The strange case of the blade that wouldn't die.

I got back today from a trip that kept me away from home 20 days. The first day of the trip, I put a Super Iridium blade into my Sheraton (which is my travel razor of choice). Ordinarily, my routine is to ditch a blade after 3 shaves. However, because of a busy work schedule (I was at playing at a music festival) I used the same blade on days 4 & 5. Still getting good shaves, I decided to push on with the SI. Long story short, I used it for all 20 days, the last shave being today, in my van with cold water - again, a decent shave. Remarkable? Or have I just been missing the point up until now?
My other gear items were T&H West Indian Limes cream, a TGN synth brush, Humphries witch hazel & Visal gelee.
Oh, & BTW, I was doing some palm stropping.

 

All kneel to the power of palm stropping! :whacky084

 

thats what gets me when i see people saying they toss them after the 2-3 shave. some blades dont get going good til that 3rd shave.

 

20 days is awesome. I usually get around 7 days without anything additional like drying or hand stropping.

 

The best I ever did was 15 shaves with a vintage English Wilkinson Sword blade in a red tip. No hand stropping to keep it going.

I popped a fresh one in this morning and thought about pitching it mid shave. I'll give it another day to see if it gets any better.

 

I knew this post was coming!!

 

Stropping

Ok found a video on Palm stropping. After your done do you flip the blade over and put it back in the razor? On shave 3-4 of a blade you feel it gets better? I find a new blade works great and i am so eager to find blade nirvana that most don't make it past 2 shaves.
feel my brain hurt sometimes with all the different razors creams soaps technique brushes case of sensory over load.:sick007
Thanks
B

 

I'm going to keep shaving with it. Maybe it's a magic blade.

 

News Flash -

Shave #21 in the bag.

The legend continues.......:sport001

 

I once had a Supermax Stainless last 11 shaves...

This thread has inspired me to push my current blade to it's limit - I'm 3 shaves deep on a Wilkinson Sword classic. Actually if it makes it to Saturday I'll be impressed, I usually swap out after 3.

 

The magic blade

And another blade i will have to try. Burning through bros sampler now.
Thanks for the info learning something every day.
B

 

I had one go 13 days. My feathers go about 10 days. Does turning blade over help? Ive never done that before. Thanks again.

 

As for flipping the blade before putting it back into the razor, I do. Does it make a difference? Really, for me, it's a matter of, "Can't hurt. Might help." Just something I've always done after hand stropping. The blade is flipped anyway during the stropping, I've just never bothered to insist that I always keep the same side up going back into the razor.

 

i tried that once..felt kinda rough to me.

 

I never understood chucking a blade after 2-3 shaves. I think you are missing Nirvana... Shave #1-2 are usually the roughest for me. Most shaves are better after shave 2 or 3. 4-6 are pretty level, then they drop off sharply (or Dull-ly as the case may be) after that. For me, a week is about average, but I rarely keep track.

Give your blades a few more shaves and see if they work better for you.

 

Heck Ya

I will give blades more shaves with hand stropping since i just learned that trick yesterday. With all the combos of soap,cream,blades it is learning curve at the moment, and i get to practice every day.
Thanks
B

 

I'm with you Tforc!

 

Shave #22 successfully executed!

The rock keeps rollin' on.......:happy096

 

Shave # 23 is history.

EXCALIBUR = I believe!!!!!

PS. Does anyone know what the Guinness world record is???

 

^Check the Personna 74's!

I've found I can keep a blade going for as long as I want to (so far) (and i've never wanted to go past 10ish days, I like to ditch the blade and move to a different razor, I keep one razor bladed only). It'll cut hair, but it'll grow back fast. The fresher the blade, the longer the shave lasts... for me...