Blade Replacement: Keeping Track of number of shaves

[Perrito-Incognito]

Howdy,
This will sound like a 'Helpful Tips" item in a handyman magazine or something, but....
I wanted to begin regularly replacing my blade and not waiting for an unpleasant shave to remind me. I kept forgetting how many shaves into a blade I was. I now set my razor in my shave bowl at noon (pointing up) after replacing a blade. After the first shave I set it in the bowl pointing at 3 o'clock, then 6 then 9. After three shaves I replace the blade and start again.

This is so rudimentary I almost hate to mention it, but it's working for me and wanted to share.

Have yourself a wonderful weekend,
P

[hybwolf]

I replace the blade every 3 to 4 shaves. I keep track by saving the paper that the razor was rapped in. The wrapper has 4 folds, I just tear a fold off after each shave. Works great!

[inspiringK]

Or, since blades are cheap and I like them sharp, I just use the two and out rule. If your razor has not blade in it, put a fresh one in and use it, set the razor aside when you are done. If your razor has a blade in it already, this means you are shaving for the second time on that blade, simply discard it after the shave. And so on.

[Perrito-Incognito]

Hmm, two shaves per blade, eh? Well, my 100 pk of derby's arrive today. At 0.09 per blade I might be able to swing that. Lesse, roughly four shaves a week, so two blades per week. 52 weeks/yr. I dunno.... nine bucks for a years worth of blades? Sure why not.:001_smile

[hybwolf]

It's not economics with me, I would toss a blade after the first shave if I had to. I just find the 2nd and 3rd shaves are more comfortable then the first shave with a blade. I would not do a third shave with a blade if it felt like the first.

[kingfisher]

Since I can only shave with one razor at a time, I only load one razor with a blade. I use it three times and then toss it. I don't need a visual aid because I can just remember that it's the second shave or the third shave, or whatever. It doesn't seem that complex to me.

[tjm]

My 2nd shave I can definitely tell theres some sharpness lost (my face sprouts copper wires). I try to go at least three shaves per blade, but it gets uncomfortable past that. I've tried only using one side at a time, so I can get six shaves out of it, but thats tough to track; anyone have a tip for that?

[saintpat]

I seem to be settling into replacing the blade on Saturday evening (my only weekend shave if the routine is in place) and Wednesday morning. Since I am shaving six days a week and that easily divides into three shaves per blade... well it makes it pretty simple to remember.

[The Chandos]

I seem to be settling into replacing the blade on Saturday evening (my only weekend shave if the routine is in place) and Wednesday morning. Since I am shaving six days a week and that easily divides into three shaves per blade... well it makes it pretty simple to remember.

I do something similar. I shave every other day so I replace the blade every weekend. That way I'm getting the freshest blade closest to Monday. So, if I'm shaving on a Sunday, it's a fresh blade. I'll use that blade on Tues & Thurs, but get a fresh one on Saturday. Use that blade on Mon, Wed & Fri. New blade on Sunday, etc.

I guess all I'm saying is that I refresh the blade on the weekend and typically get 3-4 shaves per blade. No wrappers, no cardinal directions, just an easy Sat./Sun. it's the weekend thing.

[chuckman]

I use an antique white game dice (I think it is real ivory) and rotate it to match the number of shave I have just completed.........Kind of look neat on the aftershave shelf.
I do only use a blade 4 times and then it's gone!

[lancj1]

I am probably some kind of freak, but I have this strange ability to think to myself and remember simple facts. So I might change a blade on Sunday and think - I need to put a new blade in on Wednesday. Weired thing is (and please dont share this in case they are watching...) come Wednesday I remember.....can you believe that ???? Freaks me too I can tell you :online2long:

[sir-nix-alot]

I have so many blades that I just toss when I want to use a different one. Sometimes it is after 1 shave, sometimes it is after 6.

[kingfisher]

I am probably some kind of freak, but I have this strange ability to think to myself and remember simple facts. So I might change a blade on Sunday and think - I need to put a new blade in on Wednesday. Weired thing is (and please dont share this in case they are watching...) come Wednesday I remember.....can you believe that ???? Freaks me too I can tell you :online2long:

Precisely. That's what I was trying to say in my post.

Although it seems that my powers go every beyond yours! I don't think in terms of "I need to change the blade on Tuesday," or whatever. I actually think "this is my second shave on this blade!"

I think I may have a gift.:smartass:

[elderberry99]

I bought a pack of Casino Dice and use them. One die is next to each razor and facing me with the number of shaves the blade has on it. When the razor is empty, I flip the die to #6. If I put a blade in and not have used it yet, the die goes to a #5. I have never gone past #4 for a shave and rarely past #3. The dice on the shel look nice as well. I have 5 dice scattered on the shelves with three of them next to the three razors I use in rotation.
237564

[La_Sameuse]

Thanks for the tips! I like your system.
I was using my blades twice and flipping the blade in the razor to display the numbered corners on the blade. If 3 and 4 were facing up, I was on my second shave. Thus far, it has worked.

[turtle]

I may use 6 to 8 different brands of blades at a time.

To keep track of how many shaves are on each blade I have 6 opened blade wrappers with 1 through 6 written on them. When I finish shaving with a blade I move it down to the next numbered wrapper until it gets to the end at #6 (6 shaves). Some blades don't make it all the way to 6 shaves and some get used again and again and stay on #6 for days before they are 86ed

http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u414/turtle-web/blades/blades_unwrapped.jpg

[Fingerinsocket]

I replace my blades every three shaves. If a blade is in the razor and I can't remember if I replaced it last time or not, I toss it and start anew (for the most part I remember).

[dpmtherrien]

As long as it works for you that's great. Good for you.

I just use regular dice, one die by each razor starting at 1 and up to 4 or sometimes 5. Then I replace the blade and start over.

[AceByTerror]

i use a red permanent sharpie and draw a little red dot on the blade - one after each of the first and second shave. After the thurd shave; out she goes.

[njpaddy]

I toss the blade every other shave. If a blade is already in the razor when I go to use it, it means shave #2 and it gets tossed afterwards. I get my best shaves out of the first two uses anyway. With my memory I wouldn't remember which position the razor was in when I picked it up.

[cxg231]

I've mentioned this before, but I have a spreadsheet on google docs to keep track of shaves on a blade. I use all of my razors, and keep all of them loaded and ready to shave, so the spread sheet keeps track of the madness. Only takes a few seconds a day to update and I can jot down my impressions of a particular razor/blade combo. Fairly "retentive", I know, but it works for me! :001_tongu:

[Gam]

I have a razor and blade journal,I just write it down.I have 10 razors that I use and keeping track of the blades can be a hassle.I have a 3 and out rule for the blades,except SE's,they usually go for 7.

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

I replace my Shark SC blades (no need to extend the life...their cheap anyway), after two (2) shaves. http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj184/befje/smileys/bf-sharksmiley.gif

Also, there is positive correlation between sharp blades vs.dull in regard to ingrown hairs.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=202586&d=1322311262 “A razor [blade] can’t be sharpened on a piece of velvet”. Author Unknown

[turbo tom]

I replace the blade every 3 to 4 shaves. I keep track by saving the paper that the razor was rapped in. The wrapper has 4 folds, I just tear a fold off after each shave. Works great!

That's sort of what I do. I keep the wrapper on the shelf under my OS mug and after each shave put a diagonal tear on a corner. I use a single razor for the most part, and if I do try another it's for at least the three shaves I get out of a blade.

I do like the dice idea, but my wife or kids would probably mess with it since I use the shared medicine cabinet.

[Frosty]

I'd love to say that I have 7 of the same razors on each of which I write "1", "2", "3" and so on, and then simply transfer the same blade onto the next numbered razor. I think this would be the easiest if one didn't have the freakish powers of iancj1 and kingfisher :-)

[sjsowa]

I will use a blade 4 times. To keep track of this I have 4 creams and/or soaps in my rotation. When I use a soap or cream I put it in the cabinet. When there is only one left, after that shave I clean the razor and replace the blade.

[hotreds]

I replace my blade every Monday. And, I shave every day.

[Mspec]

I use a blade three times then dispose. as I feel due to the density of my whiskers they're just not as effective after the third, I shave daily so it's very easy to remember how many uses I've had.

[wwoof]

I guess I'm lucky as a good blade will last six to seven days. Sunday is new blade day. Being born redheaded gave me thick but sparser follicles so a blade seems to last longer than most peoples.

[BillC]

I only have one razor loaded at a time and get four or five shaves out of most blades. I just change my blade on Wednesdays and Sundays.

[T-Dog]

You could use a six-sided die placed next to your shaving gear, and rotated to the next number after every shave.

[gus1942]

I use a blade three times then dispose. as I feel due to the density of my whiskers they're just not as effective after the third, I shave daily so it's very easy to remember how many uses I've had.I do the same but rotate my razors with the same blade