How many blade flippers do we have out there?
- Thread starter Douglas_1
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jar
Rollin Tumblin
Most anything is possible.
slapo
It's... alive!
It's curious how some earlier responses were dismissive or even judgemental without offering much reasoning why blade flipping wouldn't help. A knife isn't a very good approximation, either, due to its thickness, different angle when in use and matter being cut.
In my experience, when I flip the blades, it feels as if they were auto-stropping themselves, until the rather sudden fall off. It might be just my feeling, hence my curiosity about it. It also occurs to me the actual shaving angle is likely a factor here. The Catra product website mentions "The linear slide has have a stroke length of 50 mm and is be driven by a programmable servo drive system, which is capable of operator programmed sequences, speeds and distances via the PC.", which I'd think means it could measure wear at different angles as well.
If it could be measured, it would certainly be interesting to find out. I suspect a machine to measure this is likely to be pretty expensive, though.
It could help to take photos of the blade edge under a microscope, except that would require very precise positioning for repeatable results. Automation would certainly come in handy here, too. Both methods seem potentially rather expensive and time consuming, unfortunately. :-/
In my experience, when I flip the blades, it feels as if they were auto-stropping themselves, until the rather sudden fall off. It might be just my feeling, hence my curiosity about it. It also occurs to me the actual shaving angle is likely a factor here. The Catra product website mentions "The linear slide has have a stroke length of 50 mm and is be driven by a programmable servo drive system, which is capable of operator programmed sequences, speeds and distances via the PC.", which I'd think means it could measure wear at different angles as well.
If it could be measured, it would certainly be interesting to find out. I suspect a machine to measure this is likely to be pretty expensive, though.
It could help to take photos of the blade edge under a microscope, except that would require very precise positioning for repeatable results. Automation would certainly come in handy here, too. Both methods seem potentially rather expensive and time consuming, unfortunately. :-/
Exactly.
Despite the blade having two sides it still only has one edge, just like a knife. A hair is long and cylindrical much like a cucumber, albeit tougher, and even when cutting at an angle you're still using one edge because that's all there is. Anything at all where a blade is cutting through something you're using both sides simultaneously, it doesn't matter whether it's a razor blade through hair, a knife through a cucumber or an axe through a tree.
If you want to flip your blades go right ahead but you're still using the same edge that you were before you flipped it.
Len
Forum GOD!
A lot of people have called blade flipping ridiculous, because a blade only has one edge. This makes sense hypothetically, but I posit that those who think such have not considered the matter more deeply.
If blade flipping makes no difference because a blade only has one edge, then likewise, it would make no difference to flip a blade or knife whilst honing or sharpening one. Yet, any knife or blade expert will tell you that you must flip the blade whilst honing or sharpening. Why? Because honing or sharpening an edge, like shaving, is done at an acute angle servicing more one side than another. This causes the leading edge to fold in on itself on one side. Therefore, the blade must be continuously flipped to prevent the leading edge from folding too much, and hence, dulling the blade. Flipping a blade for shaving follows similar principals, and it makes perfect sense.
I only use a blade for two shaves, so I cannot confirm or deny how well blade flipping performs personally, but I have read enough credible testimony from experienced shavers that have said flipping extends blade life to consider their words as more possible than not.
If blade flipping makes no difference because a blade only has one edge, then likewise, it would make no difference to flip a blade or knife whilst honing or sharpening one. Yet, any knife or blade expert will tell you that you must flip the blade whilst honing or sharpening. Why? Because honing or sharpening an edge, like shaving, is done at an acute angle servicing more one side than another. This causes the leading edge to fold in on itself on one side. Therefore, the blade must be continuously flipped to prevent the leading edge from folding too much, and hence, dulling the blade. Flipping a blade for shaving follows similar principals, and it makes perfect sense.
I only use a blade for two shaves, so I cannot confirm or deny how well blade flipping performs personally, but I have read enough credible testimony from experienced shavers that have said flipping extends blade life to consider their words as more possible than not.
slapo
It's... alive!
@Len: Thanks Len, I was looking to write something similar regarding the different angles at which a blade edge cuts hair. You response was a fair bit more eloquent than mine would have been.
I actually wanted to draw a couple of (likely poor looking) simplified pictures to illustrate the point, then remembered Rockwell in their crowd funding campaigns did that for me already, as well as every other shaving commercial that shows hair being cut.
While the actual approach/cutting angle depends on head geometry and angle used by the shaver, e.g. a steep angle is going to be closer to that of a knife than a steeper blade angle, it's still going to cut at an angle compared to a practically head on approach of a knife, unless we're talking about e.g. shaving a couple of chocolate curls off of a block of chocolate, rather than actually cutting it.
While I don't know whether blade flipping helps straighten out any blade edge bends in any way (or perhaps makes the blade edge wavy on a microscopic level instead), I know it works for me to an extent. Why it is only to an extent, I can only guess at, but I'm assuming that, but elements such as micro rust and how a blade is stored when not in use play a role too.
It's why I'd be quite interested in finding out how shaving, blade flipping, storage and cleaning habits affect a blade edge. It's just that I think proper research would be way above what I can afford, or willing to pay to find out for that matter.
I actually wanted to draw a couple of (likely poor looking) simplified pictures to illustrate the point, then remembered Rockwell in their crowd funding campaigns did that for me already, as well as every other shaving commercial that shows hair being cut.
While the actual approach/cutting angle depends on head geometry and angle used by the shaver, e.g. a steep angle is going to be closer to that of a knife than a steeper blade angle, it's still going to cut at an angle compared to a practically head on approach of a knife, unless we're talking about e.g. shaving a couple of chocolate curls off of a block of chocolate, rather than actually cutting it.
While I don't know whether blade flipping helps straighten out any blade edge bends in any way (or perhaps makes the blade edge wavy on a microscopic level instead), I know it works for me to an extent. Why it is only to an extent, I can only guess at, but I'm assuming that, but elements such as micro rust and how a blade is stored when not in use play a role too.
It's why I'd be quite interested in finding out how shaving, blade flipping, storage and cleaning habits affect a blade edge. It's just that I think proper research would be way above what I can afford, or willing to pay to find out for that matter.
