless they have numbers on them...
Honestly though the search function on B&B does not work all that well. Forgive me, this is a question asked about once a week. Collecting them in a can is the most common and probably the most safe. You can buy blade banks if you want. I can't fault you for not finding an old thread on this, I couldn't either. If you do a google search I'm sure you will find it though. Now sit back and watch the rest of the replies...
Aaron

[oldman89]

If you do a google search I'm sure you will find it though.
Aaron

This usually works.

I plan on cutting a slit in a used vitamin bottle and using that.. then just throw it out when it's full

[CGW409]

If your blades come in a dispenser box of some sort there is usually a slot on the back, the end hinges down with a empty slot under the good blades or the inner part of the box slides out with a depression for used blades.
If you've got a cardboard box then an old pickle jar,vitamin bottle,coffee can etc will do.
Some folks suggest that if you live in an older building to just use the slot at the back of the medicine cabinet that allows the blades to drop in to the wall space but since I do sometimes help out in home renovation projects here and there I advise against that as I'd like to consider that if I was the poor slob that decides to rework my bathroom 50 years from now and I've never even heard of a DE blade and go sticking my hand into the wall to feel for a electrical cable or plumbing pipe I'd like to come up not needing a trip to the ER for stitches and a tetnus shot.

[OU812]

I save an old one to scrape the excess wax off new blades. For all others I just wrap them back up in their wrapper and throw them in the trashcan.

john

[Icebear]

I made a small horizontal cut into an evaporated milk can which I emptied out before and rinsed with water. The slit is just wide enough that the blade goes in but there's no escape. Pertty safe, it can be dumped in the trash once the can it filled.

Foamy greetings
Icebear

[DougieB]

I posed the same question the other day. I got a lot of responses and generally speaking all good advice.
Most involved cutting a slot in a lid of a spice can, baby food jar, pop can... etc. There was also scraping a slot into the back of the medicine cabinet and allowing them to go into the wall.

There was a don't... Don't throw away unprotected as it may be a safety hazard to garbage / recyclable employees.

[OldGreyGuy]

I just got a coin bank from my local dollar shop, will probably last the next 40 years at which point I will run a piece of tape over the slot in the top and write "Used razor blades" on the outside and drop it in the recycle bin.

[damhans]

A lot of stuff can be used to hold old blades. Soup cans, pill bottles, soda cans, coin banks, etc.
Storage space in my 'shave den' is quite limited (half of the top shelf in the medicine cabinet). I also wanted something that looked 'appropriate' (to me, not just an old soup can sitting on the shelf). I bought one of these (http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Double-Edge-Blade-Bank_p_45.html) blade banks from West Coast Shaving for $1 and love it. It fits in well with our decor (porcelain pedestal sink, claw-foot tub, etc.) and will hold quite a few blades.

[Wildalaska]

whats wrong with the box the blades came in?

[RichieRich3902]

I tie some fishing line to them and hang 'em in off tree branches in the back yard to keep children out.

Really though I have a small metal can that I put them in and once it's full I'll toss it out.

[Saltwater Cowboy]

save them for your Halloween candy apples...

..seriously i use the carnation milk can method as mentioned earlier.

[Clutch Cargo]

I use a "blade bank" which is available from numerous online vendors starting at about $1.

[Go West Young Man]

whats wrong with the box the blades came in?


Not all brands come in a dispenser, some come loose.

Personally, I just toss each blade in the recycling bin after it's done. No muss, no fuss.

[Chester]

what do you guys do with them? collect them in a can or what? curious...

I keep mine in an empty glass spice bottle. When full, it goes in the recycling.
-- Chet

[5savages]

I collect them in a plastic prescription bottle, then I'll toss them in the garbage when it's full.

[VeganSeason]

no way could I just throw them out in fear of one of them getting loose on the ground somewhere, just curious on how creative people might get with collecting them until they are disposed of, I have checked out those used razor bins but the pictures are not the greatest and I have not seen any in person, would like to get something that looks okay that I can keep out on a shelf or cabinet rather than adding to the clutter under my sink, thanks for the input everyone, appreciate it!

[BrookR1]

Altoids tin. If it has to be real purdy, you could buy a small decorative vase.

From Amazon...
http://i44.tinypic.com/6idzt0.jpg

[bcs89]

If your blades come in a dispenser box of some sort there is usually a slot on the back, the end hinges down with a empty slot under the good blades or the inner part of the box slides out with a depression for used blades.
If you've got a cardboard box then an old pickle jar,vitamin bottle,coffee can etc will do.
Some folks suggest that if you live in an older building to just use the slot at the back of the medicine cabinet that allows the blades to drop in to the wall space but since I do sometimes help out in home renovation projects here and there I advise against that as I'd like to consider that if I was the poor slob that decides to rework my bathroom 50 years from now and I've never even heard of a DE blade and go sticking my hand into the wall to feel for a electrical cable or plumbing pipe I'd like to come up not needing a trip to the ER for stitches and a tetnus shot.

If you go "sticking your hand" into spaces your renovating - just to see whats in there, well, lets just say you are one brave man. I would not want to be responsible for your insurance premiums though..

-s

[miatapaul]

I have a Pabst Blue ribbon can that I cut a slot into with a paring knife, and while doing the cutting, I twisted the knife to close the pop top. Quick and simple, and I enjoyed the beer first! Cheaper than a blade safe, and I will throw it in the recycling bin when it is full in a few years.

[mark_mw]

Broth can. Note date on top to aid future historians / collectors / bay sellers:wink2:

[CGW409]

If you go "sticking your hand" into spaces your renovating - just to see whats in there, well, lets just say you are one brave man. I would not want to be responsible for your insurance premiums though..

-s


Not saying that I'd do that personally as being the son of a carpenter (not that one :) ) and the grandson of a general contractor I've seen some of the hazards and creepy crawlies that can be or live back there (though I must say I'd never come across a nest of DE blades lying in wait) but I've also seen enough episodes of Holmes Inspection to know there are those that epitomize the saying a little knowledge is a dangerous thing that might go flailing around like that.

[Steavis]

A lot of stuff can be used to hold old blades. Soup cans, pill bottles, soda cans, coin banks, etc.
Storage space in my 'shave den' is quite limited (half of the top shelf in the medicine cabinet). I also wanted something that looked 'appropriate' (to me, not just an old soup can sitting on the shelf). I bought one of these (http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Double-Edge-Blade-Bank_p_45.html) blade banks from West Coast Shaving for $1 and love it. It fits in well with our decor (porcelain pedestal sink, claw-foot tub, etc.) and will hold quite a few blades.
I use the same bank from West Coast Shaving. When it's approaching full, I'll add a replacement bank to my next WCS order (they cost about a buck) and put the full one out with the recycling.

[bcs89]

.. being the son of a carpenter (not that one :) ) ..


:001_tongu

-s

[VvVv51]

219141 Transparent version. About 50 blades inside.

[BBrad]

Some folks suggest that if you live in an older building to just use the slot at the back of the medicine cabinet that allows the blades to drop in to the wall space but since I do sometimes help out in home renovation projects here and there I advise against that as I'd like to consider that if I was the poor slob that decides to rework my bathroom 50 years from now and I've never even heard of a DE blade and go sticking my hand into the wall to feel for a electrical cable or plumbing pipe I'd like to come up not needing a trip to the ER for stitches and a tetnus shot.

Yeah, first thing I always do is stick my hand into the wall under a medicine cabinet to see what I can find . . .


I posed the same question the other day. I got a lot of responses and generally speaking all good advice.
Most involved cutting a slot in a lid of a spice can, baby food jar, pop can... etc. There was also scraping a slot into the back of the medicine cabinet and allowing them to go into the wall.

There was a don't... Don't throw away unprotected as it may be a safety hazard to garbage / recyclable employees.

Great ideas for disposal, but I don't think I worry too much about the garbage guy . . . I don't think they go sifting through our rubbish with their bare hands, and I'm sure there are more dangerous items disposed of every day!


whats wrong with the box the blades came in?

Absolutely nothing. Great idea. Too simple for some, however . . .


no way could I just throw them out in fear of one of them getting loose on the ground somewhere . . .

Yeah, I know what you mean. I'm always finding razor blades on the ground that jumped out of the garbage . . .


I have a Pabst Blue ribbon can that I cut a slot into with a paring knife, and while doing the cutting, I twisted the knife to close the pop top. Quick and simple, and I enjoyed the beer first! Cheaper than a blade safe, and I will throw it in the recycling bin when it is full in a few years.

Best answer yet!!!

There, now that I'm done popping off my smart-a$$ed comments . . . welcome to B&B, VeganSeason. Seriously, this is a question that gets airplay here from time to time, and one that many adopting classic shaving don't stop to think about until they are a few days into the process and have their first used blade to dispose of!

Bottom line is you have to do what you feel is best from a practical, non-emotional standpoint. Running around like the Lost In Space robot ("Danger, Will Robinson!") and treating used blades like some sort of evil life form capable of killing the world is overkill.

The number one danger from used blades is to the user and his household members . . . ever reached into the trash to pick something out, not thinking (or knowing) about the naked blade tossed in there yesterday? Once the trash has been disposed of, the individual blade is no danger to anyone anywhere in the process. If dropped into a wall cavity, gravity takes it to the bottom of the cavity. Professionals know that any time you reach blindly into a wall cavity when renovating you risk cutting your hand - they wear gloves or open the wall up! With bathroom renovations an experienced professional expects to find blades back there.

I'll go take my medicine now.

[flink]

Bottom line is you have to do what you feel is best from a practical, non-emotional standpoint. Running around like the Lost In Space robot ("Danger, Will Robinson!") and treating used blades like some sort of evil life form capable of killing the world is overkill.

Whew! For a second there I was afraid you were going to say it's not okay to just leave them on the playground swings. :hand:

[Ptroiani]

:a52::badger:
What? old blades. I just keep using them that is unless they have numbers on them...
Honestly though the search function on B&B does not work all that well. Forgive me, this is a question asked about once a week. Collecting them in a can is the most common and probably the most safe. You can buy blade banks if you want. I can't fault you for not finding an old thread on this, I couldn't either. If you do a google search I'm sure you will find it though. Now sit back and watch the rest of the replies...
Aaron

+1 ... the blades with the numbers on them can be returned for a free sharpening. If you are really good with nail polish remover and a pen, you can change the numbers and get them sharpened twice. I believe that they are getting wise to this and marking them with UV ink when they sharpen them the first time...

[pcumby]

219227

Excel mints tin
Has held 4 months worth so far
Its only about 2.5 " long and is hinged at one end

[IainJ]

I carefully wrap them back up and seal the wrapper so I can sell them on eBay as NOS :wink2: :001_tt2:



Actually I chuck 'em in an old tobacco tin, when it's full it'll go in with the recycling.

[KeithTheSnake]

I tie some fishing line to them and hang 'em in off tree branches in the back yard to keep children out...

I like this idea.

[BrianL]

I give them to this guy.
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