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A couple new razors

I've now completed my eighth shave with the same DE Feather blade. After the sixth shave on the same blade which was still good, I stropped the blade on canvas then leather. This brought it back to a higher level and I've been shaving with it still. I'll let you know how much longer it gives decent shaves by merely stropping but I have a feeling it will be many. I'm thinking a months worth of shaving. Bringing the cost of these Feather blades way down. DM
 
I've just completed shave #10 with the same DE Feather blade. All shave are nice and close. It looks like twelve close shaves are within reach for this one blade. I'll give up dates later. DM
 
I completed shave #12 this morning with this same blade. All shaves nice and close. This is equivalent to a month of shaving for me on one DE blade making each shave cost a mere .03 . Still, I'm not finished and will keep going. Good shaving Gents. DM
 
Have you tried a new one in between every so often to remind yourself of the difference?
 
Ok, I'll now give you the straight skinny on this. At first after 6 shaves I stropped the blade usually 15-30 times on canvas and leather and thusly gained 6 more good shaves. Then again after 12 shaves I did the same stropping procedure and gained 6 more good, close shaves. Then stropping again after 18 gave me only 2 good shaves before requiring some stropping. Now, I'm about to use it for shave #22 and it will probably require some stropping afterwards. I'm sure it will follow this pattern a few shaves before dropping to needing a stropping after each shave which I'll not continue to give. Yet, what I've done is determined how long a DE blade can go with little maintenance while delivering good shaves. This seems to be right around 20. I'll take mine a few more shaves in order to finish out a full 2 months worth of shaving, '24' shaves. Since I was sailing uncharted waters here as no one else has done this, I learned some things along the way and enjoyed this effort. By the way this amount of shaves brought the cost down to about .01 per shave and I'd only use 6 blades a year. DM
 
How many shaves are theoretically possible? Oh.... I might estimate 10,000ish. The metal will wear away over time and use and eventually the blade will be too narrow to work anymore.

This is what Rolls realized when they created the Autostrop. Stropped from time-to-time, a blade may last upwards of a lifetime.

So why do we use disposable blades at all? Convenience, that's why.
 
That many shaves is not possible with a DE blade as the metal is too thin. The Rolls and a straight are similar in the sharpening aspects as the metal thickness is similar and approach. ie. sharpening after each shave. Had I been discussing soaps some forumites may have enjoyed this topic more than the technical know how of sharpening. Still, if one is concerned about reducing land fill volume this application is easily seen. DM
 
I've now completed 37 good, close shaves using a single Feather DE blade. Thats 3 months worth of shaving for me. During this experiment I did take out a new Feather blade and shaved 3 times with it to satisfy a pervious post and my curosity. The shaves this 'original' blade is delivering is very close to shaves #2&3 I got from the fresh blade, only a step up in smoothness as its more polished. So, much more shaves can be had with one blade than previously considered, by merely adding a little sharpening. (Should one have interest in this area). This original blade seems like it will deliver many more good, close shaves. I'll see as I keep shaving with it. DM
 
This morning I used a new Feather in my Super Speed and was warned to be careful. With only a minor nick that is an awesome combination. Yeah the SS is mild, but following a full four passes the results are great! :thumbup:
 
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