How Many Shaves Per Blade?

Discussion in 'Safety Razors' started by Monty Smith, Jan 15, 2011.

  1. Art Vandelay

    Art Vandelay Active Member

    This morning I started in on shave #4 of a Merkur Platinum blade in my '60 SS. Big mistake. The blade just draaaagged across my skin, resulting in a tender, razor-burned face today. Had to change the blade out for a Personna Plat after the first pass. Night and day difference.
     
  2. PanChango

    PanChango Not Cute

    The blades last until I get bored and change it.

    Most of the time I go 2 or 3 shaves with a blade and am happy.

    Give it some time and see what works best for you.
     
  3. Etoyoc

    Etoyoc Backwards

    I toss an Gillette 7 O'Clock blacks and Astra after 5-6 shaves (enough for the entire work week). Other blades are usually about 3 days.
     
  4. hawthorn05

    hawthorn05 New Member

    I change my blade every 3 shaves. They may be able to last more but I've had bad experiences before trying to squeeze an extra shave out of a blade so I just play it safe.
     
  5. GDCarrington

    GDCarrington Burma Shave

    DE 2-5 days depending on the brand
    Injector 5-8 days depending on the brand
    Trac II / Atra 2 - 5 days depending on the brand

    I head shave so I base the Trac II / Atra on the use on my head and the DE / Injector on use on my face.
     
  6. glazer1972

    glazer1972 Member

    I use my de blades for 4 or 5 shaves.
     
  7. lycidas

    lycidas Member

    Good post. I was just wondering this myself as I hit #4.. in my mind wondering, "Is this getting dull? Is it imagined?" I like the 3 shave rule post.

    I was looking in the special projects area and I like a couple of the ideas on building a little tin with a slot for disposal of these. But I did have another thought that one of my good friends is a paramedic. I can get him to bring home a sharps container from work and that will hold blades for about a year easily.
     
  8. glazer1972

    glazer1972 Member

    I put a piece of duct tape over an old vitamin bottle. Cut a slot in the tape.
    Peeled the label off and wrote "Caution: Blade Bank." on the side. The cap goes back on after I put the old blade in.
     
  9. PLANofMAN

    PLANofMAN Eccentric Razor Collector Staff Member

    Moderator Article Team
    You must use the secret formula.

    beard density + hair toughness + number of passes + brand of razor + brand of shaving creme + hardness of the water + the specific gravity of an orange = toss it the minute you think the quality of the shave has gone downhill.

    You could use a new blade every day and still shave for less than the cost of a razor cartridge. (Unless you were one of those people who would use it until the lubricating strip was a dim memory).
     
  10. Racso_MS

    Racso_MS Enjoy Your Shave

    I'm reading 10, 15, 20, 40 shaves per blade. :eek: I've been shaving for quite some time and rarely can I get 5 shaves out of a blade, no matter the brand. The norm (for me) is 3 to 4 shaves per blade. If I feel the least amount of tugging or pulling; out it comes. Blades are so cheap I can't see having an uncomfortable shave.

    My two cents worth. :D
     
  11. PanChango

    PanChango Not Cute

    I'm with Oscar and normally pitch them after 3 or 4 shaves....

    However, I ran into some vintage Wilkinson Swords at a flea market recently and have 10 shaves on the blade. It's not quite as sharp as day one, but it is still sharp and smooth. Just for fun, I am going to see how far it will go.
     
  12. Bullwinkle

    Bullwinkle Member

    I use a Muhle R106 with Personna Medical Prep blades and I change every Sunday morning. Since retiring I shave an avg of 4/5 times a week. I sure I could proably go 2 weeks but..
     
  13. MikekiM

    MikekiM Well-Known Member

    I've made the commitment to hand strop my blades for the next few months.. So, I fully expect my total number of shaves from one blade will decrease, but hopefully in exchange for more peak shaves.. Always seems that my best shaves are on day three through six..

    I figure on average I get five shaves from a DE blade..
     
  14. supe

    supe Active Member

    I guess I'm one of the few that have good luck with Merkur blades. I usually get 5-6 4 pass shaves per blade but the blade before last went 12 shaves and I was still getting good shaves from it. figure that one out.
     
  15. Oblio13

    Oblio13 New Member

    I've never kept track, just used them until they started tugging. This thread inspired me to actually keep a tally. Got my 16th shave from a Feather this morning. It'll be replaced in the morning. Think I'll try a Shark next.
     
  16. swarden43

    swarden43 "It's your shave. Enjoy it your way."©

    Why suffer with the tug? That's why I put in a new blade every Monday and toss it on Friday, hand stropping before every shave.
     
  17. Hot Sauce

    Hot Sauce New Member

    I can get 4-5 three-pass shaves out of an Astra Platinum. They're so cheap it's not worth pushing it
     
  18. Oblio13

    Oblio13 New Member

    The first 10 or 12 shaves were excellent. The last few were good enough, but as you said, why suffer with the tug. The irony is that the new Shark I put in felt about like the old Feather it was replacing.
     
  19. gnarsurf

    gnarsurf New Member

    I'm only using them for 3-4 shaves at a time, mostly because I can't wait to try new blades
     
  20. I get 3-4 out of one de blade. I use drug store brand de blades. Ten for six. More importantly they're made in USA.
     

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