ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Nov 28, 2014 9:58:18 GMT -6
My standard blades are GEM SS ptfe coated blades. The same blades anyone can get from numerous retail establishments.
When I first started with SE razors I treated blades as though they were DE blades and I'd can them after 7 or so shaves; just out of habit, not for any other reason. Then I realized that they could be used up to 14 shaves and did that for a time. Then questioning that practice I decided to see just how long a blade would last. I got bored after 22-24 shaves and canned blades at about that point.
OK, that brings me to the blade currently in use. I'm determined to outlast the blade; none of this "I'm bored, put in a new blade.", that I'd come up with in the past. I'm not going to get bored and cut this experiment short. As long as I get my standard BBS with no loss of cutting efficiency or comfort I plan to keep using it. Last night was shave #29. I'm amazed.
I have no idea why I'm getting such longevity out of blades, but typically anymore I get over 20 shaves per blade. Is anyone else experiencing this?
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Blade life
Nov 28, 2014 11:01:56 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by Petrvs on Nov 28, 2014 11:01:56 GMT -6
I must confess I also change blades out of habit. I normally do 2 passes each shave and the maximum I reached was 14 shaves with the same blade, but again that wasn't because it had lost its efficiency.
Let me add another question: of course the life of a SE blade will depend on beard thickness and technique but can it be that it depends also on the type of razor used (more or less aggressive)?
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Post by fram773 on Nov 28, 2014 11:18:24 GMT -6
I get 8 shaves out of my GEM blades and 14-16 out of my injector blades. I will try seeing how much I can truly get out of the GEM Blades.
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Post by mjclark on Nov 28, 2014 15:14:38 GMT -6
I feel a definite degradation in shave quality after 4 shaves with a carbon Treet, CVS or Blue Star. But hearing such high figures in this thread inspires me to push through and see how many shaves I can actually get. With the stainless it's 6 shaves but, again, maybe I should push through...
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Nov 28, 2014 17:23:28 GMT -6
I must confess I also change blades out of habit. I normally do 2 passes each shave and the maximum I reached was 14 shaves with the same blade, but again that wasn't because it had lost its efficiency. Let me add another question: of course the life of a SE blade will depend on beard thickness and technique but can it be that it depends also on the type of razor used (more or less aggressive)?[/quote] Well, that could be part of it. I do use a less aggressive razor for the first few shaves, in the middle age of the blade I use any razor I wish, then in the latter shaves use the ER '24. Too, I've noticed that the way I use the razor and blade changes. I don't exert a lot of force, but more than if the blade was new. It's more of the way I used the Rolls; but in a subdued way.
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Post by PJGH on Nov 28, 2014 17:54:13 GMT -6
Four, and I'm finished with a carbon steel. Five for the stainless, perhaps six.
I'm a two pass shaver, WTG & XTG. Thick and strong whiskers, if I'm not careful and push a blade too far I end up with ingrowers so I've learned just to accept 4 and 5 as the magic figures. I often do a test for sharpness on the harder skin at the top of my thumb - by 4 and 5 shaves, respectively for carbon and stainless steel, I'm struggling to shave a sliver of skin without pressure ... and that's when I'll retire the blade.
I think the highest figure I got to, and that's retiring the blade because it simply did not cut hair even with pressure, was 8. I've never got into double figures.
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Post by birdlives on Nov 28, 2014 18:03:16 GMT -6
I'm inclined to agree about the type razor being an important factor. I was only getting 6-7 shaves in my Damaskeene with the Stainless...and 3-4 with the 'Blue- Stars'... In my Little Lather Catcher 1914 I've never actually seen the stainless blade use efficientcy, I always chance first....either out of boredom, or not wanting to wait til I get a sub-superlative shave...with the Blur-Stars around 5 in the 1914...
Funny though...it doesn't just seem to be just about aggression. My OCMM gets less efficient and maybe a little tuggy after 6 or 7 shaves with a stainless, and 3 with a carbon....Hmmm..and my 1924 and 1914 seem to be the same...I need to 'man-up' and keep a blade in one til it tugs just to see....}8^)
Yo 'mj''....which razor are your stainless blades running out of steam at 6 shaves with ? Paul.... Does which razor you use have any baring on the number of prime shaves per blade?
No matter with razor I use, I can't get do better than 3-5 shaves per carbon blade....But the first 2 are like heaven, where the Stainless''s seem to start getting smoother after a couple shaves...and the first 2 are maybe a little rough...
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Post by Petrvs on Nov 29, 2014 0:17:54 GMT -6
I've never tried carbon blades, but as for the stainless I too notice some roughness in the first 2 shaves which disappears from the 3rd shave. It's almost like they need to "strop" against skin for the first shaves to reach their optimum.
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Post by PJGH on Nov 29, 2014 4:21:38 GMT -6
Paul.... Does which razor you use have any baring on the number of prime shaves per blade? That is a tough one to answer, since I don't stick with one razor with the blade. It might start in a 1912, go via a 1914 or 1924, perhaps a Featherweight, but by the third or fourth shave, it will get de-spined to go in a Valet VC1 or get the corners cracked off for use in a Wilkinson Sword Empire or my pre-Valet Autostrop 7 O'Clock. Sorry ... my blades play the field
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Post by mjclark on Nov 29, 2014 4:33:53 GMT -6
My 6 stainless shaves have been in a 1914 and a 1912, but I get on so badly with the stainless that I don't intend to experiment further. The 4 shaves from a carbon seems to apply whatever razor I use. I am half-Persian and have a very wiry beard. Blades are cheap and disposable so for me there's no point in pushing a blade beyond the point of comfort or BBS capability, but it's very interesting too see how many shaves to this level are attainable. And if I think about it too much, I get jumpy that carbon blades aren't easily available in the UK so the longer I can make them last the better!
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Post by drumzalot on Nov 29, 2014 10:14:24 GMT -6
Marcus, we are in the same boat. I don't like SS blades because they roughen up quickly, they still cut but are a tad too rough after their second use. Carbon steel blades all the way for me. I find Gem Blue Stars to be incredibly smooth but short lived (no more then 3 uses). Treet carbon blades come in second, they don't deteriorate as quickly as Gem Blue Stars. The Treet blades IMO are just slightly less smooth then Blue Stars.
Brian, I am surprised to read how you and other gents can get such long lasting life out of your blades. I tried changing my angle slightly and changing pressure but still my blades don't last too long. I have thick wiry facial hair which maybe just might make a difference.
If I could get 20 shaves per blade I could save a lot of money. The CVS carbon blades I find locally are too pricey especially for how little they last. The low price I got for 120 Treet blades has since more then doubled. I alternate between injectors and DE razors to preserve my meager stash of SE blades.
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Post by mjclark on Nov 29, 2014 10:40:46 GMT -6
Marcus, we are in the same boat. I don't like SS blades because they roughen up quickly... I alternate between injectors and DE razors to preserve my meager stash of SE blades. Right with you there Joe! I'm alternating with str8s and currently have about 100 carbon SE blades and about the same number of NOS Valet blades. I've only got 6 Wilkinson wedges though... ...I'd love to just be able to pop down to Boots or Superdrug and buy a pack of Treets! The Personna American Line industrial blades actually work quite well for me in the OCMM but they're bifaceted and really not the same experience as a fresh Blue Star!
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Nov 30, 2014 1:14:31 GMT -6
FWIW, tonights shave was #30 on the blade. It's still comfortable and a 2 1/3 pass BBS. Will this blade never quit?
I wish I could quantify what my beard is like, but I only have the one (mine) to compare it to.
One thing I do is to make an ultralather for every shave. That's super slick and a really good lubricant. Maybe that's what does it? I dunno.
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Post by birdlives on Dec 1, 2014 22:51:45 GMT -6
Paul.... Does which razor you use have any baring on the number of prime shaves per blade? Sorry ... my blades play the field What do you mean, "...play the field"? Looks like your blades are in and out of more of their 'trimming' counter-parts than most porn stars.....lol!......jus sayin'
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
|
Post by ShadowsDad on Dec 2, 2014 1:32:31 GMT -6
FWIW, shave #32 was the last shave on the blade. Now to test some Treets I was sent.
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