How to Sharpen a Norelco Electric Shaver

Intro: How to Sharpen a Norelco Electric Shaver

Replacement blades are expensive,$30 to $40.  Why not save some money and sharpen the old one ? 
Back before safety razors and during world war II, when steel was scarce, people would resharpen their double edge razor blades on a sheet of glass.  I figured why not try it on my Norelco shaver that was leaving my face raw,  and it worked,   Here is how I did it...

You will need a small brush to clean shaver and heads, also a flat piece of glass ( a mirror or  picture frame glass will do).

STEP 1: Remove Shaver Head

Brush out any hair in the body, do not use water. 

STEP 2: Remove Cutters From Head

Rotate the white wheel to release cutters and remove from housing.

STEP 3: Clean Housing and Cutters

Use the brush and running tap water to clean the housing and the cutters.  Close down the drain in the sink, you don't want to drop anything down the drain, then slide out only one of the cutters.

STEP 4: Seperate Cutter From Shield Screen

Again clean the cutter and shield screen with brush and running water, junk gets trapped in the cutters.

STEP 5: Sharpen Blades on Glass

Place the blade cutter on the glass.  Here is the gross part...spit on the glass, put your finger on the top of the cutter with light pressure slide it into the spit and start moving it in a figure eight.
 Continue the figure eight motion 50 to 100 times and towards the end be more gentle with the pressure.  Always keep the glass wet.  I tried water but the spit works best, it has a lubricating quality.

STEP 6: Replace Cutter

Dry with tissue and replace cutter in shield screen, then remove the next cutter and sharpen it.
Do not remove all the cutters at once as I don't think it is a good idea to mix them up. 
Reassemble everything and enjoy a great and painfree shave.

Comments

[SkipK4]

Does the blade scratch the glass?

[leppurd]

No it won't scratch the glass, keep it wet and don't put to much pressure on blades.
If your worried about damaging a mirror just use a flat piece of glass, like the glass
on a framed picture.

[Mel G]

Either a rotory shaver as shown. or foil type, both carry out a scissor action, therefore both the rotating cutters and the underside edges of the holes or slots in the foil would need to be sharp. My shaver is a Broun of the oscillating cutter type. I apply very fine pollishing compound to the outside of the foil and rub it into the foil holes. I then run the shaver for about 40 seconds, and keep gently rubbing the compound back into the holes. Then I remove foil and cutter and carefully clean; hay presto it shaves like a new one: on that basis, cannot see why the same method and simplicity would not apply to a rotory type, though I have never owned or tried one. Would be pleased to see the experiences of others.

[Andsetinn]

Very nice, 2000 grit paper and windows washing liquid will speed up the sharpening to about 30 seconds on each cutter.

[juntjoo]

Anyone tried this with the rq12 blades? I don't have them but am considering getting a shaver that uses them

[SeanM251]

I spent about an hour on the mirror sharpening method with two different sets of blades, but it didn't work for me. Blades are still dull. I have a Norelco senso-touch. Going to try buying knock-off-brand replacement blades from eBay instead. If those dull after a month, too, I'm going to Braun and never coming back to Norelco. $60 for blades every 6 weeks? What a rip-off!

[PaulN35]

Will this work with HQ8 blades?

And wee bit off topic, it seems like current (2015) Norelco shavers seem to take longer to shave and have fewer RPMs than old shavers form 10 years ago. Anybody experience this, too?

[GilesL1]

Absolutely. The new Norelco razors are crap. Now I can find replacement blades for my old Norelco Rototrack razor, I'll be happy.

[jachung]

Did tou tried?? I have the same electric razor so Im wondering the same.

Let me know thanks

[getmoresoon]

Unfortunately this won't work on Philips HQ9 blades. The inner 3rd row blade is taller than the rest.. so the outer 2 blade rows never touch the glass!!

[litedesign]

Worked great on my 10-year old Norelco Quadra 7865xl blades. I bought a little mirror from the 99¢ store, and I used some "3-In-One" multipurpose oil instead of spit.

[elrichowe]

Just tried this on my phillips coolskin Hs8060 and it works a treat.

[MarticeB]

I think the basic point everyone is missing-regardless of how well you can sharpen these cutters- THEY USED TO SELL US THE CUTTERS. Even now it's obvious that you can disassemble these silver shaving heads. The Cutters can be removed and replaced. I don't remember anyone who used a Norelco paying so much to replace the entire head assemblies. Why don't they just tell us replacement cutters sharp and new from the factory?

[LydiaT2]

The companies do sell just the cutter replacements. I've gotten them at Walmart.

[PaulL39]

[JimE4]

[mkambas]

The full name of the compound dachshund9 is referring to is actually

Tormek PA70 Honing Compound

[MartinC14]

It worked! This is awesome as the head cost almost as much as a new shaver. Thanks!

[SameerKanade2]

Yes this should work 100%, although I haven't tried this but it also remembers my Grand father used to Sharpen SS Shaving blades by rubbing them on a pocket mirror.

[jonathon.millermeeks]

Noticed immediate and significant improvement after doing this. Smoother, quicker shave with less pulling. Thank you!