How many times do you typically use a DE blade ?

Feather 6 shaves. Most others 6. Some less. AC blades 10 shaves. 

celestino I didn’t know you moved to Edmonton or maybe I did and forgot. How did that go? Vancouver winters are a tad milder than Edmonton winters with far fewer -35C days! You should have a water softener installed. It’s a huge improvement. I resisted installing one initially but my wife insisted and I don’t regret it. She’s usually right.

I now mostly use Astra SP, Feather, Shaverboy, and Derby Extra, and all of them 12 times before tossing.
This D12 die helps me keep count.
 


[edit - Pay no attention to the fact that it is a D20 in this photo.   ]

I typically toss my blade after 1 shave. The only blades I will use for 2 shaves are Polsilver/Wizamet, BIC and Nacet. I can get 3 shaves with a Feather blade, but toss it after 2 or 3. When I use a blade more than once...I remove and rinse it in hot water, very carefully alcohol rub it, and carefully place it in a drying case (Frugal Shave). I also meticulously clean my razors after each shave. Retirement eliminates the time issue. Anal behavior eliminates the bacteria issue. Seattle has "very soft water" with 22ppm.

DE - Gillette Silver Blue - 6 shaves

SE - trying various currently - 10 shaves

(each shave is 3 passes)

For years, when living in Vancouver, BC, I was consistently getting 10 shaves with Wizamet Super Iridiums, but since relocating to Edmonton, AB, I only get 5 shaves per blade.
The only variable that has changed is the water. Vancouver has the softest water I have ever encountered, whereas Edmonton, has very hard water. Therefore, I can only surmise that the greater mineral content in the water is degrading the blades. By the way, I have a very coarse beard, perform 2 passes XTG, ATG,  with touch-ups and shave every day.

I found that interesting and appreciate you letting us know. Something to consider when people are comparing how many shaves they get but maybe from different areas with different water quality. Good to see you around again!

Feather 6 shaves. Most others 6. Some less. AC blades 10 shaves. 

celestino I didn’t know you moved to Edmonton or maybe I did and forgot. How did that go? Vancouver winters are a tad milder than Edmonton winters with far fewer -35C days! You should have a water softener installed. It’s a huge improvement. I resisted installing one initially but my wife insisted and I don’t regret it. She’s usually right.

I mentioned it to you, earlier, last year.
Miss Vancouver, but enjoying Edmonton and settling in.

I only use DE blades. Typically 4 days of 3 pass shaving. Only Nacets and Lord Platinums do I get 5 or 6. But, I have some vintage blades like Gillette Spoilers which I can get 7 or 8 days of 3 pass shaves.

I normally get about 2 weeks worth of shaves on mine. Often times it’s because I’ve either dropped it by then or bumped the edge on something and I have to toss it.

I get anywhere from seven to ten ( or a bit more ) shaves from each DE blade I use .
Mainly I use Gillette Nacets ,Gillette 7 o'clock
Super Platinum ( the made in India "Black Ninja " ones ) and Wilkinson Sword .

Other blades that I have in stock and like to use include the following:
Gillette Perma Sharp ,Gillette 7 o'clock SharpEdge,Gillette Rubie+ ,Polsilver Super Iridium,Wizamet,Bic Chrome Platinum,Concord and Astra SS .

My mediterranean genes "gifted"me with steel-wire-like stubble and the tap water here is very hard ( usually around or above 35  °f ) .

How do I manage getting this amount of shaves from each blade,no matter the brand ?

Firstly ,I never leave them on the razor.
After each shave I rinse the blade with tap
water and place it on a dry towel and just
by folding part of the towel ,I gently "tap" dry the blade ,especially it's edges.Then carefully
place the blade inside their paper envelope.

Is this the "secret" to prolonging the service life of a blade ?
Nope.But it helps to avoid corrosion ,
which can readily impact it's
sharpness.

What I 've discovered is that when I started stretching my skin with my free hand , in the opposite direction of the grain ,thus "erecting" the hair from the skin surface ,the razor's efficiency was increased ,but also this method
seemed to make the razor blades last longer.

At first ,I thought that this was just my imagination .Then I did few tests .
And indeed ,the method of stretching the skin
in opposite direction than of grain does in fact
prolongs the blade's service life.
For quite some time I was wondering
"WHY ? " and was trying to give a logical
explanation to that phenomenon but to no avail .
Till I read the following MIT research :

https://news.mit.edu/2020/why-shaving-du...20chipping.

....where it is stated :

(...) When he analyzed the SEM images and movies taken during the cutting experiments, he found that chips did not occur when the hair was cut perpendicular to the blade. When the hair was free to bend, however, chips were more likely to occur. These chips most commonly formed in places where the blade edge met the sides of the hair strands.(...)

Lifting/erecting the hair strands by stretching the skin OPPOSITE TO THE GRAIN ,does help
for the razor blade to cut the former at a steeper or even at the ideal perpendicular angle.
Thus minimizing the micro-chipping of the blade's edge .Thus keeping the blade sharper for longer ! 

And that was really a relief for me to read ,because I was really starting to think that 
something is not quite right ,regarding my
mental health .

Surely ,steel alloy and origin of manufacture do play a role also.But do not expect to find those huge differences there.Or to put it in another way the former have a lesser impact 
to the longevity of a razor blade.At least
regarding the well established brands .
More info about razor blade steel and origin
of manufacture here :

https://globalshave.club/blog/f/everythi...+Education

And :

https://www.enservejpn.com/a-secret-fact...ply-chain/

Just my 2 cents .

I usually go for 3-4 shaves. I can probably go longer than that but usually just switch to a new one.

I’m pretty much a 3-5 shave guy. Lately, though, it’s been 3 and I toss it. Trying to burn through some blades and also going with the quit while I’m ahead line of thought and tossing it before getting to the bad shave.

Exactly my routine. 3 and done.

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