Stropping a disposable razor - Wow!!

S

stitchawl

Joined
Jul 26, 2008
Messages
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I've been using a Shick 'Mach 5' disposable for two years now. The handle was given to me at at Holiday Inn in the US with 4 free blades. The cost of replacement blades was incredibly high! So just on a hunch, I started stropping the blades on a horsehide strop just before using...

A most amazing difference! This ridiculous combination of 5 blades in one cartridge suddenly became effective! Not only that, but it became 'long lasting!' Instead of 4-5 shaves with one cartridge, I'm getting 15-20! (Granted, I only shave my neck as I wear a full beard, but my neck is as tender as a new born babe...) With the absurd cost of these multi-bladed cartridges, stropping suddenly brings them back into the realm of real value. Just a few strokes on a bench-mounted Shell Cordovan Horsehide strop makes the blade feel like new once again.

For those of you who use a disposable razor, try it yourself and see. It more than doubles the life of a throw-away blade! Even stropping on the heel of your hand can work wonders!

Stitchawl
 
I have heard this before. Stropping the disposable razors to give the blades a little more life. I guess I can see how it would help to some degree. But the reality is you are only stropping on one side of the edge. The other side you can't get to. So if anything you're just polishing up one side a bit, and if the stropping action is severe enough, could cause a burr to roll over to the other side. I've never tried it, tho.

What I have found that really works to extend blade life in a disposable razor is to make sure it is completely dry after use. Most guys just give it a shake and then store it. The water dries on the blade, along with anything in the water, and now you have adhesive wear to deal with. Ever since I started becoming a bit obsessive in drying the blade(s), they last longer.
 
I usually do a bit of a stropping action on my razors on a dry towel to dry them off. If you don't already take a shower or put a wet towel over your beard for 3min to soften up the hair before you shave, that will probably help extend the life of the blade too.

Though how long a blade lasts is of little concern now as I use a safety razor, when you can buy a 100pk of blades for $10 it's hard to complain. Plus after a while you start getting a little OCD on it and going hmm I think I may have possibly felt it tug a little, time for a new blade. So much easier to justify grabbing a new blade when they're so cheap.
 
I'm a wus. No question about it.
I have a beard like steel wool and skin like a baby's cheek. The combination of the two make for really uncomfortable shaving which is why a grew a beard in the first place. I stopped shaving the day I was discharged from the Military, 48 years ago, and have worn a beard ever since, but I simply can't stand it on my neck so I've made it my life's work to find a more comfortable way to scrap it off.

The very best shaving cream I've found was "Williams Mug Soap" used with a brush. Hand's down the most effective (for me!) Combined with good quality disposable blades, a shave I can tolerate. But it has to be 'good quality' disposable blades. Those usually are more expensive than the bulk buys, and I'm envious of the guys who can handle those. Putting 5 blades into a cartridge makes no shaving sense to me, more a marketing ploy to sell more expensive blades. A Marketing pitch that says 'only draw the blade across your face once instead of five times' would carry more weight if the 'one draw' didn't have five blades to slice you up at the same time.

A free handle from a hotel hospitality desk started the scheme, causing me to purchase the more expensive cartridges, but stropping has negated the price problem. Maybe if I stored my razor under a Pyramid it would help? (Actually, I used to do that 30 years ago... and it DID help.)


Stitchawl
 
stitchawl said:
I'm a wus. No question about it.
I have a beard like steel wool and skin like a baby's cheek. The combination of the two make for really uncomfortable shaving which is why a grew a beard in the first place. I stopped shaving the day I was discharged from the Military, 48 years ago, and have worn a beard ever since, but I simply can't stand it on my neck so I've made it my life's work to find a more comfortable way to scrap it off.

The very best shaving cream I've found was "Williams Mug Soap" used with a brush. Hand's down the most effective (for me!) Combined with good quality disposable blades, a shave I can tolerate. But it has to be 'good quality' disposable blades. Those usually are more expensive than the bulk buys, and I'm envious of the guys who can handle those. Putting 5 blades into a cartridge makes no shaving sense to me, more a marketing ploy to sell more expensive blades. A Marketing pitch that says 'only draw the blade across your face once instead of five times' would carry more weight if the 'one draw' didn't have five blades to slice you up at the same time.

A free handle from a hotel hospitality desk started the scheme, causing me to purchase the more expensive cartridges, but stropping has negated the price problem. Maybe if I stored my razor under a Pyramid it would help? (Actually, I used to do that 30 years ago... and it DID help.)


Stitchawl
Click to expand...

Stich, I read in a cost saving book about a guy who dried his razors with a hair dryer. I do that and wipe them off on my shorts or a towel when I am done to dry the blades. I am using a store brand 2 blade razor and it is starting to get a little dull. Before I grew a beard, I used that razor for about 2 months or more daily. No problem. I have since grown a beard and now just shave every 3-4 days. I am fairly certain that I grew the beard back in March or April of last year. And am almost certain that I still have and use the same razor. I remember because I melted part of the plastic drying it one day. Whoops!

My brother has one of those 5 blades jobbies. It clogs with hair if he looks at it funny. I will stick with my 2 blades store brand.
 
You can also "strop" on your arm to get it back to "sharper". First time my wife saw me doing that, she thought I was shaving my arm, and that I had gone looney! I also dry it on a dry towel with a stropping motion. It greatly extends the use of each cartridge.

Omar
 
I use mach 3 razor. each lasts me at least a month when I remember to change it. I don't have tough skin nor peach fuzz hair.

I don't do anything special other than rinsing it out and shaking it out before putting it back on its stand.

There was a time when I tried spraying the blade with WD-40 after use but not anymore.
 
I've wondered how well this would work since you can only strop one side. If it has helped your blades last longer that is great. I have a Merkur DE razor and I have been meaning to take a used razor out of it and try stropping it. You would think it would work even better since you could strop both sides. You would have to be careful not to slice your fingers though!:eek:
 
Bob6794 said:
I usually do a bit of a stropping action on my razors on a dry towel to dry them off. If you don't already take a shower or put a wet towel over your beard for 3min to soften up the hair before you shave, that will probably help extend the life of the blade too.

Though how long a blade lasts is of little concern now as I use a safety razor, when you can buy a 100pk of blades for $10 it's hard to complain. Plus after a while you start getting a little OCD on it and going hmm I think I may have possibly felt it tug a little, time for a new blade. So much easier to justify grabbing a new blade when they're so cheap.
Click to expand...

What he said ^
Dave
 
stitchawl said:
The very best shaving cream I've found was "Williams Mug Soap" used with a brush. Hand's down the most effective (for me!) Combined with good quality disposable blades, a shave I can tolerate.
Click to expand...

A few years ago I went a little crazy learning about traditional shaving and got a brush, some different types of creams to use with it, and a big mug to make lather in. I also got a safety razor and a selection of different blades from various countries that all were supposed to shave differently. What I found, for me, is that the safety razor and blades allowed me to get a closer shave, and there were HUGE differences in blades, but they were all more likely to nick me than a cartridge razor. It's a tradeoff.

But the BIG thing I learned is that the way you prep your face for the shave makes the biggest difference in comfort and results. Using a quality shave cream that you lather by HAND in a mug or a bowl is step one. Two easy to find ones that have great properties are:

1. C.O. Bigelow cream from Bath and Body Works. This is actually a rebranded tube of Proraso, which is a famous Italian shave cream. It has eucalyptus and smells nice and has a DRAMATIC cooling effect on your face, which is nice for warm days.
2. Kiss My Face Moisture Shave. Comes in several different scents, most of which are subtle. This is the highest value cream around as the pump bottle is huge compared to more "premium" shave creams. If makes really thick lather that works extremely well for most people. I was VERY impressed with it. You can find it at stores like Whole Foods.

Both of these creams need to be worked to lather with a brush in a mug or bowl to get optimum results. It's not hard, but requires a little practice. The secret it to not use too much water. Just a drop or two at a time.

The final part of prep that's really a big deal is using a lot of warm water. Warm the mug or bowl with warm water before you start. Use a sink full of water to brace onto your face before making lather and spend at least one full minute doing so, This will warm your skin and allow the hair to absorb some water, which makes it easier to cut. You might be surprised how big a difference this makes.

This guy's youtube channel has more information on traditional shaving than you'll want to watch... but it's very informative.

I know this isn't exactly on topic, but I thought it was worth sharing.

Brian.
 
I found prep to be the big one, I am a bit strange in my prep ritual I jump in the shower than I lather up my face and let it sit for a minute or two as I put everything else in order at a slow leisurely pace. I have the Van Der Hagen Premium set which is the bowl, brush, soap set and I melted the soap into the bowl and I whip up a lather that is like a thick yogurt consistency and than face lather with it as I typically get just the right amount of water when I face lather that way as I always splash my face with water right before hand.

Supposubly the soap I am using is suppose to help soften the beard, which I would agree with as this seems to help with my shave in making it far more comfortable. After a minute or two I rinse it off and apply another lather and begin shaving.

Seems like a big pain for the uninitiated but it takes me all of 30sec to whip up that lather and a minute to face lather afterwards. And after the day is done going a little crazy with how I prep my beard and everything I spend a few extra minutes shaving but my face is clear and free of irritation and ingrown hairs, and surprisingly soft. When I use to use my Fusion and canned cream it was irritated, ingrown hairs, some razor burns occasionally, and felt horrible but took me 5min to shave. Now it takes me 10-20min as I take my sweet time and feel no need to rush and I feel a lot better, though it be closer to 10min if I hurried if not a little less.
 
I have also gone the safety razor route, in part since I'm cheap and got tired of the $5 five bladed disposable heads and in part from my brother switching.
He switched while he was in Germany. Seems the safety razor is a bit more common there and a buddy pointed out that 1 good blade was much better than 5 crappy ones. So, been using my Grandfathers safety Gillette for a couple of years now and am very happy with it. Rarely cut myself, no more than with the 5 bladed "wonders" and I just like the old school nature of it.

Don't worry about the cost of blades much now either so while I may strop in on my hand once in a while it's just for curiosity more than money savings.
Do suppose I could take the blade out and strop it but again, for a dime or so I don't think I need that challenge.
 
I find much truth in many of these posts. I've been double edge shaving for around 5 years and prefer it over straight edge and disposable Tract II style.
One can strop the double edge blades, getting good shaves for a Long time. The blade shown has given me 240 shaves. Which is getting close to 2 years worth as I only shave 3 times a week. Maybe 4 if I get the urge. IT is a Feather blade and as stated the new blades will nick. Whereas this stropped blade is more refined and butter smooth. The handle is a 1957 Gillette Super Speed. Beard Prep helps.DM
 
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