does flipping a DE blade extend its life?

It seems like it might work.  I'll have to give it a try but am wondering what people have experienced here.

thanks

10 bucks for 100 Astra blades will last me over a year. So for 3 cents a day I don't think I'll worry about it.

I highly doubt it, but if you believe it will, then give it a try.

Like hand stropping, some say it does, some say it doesn't. Every  facet of this hobby is always subject to YMMV!

If you switch a knife out from your left hand to your right each time you use it, will it increase the life of the edge? Don't know, but I think the idea of flipping is that in some way you will use the edge more evenly. Unless you're really paying attention, I think that would be mostly random chance. And if you do pay attention, you could use the blade just as evenly by just watching to make sure you turned the razor evenly when you shave in the first place. MHO
If some of us think it is worth it, though, who am I to discourage them? I just think it's a lot of bother for 3-5 cents.

I've never done it or thought it would have any benefit.  However, I only use blades once, so I don't have to concern myself with extending blade life.

I just use the blade until it doesn't perform the way I want it to, then I get rid of it. For me that means I get 5-6 shaves per blade.


Mitch

(10-10-2016, 06:15 AM)Mitch114 Wrote: I just use the blade until it doesn't perform the way I want it to, then I get rid of it. For me that means I get 5-6 shaves per blade.


Mitch

Yeah, this applies in my case also.

I think you brought this idea up just to make me ponder and slowly go insane ...... too late. 

But honestly, I have thought about and tried to see if theres any merit to it, but I lacked the patience and or the attention span. I'm with the others; blades are relatively cheap and I go to a new one. 

That being said, go for it.

(10-10-2016, 06:12 AM)TheLegalRazor Wrote: I've never done it or thought it would have any benefit.  However, I only use blades once, so I don't have to concern myself with extending blade life.

Ricardo, I have found that some blades actually get smoother after 1-2 shaves. I get a minimum of 10 with my Wizamet Iridium Super blades.

This reminds me of the pyramid stone story.

No it will not. Razorblades are V grind as opposed to single bevel grinds found on some knives ( the LE offered here, traditional japanese kitchen knives) chisels and woodplanes. When you shave both edge bevels are equally worn. Flipping would actually be detrimental  as the blade alignment to razor has been set (think high performance auto tires that have 'scrubbed' in to their position).

If you shave against the grain, or from south to north, aren't you using the other side anyway?

(10-10-2016, 07:37 AM)celestino Wrote:

(10-10-2016, 06:12 AM)TheLegalRazor Wrote: I've never done it or thought it would have any benefit.  However, I only use blades once, so I don't have to concern myself with extending blade life.

Ricardo, I have found that some blades actually get smoother after 1-2 shaves. I get a minimum of 10 with my Wizamet Iridium Super blades.

I've been really impressed with the longevity of my Wizamet Super Iridium blades as well.  After a shave or two they settle in an just seem to stay sharp forever.  I just recently tossed one out that I shaved 16 times with.  Pretty impressive to me for a DE blade.

(10-10-2016, 11:19 AM)merkur man Wrote: I've been really impressed with the longevity of my Wizamet Super Iridium blades as well.  After a shave or two they settle in an just seem to stay sharp forever.  I just recently tossed one out that I shaved 16 times with.  Pretty impressive to me for a DE blade.

I have a mess in a blade bank with @ six shaves on each. I'd be happy to autoclave and repackage them at a great price for you two. Douglas MacArthur had a filipino houseboy break in his corn cob pipes for him.

Could be, but used to be my Polsivlers and Astras would last 3-4 shaves but I can push my Astra greens past 7 and Polsilvers double that with no problems. As much as possible I try to refrain from unscrewing the razor and only wash it thoroughly when it's time to chuck a blade.

IMO, no.

I hand strop all my DE blades and flip some after two shaves; Med Preps, IPs and GSBs. These will give me another 1-2 shaves depending on number of passes and touch ups I do. Other blades are used for 2 shaves and don't get flipped. Does flipping blades have an effect on longevity? Idk, but it's what I do.

I flip but don't know if it does anything. My Astra sp have 1&2 on one side and 3&4 on the other. But as I was thinking about your question and picturing the blade cutting down the hair. I don't think it makes a difference. My reasoning is that your shaving with the tip or point of the blade not the bevel of the blade. If it were shaving with the bevel edge or wedge then I can possibly see flipping as a possible advantage. Just my opinion and don't know if my logic is correct. I'm not the sharpest blade in the pack. ?