The humble razor blade

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This just gets my goat.

With all the advances in manufacturing technology, modern materials, and precision equipment, why can't the likes of Gillette create a razor blade that:

a) Dosen't blunt very easily. i.e. lasts for months.

b) Can be sharpened by the user, just like a chefs knife.

Why is that? It's not beyond our means as an advanced species. Im sure we have scientists and engineers who are capable of taking on such a mammoth task. Sure we got a man to the moon so this must be easy in comparison.

But it hasn't happened. Not in the 1960's, 1970's, 1980's 1990's, or even in this gloriously advanced century we reside in.
And I cant see it happening anytime soon either.

So whats stopping us?

In a time where being "green" and trying to reduce waste in our society is in vogue, why are we still buying expensive razor blades that last a mere few weeks (at best) and then you toss them into the bin. They arn't even reusable for the love of God!!
There must be mountains of blunted, rusted metal and shaving cream stained plastic razor blades lying in our landfills.
What a waste.

So. I ask you, I plead with you, for the sake of the dolphins and my sanity, could you, Mr Gillette, sitting high on your pile of money, please design a new blade, which lasts!!!??

Morlar

http://www.leesrazors.com/oldsite/images1/dovo/985.jpg

http://www.shaveblog.com/uploaded_images/fordummies-717740.jpg

Seriously I am thinking of going back to them - 10 euros for 4 mach 3 blades ? There is as much metal in those to be worth about .0000003 of a cent. The rest is packaging and marketing expenses. I would prefer one x €40 outlay for a straight blade - 2 mins sharpening it on a belt once a week and no more probs with spending a fortune on plastic packaging and over priced blades.

Ps I would have put this in consumer issues rather than conspiracy theories.

humanji

You answered your questions:

View Profile wrote: »

In a time where being "green" and trying to reduce waste in our society is in vogue, why are we still buying expensive razor blades that last a mere few weeks (at best) and then you toss them into the bin.

Razor companies make a fortune from their sales. They'd lose a hell of a lot if their products lasted longer, and would probably go bankrupt if we could sharpen the razors ourselves.

That's capitalism for you.

Gordon

Why don't you just buy a cut-throat razor?

humanji

Or grow a beard.

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I dont know if I could trust myself with a cut-throat. :eek:

I buy the old Gillette Sensor razor blades cos theyre the cheapest and are just as good, if not better than the current 4/5/6 bladed brainchilds of Gillette Corp.
Its getting ridicioulous now. How much farther can they go?

Adding more blades, vibrating heads, or flashing lights. When will it end. Or when will the gullible public stop forking out for Gillette's newest model that is now Ferrari red, but costs a euro more!

humanji

But I like red

oscarBravo

Me too, that's why I use a cut-throat.






j/k, beards ftw

Mahatma coat

there was a kid I knew in Secondary School, he came from Enniscorthy, his father made a fortune when he invented a simple device for sharpening Gillette disposable razors, gillette simply bought the Patent off of him and shelved his idea.

as was pointed out they make a fortune from blade sales, I generaly have a beard, I keep it tidy with an old cutthroat. they're fairly easy to use after a bit of practice I've had mine for about ten years, I recomend having them profesionaly sharpened every 3-4 years tho.

Run_to_da_hills

The Wilkinson sword classic with the double edge blade is the best value on the market at the moment. Design goes back to the 1900's and the blades can be sharpened. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-LILLICRAPS-GLASS-SAFETY-RAZOR-BLADE-SHARPENER_W0QQitemZ200197396976QQihZ010QQcategoryZ31764QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The modern disposable razor is bunk, originally designed for the space shuttle, is now a money making scam for Gillette and Wilkinson sword. Who needs several blades in a fancy handle that looks good?. The Classic type was good enough for my old man, his also and is good enough for me. I saw them for sale in Tescos recently for e6 including 5 double edged blades. http://www.auravita.com/products/AURA/WISW10310.asp My hand is not steady enough for a cut troath

rubadub

I use an electric and am surprised more don't. They do still want disposable ones for obvious sales reasons. Until recently you would never see rechargeable batteries in supermarkets. I presumed this was the same idea, duracell etc would not offer them as they wanted the normal ones still selling more. Rechargeables now last longer than the run of the mill alkalines, they have done for a good few years now. But it is only in the last 1-2 years that you see rechargeables and rechargers in supermarkets.

They could probably make ceramic blades that would last longer.

JIZZLORD

electric razors are great. it's paid for itself in the last few months

MooseJam

definately a conspiracy among razor blade producers to produce blades that quickly blunt, I try to get the most out of each blade and will use one for weeks