RayClem's Blade Evaluations

I am curious about the longevity of most blades. I remember when I first started and I was keeping track I was getting 8 to 9 shaves out of a blade. Now this is going back when I first started about 14 1/2 years ago, so whether or not the later shaves were as good as the earlier ones, I can't remember. I don't remember them being miserable by any means, but I don't know if they were quite as good as the first couple. I am about to push my Wizamet blade past three and see how that fares. I find personally that 3-5 is usually a good spot for me to be in because I usually like to chuck the blade before I get to the bad shave I have generally been going through shaves pretty much heavy blade and replacing them. So it looks like I'm gonna give my wisdom at the number four shave this week with my Lupo 95.

So far the Wizamet it has been a pretty solid pairing in most of my razors, including the aggressive ones. I used it yesterday in my ATT with the SSRH .80mm OC plate. I don't think that's a super aggressive plate by any means, but definitely is not mild, and does probably lean more towards aggressive side of the medium. The SSRH, I found, means Stainless Steel and it is recommended for regular to heavy beards. Hence, the RH. Ha! Brilliant. It was a great shave. Smooth, comfortable, a light, scratchy, kind of blade feel, irritation, and nick free. Very light feedback from the alcohol based aftershave upon contact with my skin, but it was very minor and it was gone before I realized it.

It sounds like you are doing quite well in your quest to find the right matchups between your various blades and razors. Congratulations!

There are many factors affecting the longevity of blades such as the coarseness of your beard, the sensitivity of your skin, the quality of your beard preparation and lather, and the design of the blades. Coatings such as platinum, titanium, ceramic, and iridium are harder than steel and "should" extend the blade life, but the coatings are quite thin. Some people can get 3-4 shaves from a blade, others can get a few weeks or even a few months. Also, someone who shaves daily is likely to get more shaves from a blade than someone with multiple days of growth. 

Since the Wizamet is a nice blade, both very sharp and super smooth, and it has a hard iridium coating, you might well be able to get more shaves than with most blades, but you might not get as many shaves as you could get more than a decade ago. It is likely that you have changed.  Fifteen years ago, it is likely that your beard was not quite as tough as it is today. As we age, it is common for beard hairs to become more coarse, but this is phenomena does not happen to everyone, at least that is what is reported. Similarly, as we age, skin tends to become thinner, saggy and more sensitive, making shaving more difficult. I also suspect your standards have changed. The quality of shave you would tolerate today is likely better than you would have accepted when you were younger.

Before I retired, I traveled a lot for work and I usually shaved in the shower with a cartridge razor using shampoo as my lather. However, if I were to try that today, I would not get a satisfactory shave.

I am curious about the longevity of most blades. I remember when I first started and I was keeping track I was getting 8 to 9 shaves out of a blade. Now this is going back when I first started about 14 1/2 years ago, so whether or not the later shaves were as good as the earlier ones, I can't remember. I don't remember them being miserable by any means, but I don't know if they were quite as good as the first couple. I am about to push my Wizamet blade past three and see how that fares. I find personally that 3-5 is usually a good spot for me to be in because I usually like to chuck the blade before I get to the bad shave I have generally been going through shaves pretty much heavy blade and replacing them. So it looks like I'm gonna give my wisdom at the number four shave this week with my Lupo 95.

So far the Wizamet it has been a pretty solid pairing in most of my razors, including the aggressive ones. I used it yesterday in my ATT with the SSRH .80mm OC plate. I don't think that's a super aggressive plate by any means, but definitely is not mild, and does probably lean more towards aggressive side of the medium. The SSRH, I found, means Stainless Steel and it is recommended for regular to heavy beards. Hence, the RH. Ha! Brilliant. It was a great shave. Smooth, comfortable, a light, scratchy, kind of blade feel, irritation, and nick free. Very light feedback from the alcohol based aftershave upon contact with my skin, but it was very minor and it was gone before I realized it.

It sounds like you are doing quite well in your quest to find the right matchups between your various blades and razors. Congratulations!

There are many factors affecting the longevity of blades such as the coarseness of your beard, the sensitivity of your skin, the quality of your beard preparation and lather, and the design of the blades. Coatings such as platinum, titanium, ceramic, and iridium are harder than steel and "should" extend the blade life, but the coatings are quite thin. Some people can get 3-4 shaves from a blade, others can get a few weeks or even a few months. Also, someone who shaves daily is likely to get more shaves from a blade than someone with multiple days of growth. 

Since the Wizamet is a nice blade, both very sharp and super smooth, and it has a hard iridium coating, you might well be able to get more shaves than with most blades, but you might not get as many shaves as you could get more than a decade ago. It is likely that you have changed.  Fifteen years ago, it is likely that your beard was not quite as tough as it is today. As we age, it is common for beard hairs to become more coarse, but this is phenomena does not happen to everyone, at least that is what is reported. Similarly, as we age, skin tends to become thinner, saggy and more sensitive, making shaving more difficult. I also suspect your standards have changed. The quality of shave you would tolerate today is likely better than you would have accepted when you were younger.

Before I retired, I traveled a lot for work and I usually shaved in the shower with a cartridge razor using shampoo as my lather. However, if I were to try that today, I would not get a satisfactory shave.

RayClem you definitely make a lot of great points. As I have now recently turned 53, I definitely have some more gray in my growth over the years, and I know gray hair can tend to be coarser so that can contribute to the type of razor/blade combination that works for me. Also, having been close to 15 years since I started this journey, I'm sure my standards have changed as I have noticed they have changed just over the last couple years with going back-and-forth as to what type of razor I like and how aggressive I like it. Some of the razors that I used all the time years ago, I never touch anymore. The Rockwell 6C is a perfect example. That was a go to razor for me with the #3 plate. The last time I used that, just probably more than a year ago I'm sure, I couldn't get a BBS shave with the #3 plate but I could swear I used to. It really is a constant evolution.

metal_shavings

If you think things have changed over the past 15 years, just wait to see what happens over the next 20. If your graying beard turns white like mine, your razors, blades, and techniques will need to evolve some more. 

The China made Gillette Super Thin Platinums made with Japanese Steel for the Vietnam market are on their way! They should arrive in a week or two. Hopefully they don't get damaged in transit. There are 6 blades tapes to card, at least one should survive.

They are the ones on the left in this linked picture. Ratso says it gave him a great shave while the one on the right is one of the worst blades he has ever tried:

https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/thr...t-11555937

Thursday Evening Shave- Jaguar (Take 2) 1st Use

I was planning to start my longevity trial for the Jaguar blade on Friday morning, but I decided to move it up 1/2 day to maximize the chances of success. Thus, I have only 1 1/2 days of beard growth. I will plan to do the next shave on Saturday morning, again with 1 1/2 days of growth. Then I will switch to shaving daily until the blade either becomes too dull or too rough to continue.

I started the shave with the Van Der Hagen Basics blade still in the razor, now on its 2nd use. The blade was slightly sharper than on its 1st use, but still not as sharp as I prefer. When I replaced the Basics blade with the Jaguar blade, I immediately felt a reduction in drag indicating the Jaguar to be sharper than the VDH. However, I also felt more blade feel with the Jaguar than I like. I was able to complete the shave with no incidents and achieved a near-BBS shave. It did take a little extra buffing to accomplish this level of closeness. When I applied witch hazel, I experienced significant feedback. That was not surprising based on the face feel of the blade during the shave.

Thus, based on the results of this shave, I am rating the blade 4.5 sharpness and 4 smoothness. This is exactly the same as it rated on its first evaluation a few months ago. Thus, that evaluation is confirmed.

It is possible that the blade will feel sharper on its 2nd use; but I am not expecting that to happen. If the blade had become sharper during the 1st shave, I would not have needed the extra buffing to achieve a near-BBS shave.

We will see what happens Saturday morning.

I did receive confirmation from ErkRusselReserve that the Gillette Super Thin blades from Vietnam are in the mail. However, as they are coming from Asia, it will take up to 2 weeks to arrive. Once they arrive and the Jaguar longevity trial is completed, I will schedule the comparison of the Super Thins from Thailand and Vietnam.

How could this blade become sharper during the first shave? or any blade?.if a blade changes and gets sharper on one of the passes on a first shave then it’s defective or a counterfeit,this blade starts changing at about 7-10 shaves,should be smooth and sharp and then it picks up.hey I ain’t selling these just pointing out that there’s a lot of crap out there that shavers are buying.This explains why most blades last for 3 shaves,they don’t get sharper after 2 shaves they get dull ,you think they’re getting sharper,but they’re getting duller and chipping and then they get tossed.

Blade team,

Just finished my 14 day run with Bic Chromes as provided by sensei Clem.

I used one blade 3 times, 3rd usage with the Overlander. May have got my best shave with that razor.

Concluding: great utility blade for my mild razors, no OCs-

M1
Karve B
Timeless 68
Overlander
CG LvL 1
Carbon mild
Alpha mild
RR 68
Wolfie 54 SB

I don't have an inventory of these, but should.

Wizamet run next.




Sent from my SM-A536U using Tapatalk

Saturday Shave- Update on Jaguar (Take 2) - 2nd use

Today's shave was quite similar to the previous shave with this blade. I did not observe a significant change in either sharpness or smoothness with the blade. I was able to achieve a near-BBS shave with moderate feedback when I applied witch hazel. Thus, the rating of this blade does not change.

Many blades have a thick coating such that the blade feels sharper, but perhaps not quite as smooth, as the coating wears off. The n 7 O'Clock Super Platinum (black) is an example of such a blade. It starts out only mid-sharp, but becomes super sharp as the coating wears off. A few blades like Feather are super sharp out of the wrapper, but the edge begins to deteriorate as soon as you start to use it such that it becomes less sharp and less smooth. Some blades tend to stay fairly consistent through the first few shaves. They neither become sharper nor become less sharp. The Jaguar seems to be this later type of blade. The Gillette branded Wilkinson Sword (india) is also this type of blade. If you value consistency from shave to shave in your blades, you might like the Jaguar.

I plan to use the Jaguar blade for daily shaves until is no longer sharp enough or no longer smooth enough. We will see what Sunday's shave brings.

I saw a review on another forum of the FlyDear Super Platinum blades made in China. The reviews seemed positive, so I ordered a pack of the blades from Amazon for $8.88 for 100 blades. I will evaluate them once my Jaguar blade is no longer comfortable, unless the Gillette Super Thins from Vietnam arrive.

Shaved twice now with the Bic chrome platinum,Greece.wow! Now that’s a blade,this is a Jaguar after about 10 shaves,incredibly sharp and smooth..if I get 10 shaves out of this blade I’m stocking up.the jaguars are so consistent I get bored.

Sunday Shave- Update on Jaguar (Take 2) - 3rd Use

I shaved Saturday, so I had only 1 day of beard growth for today's shave. While the Jaguar blade was still very sharp, I could tell that the edge was deteriorating. At several times during the shave, the blade feel was significantly greater than it was during the previous shave. Although I was able to achieve a DFS, I was not able to reach my goal of a near-BBS shave. After the shave, I got slightly more feedback from the witch hazel than I had during the 2nd use of the blade. For the third use of the blade, I would rate the blade as sharpness 4 and smoothness 3.5. However, the result will not be entered into the spreadsheet as other blades were not evaluated over this many shaves. Thus, the initial rating stands.

If I were not trying to evaluate the long-term potential of this blade, I would replace the blade for my next shave as it is no longer providing me with a suitable shave. However, I will attempt to use the blade on its 4th use for Monday's shave. If it deteriorates further, I will have to discard it before completing the shave. If it smooths out, I will continue using it.

This result is not unusual for me. I get 3-4 good shaves from most blades. Blades with a platinum, tungsten, titanium or iridium coating might last 4 shaves before needing to be replaced. Stainless blades with a polymer coating such as Nacet Stainless seldom last more than 3 shaves. As the Jaguar blade only has a polymer coating, I am not surprised that it is deteriorating during the third shave. Although the Feather Hi-stainless blades are supposed to have a platinum coating, the edge is so sharp and thin that I cannot make it through the third shave before the edge feels so harsh on my face that I have to replace it.

I have not used enough carbon steel blades to know how long they will last. That is something I will explore with the Treet Durasharp blades after the evaluation series ends.