Do I Remove the Blade After the Shave?

**timebomb** · 04-19-2012, 11:47 PM

Just had my first DE shave (a bunch of weepers from the ATG pass around the moustache area) and was wondering if I should remove the Astra razor and store it somewhere or just leave it in there. Also, why are there numbers on the blade?

**gforgary** · 04-19-2012, 11:52 PM

Very carefully :D

With me DE89 I had enough clearance on the side to grab it there. However with the Feather I slide it off the head because I'm not able to pick it up from the sides.

I believe the numbers are for QC? Not too sure but I don't think they do anything.

**nycalling** · 04-19-2012, 11:53 PM

I leave mine in for three shaves then toss it. I'm using a feather blade. That's a good point though: should you unscrew the head and wash down/take the blade out? Occasionally I'll see a little bit of soap in my blade that I really have to hose down to remove.

**timebomb** · 04-20-2012, 12:15 AM

I ended up taking it all apart, patting each part down with a towel (even the blade), and put it all back together and stored it. Was that necessary or would it have all dried off just fine?

**leonidas** · 04-20-2012, 12:29 AM

Originally Posted by timebomb

I ended up taking it all apart, patting each part down with a towel (even the blade), and put it all back together and stored it.

....that is what i do after every DE shave.............

**kirill** · 04-20-2012, 12:34 AM

I think most people take the razor apart to give it a good rinse, then put it back together to air dry. What I've heard of people doing, and recently started doing myself is keeping a small container of rubbing alcohol in which I dip the razor after rinsing. The alcohol displaces all of the water and then evaporates, leaving the razor drier than a toweling would.

**ojay** · 04-20-2012, 12:37 AM

For the 30 seconds it takes, I always take my razors apart and pat both the razor and blade dry, then reassemble.

**ggamyang** · 04-20-2012, 12:40 AM

Originally Posted by kirill

keeping a small container of rubbing alcohol in which I dip the razor after rinsing. The alcohol displaces all of the water and then evaporates, leaving the razor drier than a toweling would.

+1 :)

**nycalling** · 04-20-2012, 12:43 AM

That would explain a lot. I've been doing none of that. I've just been running water over it after I'm done shaving and hanging it back up. Definitely not drying it or even taking it apart.Thanks for the tip.

**timebomb** · 04-20-2012, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by kirill

I think most people take the razor apart to give it a good rinse, then put it back together to air dry. What I've heard of people doing, and recently started doing myself is keeping a small container of rubbing alcohol in which I dip the razor after rinsing. The alcohol displaces all of the water and then evaporates, leaving the razor drier than a toweling would.

Great idea. Thanks!

**beginish** · 04-20-2012, 06:17 AM

I just give the razor a good rinse under the tap without taking it apart, and put it away to air dry on its own. You only really need to worry about blade corrosion if it's carbon steel. Stainless steel and the coated versions of it will be fine. The alcohol dip would be appropriate for a carbon steel blade. The numbers on the blade are there purely for quality control purposes.

**pipskicks** · 04-20-2012, 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by nycalling

That would explain a lot. I've been doing none of that. I've just been running water over it after I'm done shaving and hanging it back up. Definitely not drying it or even taking it apart.Thanks for the tip.

Same here and for 3 shaves I'm not sure how much of a difference it makes. If you go for a week or more you may want to take it out.

I have loosened the head to get water in there to wash it out better, but then I just let it air dry.

**takeshi** · 04-20-2012, 06:38 AM

Originally Posted by timebomb

Just had my first DE shave (a bunch of weepers from the ATG pass around the moustache area) and was wondering if I should remove the Astra razor and store it somewhere or just leave it in there.

You should do what works for you. I don't remove the blade until it's time to replace it (about a week for me).

**turtle** · 04-20-2012, 06:51 AM

I remove the blade after each shave, dry the razor and store empty.

BUT....

I may have between 6 and 8 blades unwrapped at a time and use any of them in any one of a couple dozen DE razors on any given day.

**leonidas** · 04-20-2012, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by turtle

...from the photo, i am assuming there are no small children in the household........

**TonyBrown** · 04-20-2012, 08:06 AM

considering I put a new blade in about every 4-5 days (usually 4-5 shaves of course) I don't bother, I loosen the handle a little on either my DE89 or my HD, give it a good strong rinse and shake to get water out, wipe down the outside and put it away, when I swap blades I give the interior a solid wipe down and cleaning.

of course its just MHO, but, complete disassembly and thorough cleaning after each shave, drying of blades after each shave is not only excessive but bordering on OCD. after nearly a week of shaving the Astra blades come out of the razor absolutely spotless, I'd go as far as saying I have left a blade in my HD for a month (right after I got my EJ89) and when it came out it was still spotless and looked as new, I even shaved a time or two with that old blade. if you were using a blade for months on end I'd say take it out, at $.10 per blade I'll never keep a blade long enough to find out if they corrode

**AL3X** · 04-20-2012, 08:42 AM

I also don't remove the blade after each shave. The dipping in alcohol recommendation above, however, is a good idea, and I'm going to look into that.