Blade life?

**dpmtherrien** · 07-02-2009, 05:37 PM

My normal shave consists of 3 passes, WTG,XTG,and ATG, followed by a bit of blade buffing for a couple of rough spots. Results are a great BBS shave that feels fantastic. I average 4 shaves no matter what blade I use. I was just wondering if one would count each pass as one shave with the blade being used, or if the 3 passes and the blade buffing all count as one shave? I've not seen this question answered in the 4+ months that I've been a member. Is there a set rule on this having to do with blade life? Or does it just vary from shaver to shaver?

**Luc** · 07-02-2009, 06:24 PM

I think most members qualify a '1 shave' as x passes (x being the number of shaves they do).

If I do 3 passes, I will include blade buffing in the 3 passes and end up with 3 or 4 shaves per blade (3 or 4 different shaving sessions). The number of passes will vary on the blade's life and the number of shaves.

If someone does a 2 pass shave, he/she will be more likely to get more shaves out of the blades. Technique will help if you want to get more shaves out of your blade. The blade itself will be varying on how many shaves you can do.

I usually get 3 shaves (3 pass) with a Feather, sometimes 4. Astra gives me 5 shaves (3 pass) on average (sometimes 4, sometimes 6).

**mretzloff** · 07-02-2009, 06:25 PM

I use my "Israeli red pack "Personnas for three shaves and then toss them. They cost ten cents a blade, so there's no need to put up with crappy shaves just to save a little money.

**DunEdinRanger** · 07-02-2009, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by mretzloff

I use my "Israeli red pack "Personnas for three shaves and then toss them. They cost ten cents a blade, so there's no need to put up with crappy shaves just to save a little money.

Spendthrift!!

**Grimakis** · 07-02-2009, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by DunEdinRanger

Spendthrift!!

Is there a way to hone DE blades in a way similar straight-razors? Without losing a finger of course....

**tlanning** · 07-02-2009, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by Grimakis

Is there a way to hone DE blades in a way similar straight-razors? Without losing a finger of course....

spend thrift, HA how about cheap

Actually I've seen a glass one, kind of an antique tho I believe

**_JP_** · 07-02-2009, 08:10 PM

At one time blade stroppers used to be fairly common, but those don't work so well with modern steels.

When we (the B&B members) shave we do multiple passes. That's something to keep in mind when someone talks about a razor cartridge lasting them for a large number of shaves by comparison. You can bet that they are doing only a single pass when they shave.

**Stubblefield** · 07-02-2009, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by DunEdinRanger

Originally Posted by mretzloff

I use my "Israeli red pack "Personnas for three shaves and then toss them. They cost ten cents a blade, so there's no need to put up with crappy shaves just to save a little money.

Spendthrift!!

I toss everything after two shaves, except NOS Wilks, which get tossed after 3. I tend to make multiple passes every shave, so that's why, I think.

**Sluggo** · 07-02-2009, 09:36 PM

I use feathers only, and 3 shaves is all I get.

**Shane** · 07-03-2009, 11:04 AM

Regardless of the blade, it's three shaves. Why push it?

**Stubblefield** · 07-03-2009, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by Shane

Regardless of the blade, it's three shaves. Why push it?

Well, I could see someone who paid 0.80 for a Swede wanting to push it a tad . . . .

**jeffmeit** · 07-03-2009, 11:47 AM

I shave with two passes and use derby's, I shave 6 times a week, so I throw out the blade after 3 uses. I get them for 12 cents a piece after shipping so to me why try to stretch the life of a blade?

**DunEdinRanger** · 07-08-2009, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by jeffmeit

I shave with two passes and use derby's, I shave 6 times a week, so I throw out the blade after 3 uses. I get them for 12 cents a piece after shipping so to me why try to stretch the life of a blade?

It's not just the $6.00 a year you'd be saving, but what are you going to do when the Shavepocalypse hits and you've run out of blades?

**isaacc7** · 07-08-2009, 09:13 PM

My father claims that when his blade dulls, he can simply flip it over and get some more shaves out of it. Has anyone heard of this? I haven't tried that yet...

**Luc** · 07-08-2009, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by isaacc7

My father claims that when his blade dulls, he can simply flip it over and get some more shaves out of it. Has anyone heard of this? I haven't tried that yet...

The whole blade flipping idea comes back here and there... Some say it helps, some don't. If my blade is dull, it's too late to flip it as it will still be dull.

I used to and realised that I was, sometimes, able to squeek an extra shave out of it. I was flipping the blade between the shaves. I stopped doing it as keeping track of the side and everything early in the morning before coffee is too much for my sleepy brain. You can always give it a go as this seems to vary from one to another (YMMV).

As a reference, I found the following threads...

**moonshine44** · 07-08-2009, 10:08 PM

So far, I do three shaves and toss 'em, no matter the blade, except Merkurs. Those I use for two days, then they're history. And I've about decided that they're history in my den anyway. I didn't especially care for them in my SS's, and I definitely don't like 'em in my Slim. The last one or two may languish unused in the darkness of my medicine cabinet...

**reub2000** · 07-08-2009, 10:09 PM

Why are you so worried about the metrics for measuring a blade's life?

**Stubblefield** · 07-09-2009, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by DunEdinRanger

It's not just the $6.00 a year you'd be saving, but what are you going to do when the Shavepocalypse hits and you've run out of blades?

For some of us, that is not a concern, as we have many blades stored in strategically located areas, guarded by invisible ninjas.

My shave cost is $7.82 per year (not including soap) but that is over 30 years.

**Zhukov** · 07-09-2009, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by Shane

Regardless of the blade, it's three shaves. Why push it?

Because I can get more than three shaves out of a blade pretty easy. As a matter of fact, I usually use them for 2-3 weeks (2 passes + blade buffing, shave every other day).

Maybe I'm just not that sensitive to a dull(er) blade.

**Luc** · 07-09-2009, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by Zhukov

Because I can get more than three shaves out of a blade pretty easy. As a matter of fact, I usually use them for 2-3 weeks (2 passes + blade buffing, shave every other day).

Maybe I'm just not that sensitive to a dull(er) blade.

2-3 weeks? Mmm, that's a lot of shaves. You use it everyday? Doing 2 pass instead of 3 sure change something. Which blade are you using? I might have missed that one and should probably try it