How Long Could a New Blade Last in ?

[Zach V.]

If one were to buy a very large amount of blades, how would you store them?

In the near future, maybe in a few months after I completely decide which blades I like, I'm thinking of stockpiling, maybe for ten years, possibly for a lifetime.

Obviously, a cool, dry place is important. Wonder if I could get away with just putting the boxes of blades in a few heavy duty Ziploc sealed storage bags.

Do any of you have any experience in terms of long term blade storage?

[dpm802]

I don't know if I'd want to settle on just one blade for the rest of my life ... even at just 4 months in to the mix, and experimenting with the WestCoast sampler and others, I know that I like different blades for different types of shaves, and I've found that Merkur works better with some and the Gillettes work better with others. So I'd want to keep a variety on hand.

That being said, stockpiling is still a good idea. It saves you money, its convenient, and it gives you a good quantity for trading purposes.

I would recommend an air-tight container, Tupperware or Rubbermaid should do fine. Leave the blades in the original packages until you're ready to use them.

Also, drop in several Silica-gel packets to keep down the humidity. Those little white things that come packed with new electronic equipment, cameras, etc. Although I don't know anyplace you can buy these brand new, if you ask around at a local electronic store, they probably have hundreds of boxes in the back-room for the merchandise on display, and each of those boxes has a Silica-gel packet or two in there. Ask for a handful, and they will probably give you as many as you need.

[OldSaw]

I suppose oxidation would be your biggest enemy. If they were kept wrapped in a dry place I would imagine they would last indefinitely.

[Zach V.]

I don't know if I'd want to settle on just one blade for the rest of my life ... even at just 4 months in to the mix, and experimenting with the WestCoast sampler and others, I know that I like different blades for different types of shaves, and I've found that Merkur works better with some and the Gillettes work better with others. So I'd want to keep a variety on hand.

That being said, stockpiling is still a good idea. It saves you money, its convenient, and it gives you a good quantity for trading purposes.

I would recommend an air-tight container, Tupperware or Rubbermaid should do fine. Leave the blades in the original packages until you're ready to use them.

Also, drop in several Silica-gel packets to keep down the humidity. Those little white things that come packed with new electronic equipment, cameras, etc. Although I don't know anyplace you can buy these brand new, if you ask around at a local electronic store, they probably have hundreds of boxes in the back-room for the merchandise on display, and each of those boxes has a Silica-gel packet or two in there. Ask for a handful, and they will probably give you as many as you need.


Good advice. I don't think I would necessarily buy just one kind, perhaps a few of my favorite standbys. Right now that would be swedish gs and crystals. Haven't tried feathers and many other brands. It's early yet in my career, and I know it.

But by stockpiling, if prices go way up, I could still buy other brands of blades if I wanted to on the fly, but still have the "go-tos" at my disposal whenever I wanted to use them.

[_JP_]

Depending on the brand they may already be sufficiently wrapped to deterioration during storage. Just keep them in a dry place.

[Backno]

Just try to keep them as dry as you can and you should be good.

[Alacrity59]

The B&B carnival is on. We forgot to mention keeping the blades under a pyramid. :lol:

Mike

[Zach V.]

The B&B carnival is on. We forgot to mention keeping the blades under a pyramid. :lol:

Mike

Nice....also, I hear you don't age if you sleep under one.