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7th Annual February "One Blade" Challenge!

Spider

Spider

"The Cadre Constable"
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It's that time once again! (Sorry it's a little late) It's a New Year and we are approaching the shortest month of the year.
That means it's time to sign up for the FEBRUARY "ONE BLADE" CHALLENGE!!

Originally started, back in the day, to try to test/prove claims that you could get a month's worth of shaves from the legendary Personna 74 blade. Then, subsequent challenges expanded to more "mortal" blades, and the fun continues. Many people who participate in these challenges have learned to use their blades for extended periods of time, up to several months or even more!

The Rules:
1. Pick a blade (any type: DE, SE, Injector, Artist Club, Hair Shaper, etc...). Be specific. Want to use a Straight Razor? Yes, with caveats, see below.

2. Use that blade for the entire month of February. The goal is to use one single blade for the entire month, but if you've reached the end of its life on day 12, and cannot get another shave out of it, then on day 13 grab another (exact same type/brand/model) and try to finish out the month with that one. Hopefully as you go from your first to your second, or third or possibly fourth blade, you are learning and can get more longevity from each successive blade. (That's the goal here: to learn.... and try to get more utility out of our blades.)

3. You may use any techniques at your disposal to prolong the longevity of your blade. Want to flip it every other shave? Fine. Want to palm strop it in between shaves? Great. Want to stick it into your vintage blade stropper/sharpener (e.g. Twinplex, Lillicraps, Kriss Kross, etc.) Awesome! Can't wait to hear if they work. Maybe you think an alcohol bath or a towel dry will help slow corrosion or ease mineral deposits? Try it! There are tons of ideas out there, and it's all encouraged for the sake of science and extending the life of a single blade. Since honing a disposable blade is not the norm, you may also hone your blade to extend the life, if you choose.

4. The razor - you may use your blade in any razor of your choosing, and you may change your razor as often as you like (moving the same blade from one razor to the next).

5. Daily posts in this thread are not required, but please provide some sort of regular update as to your progress/experience. List the number of shaves on a given blade, and let us know if you need to switch it out (comparing results from one blade to the next). Let us know if anything special you are doing is working/not working for you.

6. Have Fun!


Notes:
You don’t have to shave every day, if that’s not your norm. But every shave this month needs to be using the same blade. (See #2)

Let the blade tell you when it needs to be pitched (no arbitrary tossing of blades after X number of shaves allowed).

Just because you have a rough shave one day, doesn't mean it's the blade's fault. There are lots of factors at play (even if you don't change anything!). Sometimes I'll have a rough shave one day, but the blade is nice and smooth the next. Try to push your blades to learn where the blade is really truly giving out.

Using a soap with a lot of slickness does seem to help get more longevity.

It's been asked before if Straight Razor shavers can play.... Yes, you can, with the caveat that honing during the month is not allowed, only stropping (no pastes).... or else where would the challenge be?

I think I've covered everything , but if not, let me know and I'll clarify. Sign up below. And if you change your mind on what blade you are going to use before we start, no problem, just re-copy and update the list.

Any Questions?
 
If you want to join, just pick a blade and add your name and blade (be specific) to the list!
If you want to add your starting razor to the list go ahead (you're not required to stick with it.)

1. Spider – Personna Diamond Glide in a Feather ASD2
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If you want to join, just pick a blade and add your name and blade (be specific) to the list!
If you want to add your starting razor to the list go ahead (you're not required to stick with it.)

1. Spider – Personna Diamond Glide in a Feather ASD2
2. EMG06 - Treet Carbon Steel in a vintage Gillette
3.
4.
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6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
 
If you want to join, just pick a blade and add your name and blade (be specific) to the list!
If you want to add your starting razor to the list go ahead (you're not required to stick with it.)

1. Spider – Personna Diamond Glide in a Feather ASD2
2. EMG06 - Treet Carbon Steel in a vintage Gillette
3. Heysi - Gillette Silver Blue in a post war Aristocrat
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
 
If you want to join, just pick a blade and add your name and blade (be specific) to the list!
If you want to add your starting razor to the list go ahead (you're not required to stick with it.)

1. Spider – Personna Diamond Glide in a Feather ASD2
2. EMG06 - Treet Carbon Steel in a vintage Gillette
3. Heysi - Gillette Silver Blue in a post war Aristocrat
4. dkeester - Treet Black Beauty Carbon Steel
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
 
IMG_4524.jpeg

These new Personnas are awesome. Made in the USA with Japanese steel. It’s like if Personna and Feather made a baby! I’ve use them for a few shaves already, and they are smooth. Now it’s time to see if they will go the distance.
IMG_4526.jpegIMG_4525.jpeg
 
Spider said:
View attachment 155080

These new Personnas are awesome. Made in the USA with Japanese steel. It’s like if Personna and Feather made a baby! I’ve use them for a few shaves already, and they are smooth. Now it’s time to see if they will go the distance.
View attachment 155081View attachment 155082
Click to expand...
Yeah I like these blades as well. I’ve taken one to 40 shaves without really trying, so I think you’ll have no problem. They smooth out to something very nice.
 
Day 1 of using the Treet Black Beauty, a carbon steel blade. IMG_5126.jpeg

Using a NEW Short Comb today, but will probably swap to a TTO given the annoyance of taking out the CS blade to dry/store it out of the razor in between each shave.
IMG_5129.jpeg

Nice shave today. Good way to start the challenge!
 
BarberDave said:
How do they compare to the Lab Blue?
Click to expand...
I've only used the diamond glides for a few shaves so far, but they are among the smoothest I've ever used. Been a while since I've used the lab blue, but I'd tentatively say they are better and even smoother. We'll see if that smoothness continues all month.
 
heysi said:
We have reached a new level of lazy, I see.
Click to expand...
It’s a carbon steel blade, not Stainless Steel. If I leave it in, it will rust and be unusable quickly, so it requires a little more attention than the stainless steel blades that I can leave in a razor for a month without any worries.
 
EMG06 said:
It’s a carbon steel blade, not Stainless Steel. If I leave it in, it will rust and be unusable quickly, so it requires a little more attention than the stainless steel blades that I can leave in a razor for a month without any worries.
Click to expand...
Treet Black Beauties are some of my favorite blades, especially for this kind of challenge.

One thing you can do is to keep small jar of isopropyl alcohol (I use at least 91%) in the bathroom. After shaving and rinsing the razor in water, loosen the cap, then dip the razor head with the blade in the alcohol. It will drive the water off of the blade and razor head.

I also palm strop them between shaves. I don't know if it helps keep them sharp, but the oils from the skin should add a tiny, tiny bit of protection from rust.


Treet Blacks will go the distance with a little extra TLC.
 
EMG06 said:
It’s a carbon steel blade, not Stainless Steel. If I leave it in, it will rust and be unusable quickly, so it requires a little more attention than the stainless steel blades that I can leave in a razor for a month without any worries.
Click to expand...
Seriously????? Who leaves their blades in the razor? That's a safety violation. Its also a cleanliness violation.
 
Personna Diamond Glide:
Day 1 was perfect. Day 2 I got a weeper on a mole, which happens from time to time. Day 3 I got a weeper on the mole again, but also one on my upper cheek. Maybe the slickness of Williams is making me rush the shave too much before the blade settles in.
 
heysi said:
Seriously????? Who leaves their blades in the razor? That's a safety violation. It’s also a cleanliness violation.
Click to expand...
Am I alone in this? I typically will leave a blade in the razor. No loose blades in the bathroom (safer in my opinion) and I loosen the cap to rinse and let it dry out between shaves, so keeping it clean, is not doing a full fingers on blade out of the razor removal every day (again seems like a safety point for me). What do others say, do I stand alone?
 
I too just “let it ride” I rinse after the shave and may or may not loosen it up. Consequently, I end up with several loaded razors in the drawer that I don’t know how many shaves are on the blades.
 
If you want to join, just pick a blade and add your name and blade (be specific) to the list!
If you want to add your starting razor to the list go ahead (you're not required to stick with it.)

1. Spider – Personna Diamond Glide in a Feather ASD2
2. EMG06 - Treet Carbon Steel in a vintage Gillette
3. Heysi - Gillette Silver Blue in a post war Aristocrat
4. dkeester - Treet Black Beauty Carbon Steel
5. WildWest74 - Feather Pro Guard in an Asylum RX (thanks again, @BarberDave!)
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
 
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