photo: joan_thewlis
Some Background
In case you missed it, some time ago, I did a big article on my new found love for shaving with a safety razor. It was not only cheaper than shaving with expensive quadruple blade razors and their ilk, I also got a smoother shave. If this makes no sense to you, you might want to go there and get up to speed.
The Test!
When I first started shaving with double edged safety razors, I bought a bunch of name brand razors , so I was set for quite awhile. On my next ordering round, I picked up another three pack of the same razors.
A while ago, my war chest of razors went dry. I had forgotten to order any more, so I decided to pick some up at the local pharmacy. I ended up picking up the generic brand at Discount Drug Mart as that was the only brand they had. They were simply marked “Platinum Chrome.” I am guessing that is their coating, not their makeup, as that would be really expensive. Sticker price? $2.99 for ten blades!
So cheap, but does it pay?
I used Merkur Razors , about 60 of them before trying out the bargain brand.
Here’s what I found:
With the Merkur blades, I paid about $15 for 30 blades. Fifty cents a pop. With these blades, I would get about 8 shaves out of each of them before they started to show a sign that they were ready to toss. I use my blades until I feel that they are about to get dull. I don’t use them any further. I don’t have a rough beard, and my skin is not that sensitive, so I would say my wear on the blade is average.
With the bargain blades, I found that I was getting about five shaves before it was time to let them go. I also found that the blade felt completely different than that Merkurs. While the Merkurs felt stiff and rigid in the handle while I shaved with them, the bargain brand felt noticeably less stiff. While it didn’t make a difference in the shave i got, and the sturdiness was just a mental thing, it really felt different.
The Breakdown:
| Brand | Cost Per Pack | Shaves Per Blade | Cost Per Shave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merkur | $5.00 | 8 | 6.25 cents |
| Bargain Brand | $2.99 | 5 | 5.98 cents |
So yes, the bargain brands are about a quarter of a cent cheaper, I think it’s worth that quarter of a cent to pick up that extra rigidity, and not have to change the blade as often.
One thing of note:
the bargain brand had one really neat feature going for it. It has a small receptacle on the back for used blades. The Merkur blades do not. There is a little wax paper envelope that each blade comes in that works for disposal, but on your last blade, you will have to pitch it commando. Yikes!
#1 by Brian D on December 26th, 2009
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Just stumbled across this via a link on Mark’s mantic59 blog. Fascinating topic material.
The “slot” on the back of the bargain brand blade box is actually a throwback to an earlier design – old houses used to have the disposal slot built right into the medicine cabinet, with the slot leading to a ‘blade safe’. (Ask your grandpa.) In such a market, the slot-on-the-box would have been seen as extra waste!
If you’re concerned about safe disposal of DE razor blades on a budget, you can build a simple version of the old-style ‘blade safes’ with relative ease: Take a can of liquid soup, tomato juice, or similar (note: liquids only (i.e no noodle soups), and preferably a metal can over a stiff cardstock (i.e. lemonade) can), drill two holes in one end and drain instead of using a can opener. Rinse the can thoroughly. Then, cut a slit in the side near one end. Blades at the end of their life slide right in and there’s no lid to open. When the can’s full, press the slit closed and you’re good to go on disposal.
You don’t need to do this often (one can lasts for ages; look at how large it is compared to the blades), and the added cost of doing this is essentially nil if you’re already using canned liquids (it just takes longer to open and drain).
#2 by Bit2 on February 28th, 2010
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A couple things:
1) Mantic59’svideos (Mark) are a great learning aid and is what got e interested in DE shaving.
2) A solution for a Blade Bank is just that a cheap ceramic bank you get at a Dollar store. You can still recycle the steel if needed and it keeps the trash safe.
3) There are better blades available online i.e. Amazon.com & eBay. I like Sharks, Bluebirds and various Gillette brands (Green, Yellow & Black Boxes). They remain relatively inexpensive.
#3 by barb on May 7th, 2010
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Great idea about disposing of used blades in a can!
Better yet……….you can resharpen each blade side (4x).
Most better blades last longer and resharpen easier.
It also helps if you do not store blades in bathroom….too much moisture.It melts your soap faster too. Store bathroom stuff in hall closets.