The Shaving Cadre

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3rd Annual February "One Blade" Challenge!

Spider

"The Cadre Constable"
Veteran
Legacy
Concierge
It's that time once again..... the shortest month of the year.
That means it's time 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.

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 an smooth the next. Try to push your blades to learn where the blade is really truely giving out.

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.... or else where would the challenge be?

I think I've covered everything , but if not, let me know and I'll clarify. Any Questions?



--------------------------------- Copy list from here down when signing up ---------------------------------

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 – Feather Yellow - Feather AS-D2 Razor (will use for duration)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
 
--------------------------------- Copy list from here down when signing up ---------------------------------

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 – Feather Yellow - Feather AS-D2 Razor (will use for duration)
2. uacowboy - Feather Pro(AC) in Occam Razor(will use for the duration)
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
 
I will add, that the longest I've taken a single blade is 115 shaves (all 3-4 pass shaves), and it was a feather...… a blade that many claim to only get 2-3 shaves from.

What's the secret to my success? I chalk it up to two things:

1) A mild razor. I believe the shallow angle of a mild razor allows the blade to slice though hairs more easily, and that the steeper angle of an aggressive razor will end up wearing down the edge faster.

2) A slick soap. The slicker the better. Slickness has always been king in my den. And I notice a difference in how a blade cuts going from a slick soap to a not slick soap. I believe it truly makes blades last longer.

I'll be using a Feather blade again, with a different razor than I've ever used before in a challenge. And I will be focusing on slicker soaps for the duration. I'll be curious if I can get the same type of longevity out of it again!
 
--------------------------------- Copy list from here down when signing up ---------------------------------

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 – Feather Yellow - Feather AS-D2 Razor (will use for duration)
2. uacowboy - Feather Pro(AC) in Occam Razor(will use for the duration)
3. dkeester - Treet Classic - Merkur 34c (will swap razors)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

treet_classic_de.png
I had good success with a Treet Black Carbon last year, so this year I am going to use the Classic carbon steel blade. From what I have read, this blade is made to the same specs as the Treet Platinum just using different materials.
 
f 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 – Feather Yellow - Feather AS-D2 Razor (will use for duration)
2. uacowboy - Feather Pro(AC) in Occam Razor(will use for the duration)
3. dkeester - Treet Classic - Merkur 34c (will swap razors)
4.BarberDave Feather Black, Feather ASD2
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 – Feather Yellow - Feather AS-D2 Razor (will use for duration)
2. uacowboy - Feather Pro(AC) in Occam Razor(will use for the duration)
3. dkeester - Treet Classic - Merkur 34c (will swap razors)
4. BarberDave Feather Black, Feather ASD2
5. woodpusher - Sensor cart :eek: (last used razor in Jul.2017)
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 – Feather Yellow - Feather AS-D2 Razor (will use for duration)
2. uacowboy - Feather Pro(AC) in Occam Razor(will use for the duration)
3. dkeester - Treet Classic - Merkur 34c (will swap razors)
4. BarberDave Feather Black, Feather ASD2
5. woodpusher - Sensor cart :eek: (last used razor in Jul.2017)
6. OpusX - Gillette Nacet, Timeless Bronze SB
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 – Feather Yellow - Feather AS-D2 Razor (will use for duration)
2. uacowboy - Feather Pro(AC) in Occam Razor(will use for the duration)
3. dkeester - Treet Classic - Merkur 34c (will swap razors)
4. BarberDave Feather Black, Feather ASD2
5. woodpusher - Sensor cart :eek: (last used razor in Jul.2017)
6. OpusX - Gillette Nacet, Timeless Bronze SB
7. Somnos - Schick Proline (AC), Colonial General SS (will use for duration)
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 – Feather Yellow - Feather AS-D2 Razor (will use for duration)
2. uacowboy - Feather Pro(AC) in Occam Razor(will use for the duration)
3. dkeester - Treet Classic - Merkur 34c (will swap razors)
4. BarberDave Feather Black, Feather ASD2 (will use for duration)
5. woodpusher - Sensor cart :eek: (last used razor in Jul.2017)
6. OpusX - Gillette Nacet, Timeless Bronze SB
7. Somnos - Schick Proline (AC), Colonial General SS (will use for duration)
8. SteveChuckFrank - Wilkinson Sword, RR GC .84(will rotate razors)
9.
10.
 
Love this idea. I picked up a couple of 100 packs of Personna Lab Blues during a vendor closeout and I'm curious as to how far I can really stretch 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 – Feather Yellow - Feather AS-D2 Razor (will use for duration)
2. uacowboy - Feather Pro(AC) in Occam Razor(will use for the duration)
3. dkeester - Treet Classic - Merkur 34c (will swap razors)
4. BarberDave Feather Black, Feather ASD2 (will use for duration)
5. woodpusher - Sensor cart :eek: (last used razor in Jul.2017)
6. OpusX - Gillette Nacet, Timeless Bronze SB
7. Somnos - Schick Proline (AC), Colonial General SS (will use for duration)
8. SteveChuckFrank - Wilkinson Sword, RR GC .84(will rotate razors)
9. FightingIllini22 - Personna Lab Blue, Schick Krona (will *probably* rotate razors)
10.
 
Love this idea. I picked up a couple of 100 packs of Personna Lab Blues during a vendor closeout and I'm curious as to how far I can really stretch the blades.
Personna's are my favorite blade. I'm not currently keeping track, but the one I'm using now has been going for well over a month.
 
Hmmm, should I stay being a rebel or join the Feather blade in an R2D2 ASD2? 🤔
Have not used a Feather in a Feather yet.
 
Shave #11 on the Treet Classic today was really great. So far the blade is doing well. Palm stropping every day should help keep it shaving well. I am also glass honing it occasionally. So far so good.
 
Love this idea. I picked up a couple of 100 packs of Personna Lab Blues during a vendor closeout and I'm curious as to how far I can really stretch 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 – Feather Yellow - Feather AS-D2 Razor (will use for duration)
2. uacowboy - Feather Pro(AC) in Occam Razor(will use for the duration)
3. dkeester - Treet Classic - Merkur 34c (will swap razors)
4. BarberDave Feather Black, Feather ASD2 (will use for duration)
5. woodpusher - Sensor cart :eek: (last used razor in Jul.2017)
6. OpusX - Gillette Nacet, Timeless Bronze SB
7. Somnos - Schick Proline (AC), Colonial General SS (will use for duration)
8. SteveChuckFrank - Wilkinson Sword, RR GC .84(will rotate razors)
9. FightingIllini22 - Personna Lab Blue, Schick Krona (will *probably* rotate razors)
10. Mtpedals - Wizamet, RR SS Lupo (will rotate razors)
11.
 
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 – Feather Yellow - Feather AS-D2 Razor (will use for duration)
2. uacowboy - Feather Pro(AC) in Occam Razor(will use for the duration)
3. dkeester - Treet Classic - Merkur 34c (will swap razors)
4. BarberDave Feather Black, Feather ASD2 (will use for duration)
5. woodpusher - Sensor cart :eek: (last used razor in Jul.2017)
6. OpusX - Gillette Nacet, Timeless Bronze SB
7. Somnos - Schick Proline (AC), Colonial General SS (will use for duration)
8. SteveChuckFrank - Wilkinson Sword, RR GC .84(will rotate razors)
9. FightingIllini22 - Personna Lab Blue, Schick Krona (will *probably* rotate razors)
10. Majorrich - Wizamet, Gillette Super-Adjustable Short-handle (for the duration)
11.
 
just a bit of list maintenance

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 – Feather Yellow - Feather AS-D2 Razor (will use for duration)
2. uacowboy - Feather Pro(AC) in Occam Razor(will use for the duration)
3. dkeester - Treet Classic - Merkur 34c (will swap razors)
4. BarberDave Feather Black, Feather ASD2 (will use for duration)
5. woodpusher - Sensor cart :eek: (last used razor in Jul.2017)
6. OpusX - Gillette Nacet, Timeless Bronze SB
7. Somnos - Schick Proline (AC), Colonial General SS (will use for duration)
8. SteveChuckFrank - Wilkinson Sword, RR GC .84(will rotate razors)
9. FightingIllini22 - Personna Lab Blue, Schick Krona (will *probably* rotate razors)
10. Mtpedals - Wizamet, RR SS Lupo (will rotate razors)
11.Majorrich - Wizamet, Gillette Super-Adjustable Short-handle (for the duration)
12.
13.
14.
15.
 
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