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How to extend the life of your Razor Blade keeping it sharp for months and months

video How to extend the life of your Razor Blade keeping it sharp for months and months
This video shows a simple method of extending the life of an ordinary disposable razor blade for months and months and months. Razor blades are very expensive and most people use the blade for a week or more until it gets dull, then you change it to a new one. By using this simple 'Blue Jean Sharpening Method' it will extend your blade life and receive a sharp and smooth shave for months and months.. I don't know how long it will work as I am still using a blade that is at least 6 mos old now and I'm still using it...

When you finish shaving... walk to your closet... pull out one leg of a pair of blue jeans... hold the end with one hand and with the other simply stoke the razor along the entire length of the blue jean for 10 to 20 strokes... I like 20... then switch directions... the threads of the jeans run in a diagonal so switching directions allows for an balanced approach to fine tuning the blade's edge.

This is similar to using a straight blade on a leather strap... this is cheap or free considering you have a pair of jeans!

It will take the fine nicks out of the blade and allow for you to keep the blade very sharp.

I also sharpen the blade 20 strokes before and after each shave just for good measure.

I also blow on the blade to knock off any water droplets as oxidation/rust is the biggest enemy of a sharp razor blade.

If you want, you can drop your razor 'blade down' into a cup of rubbing alcohol to store it until next use to eliminate any traces of water.

This should save you tons of money... at the time of this video Gillete Fusion 4 blade pack sales for $13.99 + tax. if you generally get one week's worth of use per blade this will run you $167.88 per year + tax! If you get 6 mos per blade then you can extend your use for two years. The math works out to $7.50 per year + tax (two blades at $3.50 per ea)

Hope you get lots of shaves for free!
217 comments
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Apr 3, 2011. 9:07 AMBrennn10 says:
Nice job on making it to the front page of reddit!
Apr 9, 2012. 1:04 PMaridas99 says:
This method really works; see the microscopic proof here http://teamdonline.com/technology/extend-life-razor-blades/
Oct 13, 2011. 2:20 PMJossy92 says:
Soap scum gets "welded" to the blade ....the blue jeans Polsh the blade. The harder the water, the more strokes you need. Great instructable.
Apr 26, 2010. 5:34 PMfefrie says:
I use my leg in the shower as the strop.  Seems to work well for me.

Water and the roughness of my leg seem to do it right.

Make sure you go in the correct direction or you will shave your leg. 
May 16, 2010. 9:46 AMTaniaSue says:
Hi Fefrie;

I'm using a tool The Martell Shaving Pad,  I have my Venus for the past 7 months now, and let me tell you i;m very very surprised buy the astonishing results from still getting a nice smooth shaving. My boyfriend uses his Gillette fusion, and he is more than amazed. I recommend this shaving tool to everyone (Women/Men): The "Martell Shaving Pad"


http://www.innovatell.com/martell_shaving_pad.php

Cheers

Tania.
Sep 11, 2011. 5:51 PMfefrie says:
I'll stick to my leg thankyou. It's convenient enough.
Aug 3, 2011. 6:05 AMvtturbox says:
Very useful informative post thank you.

One thing I would add in thought is that many people tap there shaver onto the counter or in the sink as we shave, that's probably a bad habit as this likely damages the blade.
May 25, 2011. 12:01 PMtradergordo says:
I think you can get the same result (prolonged life) just by storing the blade in rubbing alcohol when you are done shaving. Its the moisture that ruins the edge. I've gotten >6 months out of a blade just by storing it in in a small glass jar with lid containing just enough rubbing alcohol to cover the blade (replace the fluid every now and then). This also has the benefit of sterilizing.
Apr 15, 2011. 2:38 PMsirfroggz says:
I used a razor for a full year using this method. Works great.
Apr 7, 2011. 10:24 AMCampyClassics says:
I've been using the same razor for approximately 6 months now and I have toasted several pints in your honor. Thanks for the post! Sláinte
Apr 5, 2011. 5:14 AMPistolShooter says:
This is the reason I have started back in 08 to shave with a straight razor. No more cartridges, no more electric razor foils. Neat instructable though.
Apr 4, 2011. 6:19 PMATTILAtheHUNgry says:
Amazing, I hate the expensiveness of disposable razors (especially after seeing how simply they are made on TV awhile back).

This method is way better than my current method (which is to use the same razor for months WITHOUT sharpening it, getting a progressively worse and worse shave everyday). Thanks!
Mar 16, 2011. 5:26 PMsiafulinux says:
I've found this instructable months ago and I'm still using the same razor. Something I missed was the rubbing alcohol, but I did see yesterday on Youtube somewhere (at work, can't pull it up right now) to put it in Olive Oil for the same reason; I think rubbing alcohol is a little cheaper :-).

Thanks again for this one!
Apr 4, 2011. 5:33 PMsiafulinux says:
I'll have to give conditioner a try, I've used soap before but it's not all that great for me.
Nov 18, 2010. 2:24 PMshrpshtr325 says:
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Nov 19, 2010. 5:54 AMshrpshtr325 says:
(removed by author or community request)
Apr 4, 2011. 3:08 PMkarossii says:
I have very thick and coarse hair, and I am lucky if I get 3 shaves out of one disposable blades before it starts cutting me up...
Nov 19, 2010. 12:22 PMshrpshtr325 says:
(removed by author or community request)
May 20, 2011. 1:12 PMKittyF says:
one thing that I think makes a difference is cleaning ALL the bits of hair and stubble and soap and even as much as possible all water off the blade. leaving stuff on the blade allows the moisture to sit there and rust the blade microscopically. I've seen so many disposable razors left to sit til next use with soap or stubble under it and its gross as well. I clean mine carefully and it lasts me a year.
Oct 24, 2010. 5:28 PMSecretGuideToShaving says:
This is one of those "urban myths" people have been posting on the internet. It was busted after some people actually viewed it and put it to the test. What they did was take a fresh razor, viewed it under a dissecting microscope and attempted to sharpen it with the blue jeans. It doesn't sharpen it in the least bit. If you're really concerned about razor blade life and shaving, check out my instructable http://www.instructables.com/id/So-you-want-an-old-fashioned-double-edged-safety-r/
Apr 4, 2011. 1:59 PMcomp_wiz101 says:
The real benefit to this is that the motion helps draw moisture off the blade edge. Admittedly, it would be much better if both sides of the blade are stropped (just as a straight razor is). Another strop used for the straight razor is the "Canvas strop", which truly a strap of heavy cotton.
Nice 'ible! I use a badger brush + non-aerosol cream with my 1940's British Aristocrat Jr. safety razor.

Apr 4, 2011. 5:28 AMchihuahualover112 says:
this has been fantastic! i figured it would work with women's razors too, and it does! i've probably been using the same razor blade for close to a year now. i was always sick of my dad going to buy the wrong razors or guilt me about how expensive they were...thank you so much for being such a genius.
Apr 4, 2011. 3:28 AMcapricorn says:
You sir are astounding :)

Thanks for sharing :)
Apr 4, 2011. 2:15 AMlesrebnav says:
awesome !!
Mar 17, 2011. 11:57 PMmattthomas992003 says:
ive been doing this method but with a terry cloth towel since i was 16 and now i am 22 i have had the same blade for over a year now
Mar 16, 2011. 8:21 AMEddie_T says:
Sounds good. My Dad's razor strop had leather on one side and a heavy twill on the back side.
Oct 24, 2010. 11:15 PMdjmachet says:
Perhaps it would sharpen the blade... but half the wear on disposable razors is in the consumable glide strip just above the blade - sure you'll still use shaving cream, but the razor still won't glide as smooth without this strip
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