Sticky Blade Dispenser

[mcmulvaney]

This morning I managed to cut my thumb while trying to slide a blade out of the plastic dispenser (not easy to cut yourself on the middle slot of a blade laying flat in its dispenser, but I did it). The blades are Gillette Bleue Extras - NOS. I have had to use considerable force to get the blades to slide out of their dispenser and so I was wondering: a) if the cause might be that any material (oil) that remained on the blades after manufacturing has gotten sticky with age (the blade were manufactured about 10 years ago), and b) if you guys have any suggestions for freeing them up. I love the blades - they work wonderfully on my face - but I don't want it to be hazardous just to get them in the razor.

Any ideas?

[turtle]

what I have found works for me is I open the other side of the plastic container and then the blades come out very easily. Just lift up and the tab will unlock then the entire other side opens.

[raisindot]

Same problem happens to me all the time with my GBEs. A terribly poor design. One thing that helps a little is to make sure you're sliding it out in the direction the blade says. For some reason, it seems to slide out a little better that way. But, yes, I've done Turtle's suggestion--cracked the whole case open--when I get really frustrated.

[man00ver]

You could try loosening the oil with a hot hair dryer. When all else fails, a little soak with WD-40 should do the trick.

I'm so glad none of my GBE dispensers have had this problem. Yet.

[jwilock]

I've tried every suggestion people have made, and none has worked for me. I took a pair of heavy duty shears to the case and just cut it open. Even then the entire pack of blades was stuck together and I had to separate each one individually. I'll take a look at the above suggestion for opening the dispenser. Sounds easier than my use of shears on it.

Having said all that, the the blades are well worth the trouble it takes to get to them. I've had a few blades on my short list of blades I like a lot (SIs. 7 Yellows, Blues and Blacks, Meds, Silver Blues, maybe a couple others) and never been quite sure which I prefer the most. Having just gone through a few GBEs I think I'm now ready to crown them my favorite. I get very close, very smooth, very comfortable shaves every time I use them, and as a bonus they last a couple shaves more than most of the other blades I use. For anyone who hasn't tried these I'd highly recommend keeping a look out for them and snapping up a few packs if you ever see them offered.

[Cicatero]

I would think soaking the whole dispenser in a bowl of isopropyl alcohol would dissolve the dried-up protective oil.

[jwilock]

I would think soaking the whole dispenser in a bowl of isopropyl alcohol would dissolve the dried-up protective oil.

I actually tried that. It didn't work for me.

[mcmulvaney]

Thanks for all your suggestions! I'll start with the least intrusive first and stop when I get a solution that works. Since these blades are in a rotation with my two other favorites (Personna MedPrep and Iridiums), it will be a couple weeks before I can start reporting my results.

Once again, thanks for all your help!

[luvmysuper]

Spray the dispenser down liberally with WD40 and let it soak for a bit, then rinse it off thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol.
Works every time.

[Mitsimonsta]

I have 4,000 of these and have never had a problem.

Just make sure you are pushing them the right way, and place firm even pressure on the blade to slide it out.

[whereisandy]

I have had the same issue with my GBE blades that I bought -- likely from the same fleabay sale last year. I just take my fingernail file and push the edge of the blade in the direction of the arrows. They stick but aren't glued together solidly. I think I read that it's a result of the machine oil that was used to help the blades not stick together. Obviously that worked really well, didn't it?

[Chester]

Any ideas?

Yeah, this happened to me. I just run 'em under hot water for 5-10 seconds, shake out the excess moisture and the blades slide out without too much trouble.
-- Chet

[mcmulvaney]

Gentlemen,

I tried the WD40 Soak followed by Isopropyl Alchohol rinse and it worked. I may need to give it another go since the next blade in the packed seemed a bit more sticky still. At any rate - problem solved! My thanks to all of you!

[mblakele]

Most of mine have been easy, but I finally ran into a sticky one. I was able to free the top blade by rocking it back and forth with my thumb. I slid the blade forward, then backward, and repeated a few times. At first it barely moved, but patience was all I needed.

[Silky Glide]

I thought it was just me - I managed to push one out just enough to grab it with a needle nose pliers and yank it out of the case - seems like a lot of effort (and risk of injury) to go through just to dispense a blade when I have thousands of other blades that I can use. Also, maybe I got a bad one but once I did get the blade out it was none too sharp.

[luvmysuper]

I thought it was just me - I managed to push one out just enough to grab it with a needle nose pliers and yank it out of the case - seems like a lot of effort (and risk of injury) to go through just to dispense a blade when I have thousands of other blades that I can use. Also, maybe I got a bad one but once I did get the blade out it was none too sharp.

You may have rubbed an edge on the dispenser as it came out. I've had that happen with DE blades and also some Injectors.

Try the WD40 trick, it does work. You may have to vary the time you let it soak to get best results.
In my opinion, some of the vintage blades are well worth the effort.