Blade Life

[Gecko45]

To much is mentioned of only using a blade ONCE before tossing.

I have sort of felt shameful when i see the blade life challenges, and reports of how some have gotten 30 days of use from a specific vintage blade, etc. Some of my blades I only get 7 very nice 3 or 4 day shaves from. Others on a daily usage pattern will last me 12. Some i can only shave on sunday and get 5 good shaves out of it.

SO im trying to figure out the reasoning of "being happy" with a blade that only lasts for 1 shave.. or the reasoning behind "every blade is tossed after teh first shave no matter what".

 

[Whiterook]

DE blades are relatively inexpensive, so some people will toss them after one shave. What's 20 cents these days. I think the second shave on a blade is the best, but I keep mine going for six to ten shaves.

 

[TOVT]

Sometimes, if I only do a socially acceptable, one or two WTG pass shave, I may leave the blade in my razor and shave the next day with it.
Most of the time it's one and done.
My face, head, and I all deserve a fresh new blade for each shave.
I also don't care to handle blades any more than need be. For safety and time management reasons.
My blade bin desperately needs to be emptied.

 

[DesertIguana]

Well there is no ONE SIZE Fits all Answer to the original question, for 100% of those reading this.

Blade Bands, and Models all differ.

Beard Thickness, Growth Patterns, Day or Days of Growth to be Shaved, and Skin type contribute to BLADE LIFE.

I am using this Blade pictured below, today was 5th. DAY of Excellent use, will use Tomorrow, Tomorrow I will know to toss, or Use Again.

I listen to sound my Blade makes while saving, at end of its useable life the Sound is different compared to New Sharp Blade.

Your mission is to figure out what Blade you like, love, hate, and hope you find your Grail Blade fast.

 

[Grundi]

I know this is personal preference, but for me, it takes most blades a shave or two just to reach peek performance. I'm also of the persuasion of using a blade as many times as I can, and stand in awe of those in the Excalibur Club.

 

[Lockback]

When I switched over to double edge razor traditional shaving, I was stunned by how inexpensive blades were.
Like anyone in that situation, I wondered how many shaves I could get out of a blade. So I pushed it a few times but found that in my case, three seemed about ideal. So I've stuck with that. Oh, sure, I'm quite confident most blades in at least some of my razors could be extended beyond that. But why? I'm a man of limited means but even I can afford 7 cents a shave.
There are a few exceptions. In my case, I usually use Treet Carbon Steel blades only once. Not because they're incapable of multiple shaves but they're cheap and I don't have to worry about the blade rusting between shaves (even though I always remove my blade and dry it after every shave). I managed to get 100 Treet Carbon Steel blades for under $5.00 recently so it's not killing me to toss a five cent blade after only one shave.

 

[NorthernSoul]

...Some of my blades I only get 7 very nice 3 or 4 day shaves from. Others on a daily usage pattern will last me 12. Some i can only shave on sunday and get 5 good shaves out of it.

SO im trying to figure out the reasoning of "being happy" with a blade that only lasts for 1 shave.. or the reasoning behind "every blade is tossed after teh first shave no matter what".

If I get seven shaves from a Personna Lab Blue, that works out to about 2 cents per shave. I think that's a pretty reasonable cost, and fairly typical.

Suppose I tossed a Lab Blue blade after one shave, I would miss the best part of its life (shave #2 through shave #5). So, let's compromise and say I changed blades after every other shave. My cost would be around 7 cents per shave which is still pretty reasonable. You could save some money by not changing blades so soon, but the saving are not all that much.

 

[Tathlum]

My best shave with a blade is the first. The 2nd and 3rd are anywhere from ok to horrible. If the blade makes it past the 3rd shave then usually 4-7 are pretty good shaves but not as good as the first shave. I did one and done for years because a fresh blade every shave (using the same razor) resulted in consistent results for me.

 

[Gecko45]

Its as baffling as the idiot with a face tattoo who doesnt understand why bank tellers get scared when he walks into a bank..

Its not the COST of it, its the WASTE of it.

 

[NorthernSoul]

Its as baffling as the idiot with a face tattoo who doesnt understand why bank tellers get scared when he walks into a bank..

Its not the COST of it, its the WASTE of it.

Good to know that anyone who doesn't agree with you is automatically an idiot!



If you are getting seven shaves per blade, you are doing pretty well compared to the average person. If you are worried about waste, maybe turn down the thermostat a couple of degrees or skip desert for a week.

 

[Gecko45]

Good to know that anyone who doesn't agree with you is automatically an idiot!



If you are getting seven shaves per blade, you are doing pretty well compared to the average person. If you are worried about waste, maybe turn down the thermostat a couple of degrees or skip desert for a week.

Im really tempted to push a black beauty to 20 just to try. I think tossing them at after the 7th or 8th shave is fine. They work.

Tossing a blade on the first use feels more like throwing the kitty cat out when it grows up.;

 

[BrightSideBob]

I try to use a blade for as many times as possible until it becomes noticably uncomfortable

How many decent shaves I get out of a blade varies since I like using a variety of blades, but on average I can make a blade last for a week or two.

If a blade is really good I can make it last a month or just shy of one

 

[Ahiram]

Tossing a blade on the first use feels more like throwing the kitty cat out when it grows up.;

LOL, that comparison made me laugh a lot. Do you imagine it something like that??

 

[Gecko45]

LOL, that comparison made me laugh a lot. Do you imagine it something like that??
View attachment 1958062

that looks more like a wet possum head

 

[abies]

Im really tempted to push a black beauty to 20 just to try. I think tossing them at after the 7th or 8th shave is fine. They work.

I think I see the Excalibur Club in your future... that's what they all say at first. Then they're on their 40th shave with a single Treet blade.

 

[EclipseRedRing]

I have wondered this and for many it is apparently something to do with "life being too short". I have tried a single shave from a blade and also dozens, in each case I found that life was still too short and unchanged by the process. Now I just change blades whenever I feel like it.

 

[Wombat ESQ]

One blade every 21 years for shaving, 3 a week for cutting everything else under the sun.

It is not up to me to change everyone's thinking/use of "stuff" in the ultimate pursuit of eternal happiness. Can't cash a check in heaven nor hell.

 

[Jamolay]

My best shave with a blade is the first. The 2nd and 3rd are anywhere from ok to horrible. If the blade makes it past the 3rd shave then usually 4-7 are pretty good shaves but not as good as the first shave. I did one and done for years because a fresh blade every shave (using the same razor) resulted in consistent results for me.

I am with this. I have yet to experience a blade improving after the first shave with it, and I have tried 25-30 of the common and popular blade brands on this forum. I feel I can usually get 1.5 good full shaves per edge of the blade, so 2 shaves on a split blade, 3 in a DE razor.

I also shave a lot of territory each time, neck front and back, cheeks above beard and whole scalp. I shave wtg, xtg and atg. I seem to have more grain directions than I have hair follicles on my head somehow, even though this is impossible. Although I don’t think I have thick or coarse bristles, my hair on the sides and back of my head seems pretty tough to cut regardless of the blade or razor. My scalp seems sensitive , lots of dips and irregularities and scrapes easily.

I have only this one scalp, so have no idea what all you other folks experience, nor how typical or atypical I might be. This is just my experience .

So I guess we all do what we want or feel works best to us in that light.

 

[ButterfaceX]

Its as baffling as the idiot with a face tattoo who doesnt understand why bank tellers get scared when he walks into a bank..

Its not the COST of it, its the WASTE of it.

There are many ways to reduce waste of a double edge safely blades:
1. Recycle them! - I recycle mine at a local source. I have two very close options. A metal cycle on the way to and also a local recycling center.
2. Reference :
3. Learn how to use and care for a true straight edge razor
4. Grow a beard

Oh, my bankers do not fear people with tattoos - I know, have plenty.

Remember we are here to have fun, help, guide, share, keeping it positive & so much more.

BFX


When you judge someone, it doesn't define the person that you're judging. It defines you. Quote by Tulisa

 

[cranewarrior]

As I look at my stash which would last for decades at the rate of 1 blade per week, I conclude hoarding itself is a form of waste.

Life is short. Do whatever makes you happy. You can't take your money or razor blades with you.