Tips for extending the use of razor blades?

[bdizzle]

Maybe it's just me, but I swear I wear out my razor blade after two shaves and have to switch out the blade with a new one. Seeing as how a pack of 4 razors blades (cartridge) cost "X" (where "X" is the price of 4 razor blades) amt of $ and this only lasts me about 10 days at the max, I'm going through about 3X $/month, which is far too much imo. So what tips do fellow slyers have to extend the use of a razor blade and maybe lessen my "3X" to about say... 1.5X?

[karmacopper]

if you use multiblade cartridge razor like mach 3 you shud check out the razor pit http://www.razorpit.com/ works wonders at preserving blades.

[buddha]

It might have been SaintC who reported that soaking his blades in Hydrogen Peroxide gives him about a month worth of shaves. I just started doing it recently but I've been on the same carts for about 2 weeks with no indication that a change is needed yet.

[sailor61]

When you use hydroen peroxidem rubbing alchol or similar wiht blades, do you just use it as a rinse or do you actually leave the razor in the liquid?  If you leave it in the liquid, does this have any effect on the shave strips that are now on most blades?

Thanks

[Goldy]

The hydrogen peroxide has worked great for me thus far. I use the M5 Magnum on my face,(I need the trimmer end to go around my beard) and a three blade disposable on my head, and I've prolonged their use quite a bit. I have a little glass jar that I put the peroxide in, filling it just enough to submerge the blades. I'll leave them in there while I take a shower. Quick rinse under hot water and I'm good to go. Quick dunk back in the h.p. when I'm done, and repeat the process next time I'm shaving with fresh h.p.

though that link up there looks pretty intriguing. Only $25 too, definitely worth a look.

[Goldy]

I haven't really noticed that much of a difference between soaking and just normal use without the h.p. Then again, it's only soaking for the 5-10 minutes I'm in the shower to begin with. Experiment with it, I got a huge bottle of h.p. at the grocery store the other day for .99, and the 3 blade disposable with 5 carts was like $5.30.

I can say for 100% certainty it has extended the life of the blades on both.

[buddha]

When you use hydroen peroxidem rubbing alchol or similar wiht blades, do you just use it as a rinse or do you actually leave the razor in the liquid?  If you leave it in the liquid, does this have any effect on the shave strips that are now on most blades?
Thanks

The H2O2 does not seem to have any effect on the lube strips but alcohol, in my experience, disolves whatever glue is used to affix them. I've sprayed alcocol on blades with no ill effects but soaking a cart in alcohol has loosened up strips on my carts in the past. 

[MikeBrke]

Here is my routine:

1. Dry razor with towel.
2. Manually blow dry the blades with my mouth (2-3 blows).
3. Pour a little bit of rubbing alcohol through the backside of the blades.
4. Manually blow dry the blades with my mouth (2-3 blows).
5. Dry razor with towel.
6. Stick dry razor in ziplock bag to keep out moisture.

The goal is to keep the blade as dry as possible between uses; the above method does a great towards that goal.

[buddha]

I would almost think that putting the razor in a zip lock would have a deleterious effect on blades because it would not allow for air flow.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

It might have been SaintC who reported that soaking his blades in Hydrogen Peroxide gives him about a month worth of shaves. I just started doing it recently but I've been on the same carts for about 2 weeks with no indication that a change is needed yet.

Not me, I spray mine w/ 91% rubbing alcohol after rinsing well in hot water.  They do last a long time now, but i don't shave my face now, just my neck once or twice a week.

[MikeBrke]

I would almost think that putting the razor in a zip lock would have a deleterious effect on blades because it would not allow for air flow.

I don't want air flow because air flow carries moisture. I want the inside of the ziploc bag to be as airless and moisture free as possible. So after putting the razor in the bag, I press the remaining air out. Basically, it is just the dry razor enclosed in plastic. Nothing comes in and nothing comes out until I am ready to use it again!   

[bdizzle]

The hydrogen peroxide has worked great for me thus far. I use the M5 Magnum on my face,(I need the trimmer end to go around my beard) and a three blade disposable on my head, and I've prolonged their use quite a bit. I have a little glass jar that I put the peroxide in, filling it just enough to submerge the blades. I'll leave them in there while I take a shower. Quick rinse under hot water and I'm good to go. Quick dunk back in the h.p. when I'm done, and repeat the process next time I'm shaving with fresh h.p.

though that link up there looks pretty intriguing. Only $25 too, definitely worth a look.

Update: I've been doing this and it's been working out pretty well for me so far. Thanks for the tip!

[sh0nuff]

The RazorPit looks amazing, tho $25 for a piece of TPE is pretty steep.  Tho I suppose most of it is the "gimmick" and You'll have it pay for itself pretty quick, eh?

[SlyBaldDude]

During the shaving process I run the blades backward on my arm several times sort of like when the barber runs the strait razor backward on a leather strap.  Its a tip I got from this forum and it really *does* give you a couple of extra shaves.  I think it helps sharpen the blades or something.