Blade life

• Blade life by jr1979 on 10 Jan, 2010 04:49
• Hey guys,
  
  Shaving at the moment with a Fusion (though at AUS$6 per cartridge I'm looking at options) and am having trouble getting more than 1-2 decent shaves per cartridge. I'm only thinning on top so there is a fair amount to shave but surely they should have a longer life than this?
  
  Would it be the hot, humid climate here in Oz that is shortening the blade life? Do I just have tough hair? (FWIW I can't even use an electric razor on face or dome as the blades won't even cut my hair.)
  
  Tried the olive oil trick without much success. I don't think it works so well on the Fusion.
  
  Am I just being too demanding expecting the perfect shave everytime? 
  
  
  
• #1 by FR8TRAIN on 10 Jan, 2010 08:28
• Jr.
  
  Have you tried spraying your blade with alcohol after your shave? This is a trick that warhawk turned me on to and it certainly has extended the shaving life of my blades.
  
  After every use, I just spray a little rubbing alcohol on the blade and set it away to dry.
• #2 by buddha on 10 Jan, 2010 09:28
• Quote from: FR8TRAIN on 10 Jan, 2010 08:28

  Jr.
  
  Have you tried spraying your blade with alcohol after your shave? This is a trick that warhawk turned me on to and it certainly has extended the shaving life of my blades.
  
  After every use, I just spray a little rubbing alcohol on the blade and set it away to dry.
  

  
  What he said.
  
  I do the same thing but, back when I was using the Sensor Excel carts, I found that the alcohol was eroding the lube strips on the cart. What I started doing then was spraying my blades and letting the alcohol sit on there for about 30 seconds, then a QUICK rinse in very hot water. I have continued that practice with the HB triples and the M5 Magnums.
  
  Something else to consider, though, is salt air. I don't know how close you are to the ocean but there is a story I have heard about cars in coastal areas of the US eroding faster because of humidity from the ocean which actually puts salt in the air. I don't know how true this is or if there is any truth to it at all because I've never lived on the coast. What I do know, though, on the salt topic is that up here in the untamed north of Wisconsin that when they use salt on the road that it corrodes car bodies at a much faster rate than in places where they use stuff like magnesium chloride or plain sand.
• #3 by mangosink12572 on 10 Jan, 2010 10:45
• I use the Schick Xtreme3 comfort plus - -you get 22 razors for $18.00  -I get them at Sam's club and they last 4-5 times  - - - - -I also have hair on top  -just a little thin and these seem to work - -I use Bald Guyz Gel   and you can see what it does for me
• #4 by Rob on 13 Jan, 2010 11:50
• Gillette Fusion blades last about a week for me, a couple at a push, but not comfortable.  Just lately I have been using up some 'old' Mach3 blades I had from way back, and have discovered that these actually last a little longer: I can get almost two weeks comfortable shaving out of a Mach3.  But Fusion give a closer shave.
• #5 by jr1979 on 16 Jan, 2010 18:21
• I think I solved my problem... proof that less is more?
  
  I just rinsed the blade with alcohol like before but instead of letting the razor head sit in oil to protect the blades I just sat it on the windowsill to dry in the air, and hope that kept it dryer than where it was before.
  
  I also found I have to shave in the shower to get a decent smooth shave. I think that may have been why I wasn't getting a decent result with the older blades before.
  
• #6 by D.A.L.U.I. on 16 Jan, 2010 19:05
• We're pretty hot and humid in New Orleans, and for my Fusion blades I changed once a week and no problems.  Still doing the same for my new love, M5. 
  No special treatment except making sure there's lots of air circulation.  My only problem has been w/ disposables--no good to start, so there have only been two or three experiments. 
• #7 by Dome of Steele on 16 Jan, 2010 19:12
• I store the blade (Mach 3)  in olive oil.  But before I store it I rinse it well and let it sit a few minutes before putting it back in the oil.  I also try to rinse with alcohol weekly.  I use one blade for 2 months or more.  This is however, not typical. 
• #8 by Paul_O on 28 Feb, 2010 22:38
• I know most of you guys shave everyday.  I usually shave maybe twice a week as its preety much blonde and dont get seen.  My question is letting it grown that much before i shave, will this bee the reason i only get 2 to 3 shaves from a fusion set of blades?