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!

Brennn10 says: Apr 3, 2011. 9:07 AM

Nice job on making it to the front page of reddit!

jakerobinson (author) in reply to Brennn10Apr 3, 2011. 9:38 PM

thanks! this may be lame... but i had no idea what Reddit was!

but it's really cool to see how many folks voted it up... cheers,

Jake

mikeanator55 says: Jan 25, 2013. 7:58 AM

And congratulations again! Back on Reddit front page

ihvpave says: Jun 25, 2012. 8:09 AM

I've had incredible luck with this - my boyfriend told me about this method when we began dating, and I've been using the same razor ever since. It's been almost two years now on that cartridge. I "strop" my blade about once a month, and have a clean shave the rest of the time. I can't argue the results!

jakerobinson (author) in reply to ihvpaveJun 25, 2012. 9:09 AM

Wow! that's awesome! thanks for the feedback. cheers,

aridas99 says: Apr 9, 2012. 1:04 PM

This method really works; see the microscopic proof here http://teamdonline.com/technology/extend-life-razor-blades/

Jossy92 says: Oct 13, 2011. 2:20 PM

Soap scum gets "welded" to the blade ....the blue jeans Polsh the blade. The harder the water, the more strokes you need. Great instructable.

fefrie says: Apr 26, 2010. 5:34 PM

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.

TaniaSue in reply to fefrieMay 16, 2010. 9:46 AM

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.

fefrie in reply to TaniaSueSep 11, 2011. 5:51 PM

I'll stick to my leg thankyou. It's convenient enough.

vtturbox says: Aug 3, 2011. 6:05 AM

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.

tradergordo says: May 25, 2011. 12:01 PM

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.

sirfroggz says: Apr 15, 2011. 2:38 PM

I used a razor for a full year using this method. Works great.

CampyClassics says: Apr 7, 2011. 10:24 AM

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

jakerobinson (author) in reply to CampyClassicsApr 7, 2011. 3:28 PM

Awesome! a pint in my honor... doesn't get any better than that! cheers

PistolShooter says: Apr 5, 2011. 5:14 AM

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.

ATTILAtheHUNgry says: Apr 4, 2011. 6:19 PM

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!

jakerobinson (author) in reply to ATTILAtheHUNgryApr 4, 2011. 10:30 PM

t;hanks for the kind words... and hip,hip hooray! for saving money!

siafulinux says: Mar 16, 2011. 5:26 PM

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!

jakerobinson (author) in reply to siafulinuxMar 18, 2011. 12:51 AM

oil works fine. I have stopped using shaving cream... now I use hair conditioner as shaving cream... usually from the travel size we accumulate when we stay at hotels... more savings...

siafulinux in reply to jakerobinsonApr 4, 2011. 5:33 PM

I'll have to give conditioner a try, I've used soap before but it's not all that great for me.

shrpshtr325 says: Nov 18, 2010. 2:24 PM

(removed by author or community request)

jakerobinson (author) in reply to shrpshtr325Nov 18, 2010. 10:28 PM

You are the exception to the rule then... most people will agree without any treatment a typical razor will only give a good close shave for 5 to 8 shaves... maybe your whiskers are just really easy to cut? ;>)

shrpshtr325 in reply to jakerobinsonNov 19, 2010. 5:54 AM

(removed by author or community request)

karossii in reply to shrpshtr325Apr 4, 2011. 3:08 PM

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...

jakerobinson (author) in reply to shrpshtr325Nov 19, 2010. 6:13 AM

Have you seen the comments on this ible? or the comments on the Youtube location? tons of people have this issue... why do you think they call them 'disposable'. maybe you guys have really "soft water" or something...

anyway, don't fight it bro... you can make your blade last ten years!

shrpshtr325 in reply to jakerobinsonNov 19, 2010. 12:22 PM

(removed by author or community request)

KittyF in reply to shrpshtr325May 20, 2011. 1:12 PM

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.

jakerobinson (author) in reply to shrpshtr325Nov 19, 2010. 1:17 PM

good point... if you are doing something that makes your blade last nine mos then your ible will be a bigger hit than mine...

now about denim...

what is softer? Leather or Steel blade?

then why is leather used to sharpen a barber's razor?

same principal... it removes the fine nicks on the blade as well as oxidation and rust... think of it as polishing the blade...

SecretGuideToShaving says: Oct 24, 2010. 5:28 PM

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/

jakerobinson (author) in reply to SecretGuideToShavingApr 4, 2011. 3:01 PM

actually, this is a stropping technique - not sharpening... sharpening actually removes some of the metal... stropping is just like barbers do with a straight razor... the idea is to 'staigten' the blade back out... the blades on disposables are so then that the edge gets 'folded over' on itself... stropping the blade on a coarse fabric (think leather strops that barbers use) piece of material like denim and you achieve a similar result.

The video for this 'ible made it to the top of Reddit... and in the conversation on that link one person actually viewed the blade under strong magnification both before and after stropping and reports he was able to observe a marked improvement...

hope this helps... if not, let's try again...

Cheers

http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/ghiol/til_how_to_restore_gillette_razor_blades_to/

comp_wiz101 in reply to SecretGuideToShavingApr 4, 2011. 1:59 PM

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.

jakerobinson (author) in reply to comp_wiz101Apr 4, 2011. 2:40 PM

thanks for your feedback... cheers,

jakerobinson (author) in reply to SecretGuideToShavingOct 25, 2010. 5:51 AM

Hmmmm, then all us folks must be exuding mind-over-matter....

works for me...

seems your explanation is self-serving...

btw, who are these 'some people' and do you have any hard evidence?

and if you took a fresh razon and tried to sharpen it - of course it wouldn't sharpen if it is already brand-new and sharpened.... ???

chihuahualover112 says: Apr 4, 2011. 5:28 AM

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.

jakerobinson (author) in reply to chihuahualover112Apr 4, 2011. 10:19 AM

Wow, solving deep-rooted family issues, who knew! cheers,