Do you use an oil with your electric shaver?

[Muse]

I have mostly shaved with blades my whole life (am male with full facial hair). However, occasionally I go longer than 2 days between shaves and I don't like blade shaving in those instances. I like to shave with an electric razor then, if not a full smooth shave, at least enough where shaving with a blade is easy.

My old Norelco 6843XL has dull heads and I just ordered new heads (HQ56). Reading Amazon reviews for those heads I came on one that said the heads last 10x longer if you use a "boundary lubricant such as Marvel Mystery Oil." I'd never heard of either, but am getting plenty of hits searching. I'd never heard of using an oil (or whatever) with an electric shaver before. I could order Marvel Mystery Oil in quart size for under $4 at amazon.

I'm wondering what to use and how. I have various oils including 3-in-1, some sewing machine oil I bought at a sewing machine repair shop (it's unbranded, they evidently took oil in bulk and put it in a ~8 oz plastic container with a thin tube for application), mineral oil, and some other things.

What's a good practice for maintaining an electric shaver and getting comfortable shaves?

 

[Newbian]

I have never used it myself and my current cheapo razor as been working great for the past 6 years or so.

Also I have never replaced the blades on it and I am sure they are a bit dull but it works good and the previous one lasted about as long until it's motor died.

Maybe if it was a more expensive razor it could be worth it but I have never had issues.

Just empty it after a shave or two and keep the head clean has all I ever needed.

 

[Nohr]

I put a drop of mineral oil on each of the blades after I rinse the shaver out and let it dry. That only happens once a month or so (I brush it out after use). Don't know how good sewing machine oil and the like is for your skin.

 

[mikeford]

Walmart has Marvel Mystery oil back in the auto section about as cheap as anyplace.

Generally a lighter weight mineral oil is used, well known OLD product is called something like Shaver ease, just googled with no hits, but Norelco sells HQ110, too expensive for me at $22 a can. Wahl clipper oil is $4 a bottle and you use one drop.

 

[Muse]

Walmart has Marvel Mystery oil back in the auto section about as cheap as anyplace.

Generally a lighter weight mineral oil is used, well known OLD product is called something like Shaver ease, just googled with no hits, but Norelco sells HQ110, too expensive for me at $22 a can. Wahl clipper oil is $4 a bottle and you use one drop.

After each time I use my clipper (I think it is a Wahl), I run a thin bead of the sewing machine oil I referred to on both sides of the cutters and turn the thing on for a few seconds and then wipe off the excess before putting it away. A tiny tube of oil came with the clipper and when it ran out I refilled it with the sewing machine oil. Never gave a thought of whether it was good for my skin... after cutting my hair I immediately take a shower and shampoo my hair! Shaving, however, is another matter. I guess mineral oil would be a wiser choice for shaving.

 

[Muse]

I just downloaded the manual for my shaver. It says to periodically remove the heads one at a time, disassemble, clean with their cleaner or alcohol, then lubricate with their lubricant or a drop of mineral oil. Says it's important to do one at a time because the parts are matched.

 

[pete6032]

No. I just replace the heads every couple years.

 

[clamum]

The beard trimmer type razors I've used for years (the Wahl-type ones) have always came with a little bottle of oil but I've never ended up using it. My last two Wahls lasted probably 5-6 years or so apiece, and died due to not holding a charge IIRC (never had to do with blades). Now I've got a Philips Norelco groomer and I think it's much better than the ones I've had in the past. Haven't used any oil on it though and it's been fine. Maybe I should...

 

[blankslate]

I use this

I use compressed air to spray the hairs out of the shaving block first.
then I use the Remington spray.

Seems to make the shaving blades last longer for me.


___________________

 

[Muse]

I cleaned the heads for the first time on this Norelco 6843XL shaver today. I used 70% rubbing alcohol after brushing out debris and blasting with compressed air. Got the heads good and clean. I was trying to figure out where to put the "drop of oil" they talk about. They said in the center of each head. I figure that means from the back side, not the business side because the business side, at least when inserted into the comb, has just a shiny metal thing the size of a dime in the center. The oil I used is mineral oil I bought at Longs Drugs probably more than 5 years ago.

Not sure it's doing much better, I'm sure it's better, don't know how new heads will be. I should receive them within a week and I'll see.

Scouring Youtube for info on how you clean and lubricate these shavers I didn't come up with anything great except for one very interesting video in which the guy said don't buy new heads, just sharpen the ones you have! He took out the inner blade assembly of a head and put it cutting-edge down on a mirror spread with some metal polishing compound. He swirled the cutting wheel around and around until the white compound turned a shade of grey. He said this would make the thing sharp again. Sounds reasonable to me, I'm going to shop for some metal polishing compound. I have another use for it, anyway.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

The oil irritates my balls.

 

[sdifox]

I save old electric toothbrush heads to do tho kind of cleaning.

 

[JulesMaximus]

10w40

 

[TheGardener]

Gave up on the electric razor and went back to blades. It wasn't so much about the shave, but had to do with a scheme where Philips Norelco discontinued both the razor and the replacement heads. The official replacement now is some cheap crap from China, and the razor won't operate the same way. I originally paid $150 for the razor, after rebate, sale and coupon. A year later when I wanted to replace the heads, it would have cost me $250.

Got off the Philips Norelco gravy train (theirs not mine), and went back to Schick disposables. I last paid $7.00 for 8 razors. Each razor lasts me a month to two, because I only shave every 3 or 4 days. Had to shave more often with electric razor.

 

[Muse]

Gave up on the electric razor and went back to blades. It wasn't so much about the shave, but had to do with a scheme where Philips Norelco discontinued both the razor and the replacement heads. The official replacement now is some cheap crap from China, and the razor won't operate the same way. I originally paid $150 for the razor, after rebate, sale and coupon. A year later when I wanted to replace the heads, it would have cost me $250.

Got off the Philips Norelco gravy train (theirs not mine), and went back to Schick disposables. I last paid $7.00 for 8 razors. Each razor lasts me a month to two, because I only shave every 3 or 4 days. Had to shave more often with electric razor.

I too prefer razor blade shaving, but I don't like to go beyond 2 days. It's tougher shaving with a blade after that, and it's then I'll reach for my Norelco, as I stated in the OP.

Here's my story concerning blade razors, quoted from my data:

"Ebay auction, sniped and won 50 Schick Xtreme loose razors $38.50, free shipping -- 06/18/2010"

Each is in an individual cardboard box saying

"FREE RAZOR!
NOT FOR RESALE
SCHICK XTREME3
ComfortPlus
XTRA-SMOOTH"

Believe it or not, I get nearly 6 months out of each of these, and I'll explain. The last time I opened a new box of these (and I have over 35 left, obviously) was Dec. 30, 2015, which is exactly 6 months to the day! I intend to shave with that razor today (after a shower!). It's starting to get duller, but it's still usable. The day will come soon when I start shaving with it and the razor drag will cause me to toss it in the waste basket and break out the next new one, probably within a week or two now. Usually it happens a week or two before the 6 month mark.

After shaving, I rinse out the razor thoroughly and wipe it dry with a towel (squeeze it in the towel) and remove it from my bathroom to another room where it isn't so humid to let it dry thoroughly as soon as possible. This extends the razor's life because the steel, although "stainless," does oxidize when exposed to water or humid air.

I have a heavy beard, I shave on average every ~2.2 days. I got this idea of drying the razor ASAP in a thread. It really does work!

 

[TheGardener]

I use that Extreme 3 also. I think it is good value for the money. I don't have that heavy beard, so I can get away going longer.

Your bathroom is that humid? Do you have an exhaust fan? If so, make sure it exhaust out to the roof and not to a crawl space.

 

[Miramonti]

I use Andis Clipper Oil, purchased very inexpensively from Sally's and lasts forever (minus 30 days.)

 

[Muse]

I use that Extreme 3 also. I think it is good value for the money. I don't have that heavy beard, so I can get away going longer.

Your bathroom is that humid? Do you have an exhaust fan? If so, make sure it exhaust out to the roof and not to a crawl space.

No fan in there. It's a small bathroom, and I open the window when I'm done so it will air/dry out. But I want to get that hand-dried (with a towel) razor out of the room as quickly as possible so it will dry out ASAP. Anything to lengthen its usefulness. I shaved with that one I first used 6 months ago this afternoon and it was still OK. It only goes back in the bathroom when I'm sure that the room has dried out. After a steamy shower the walls, ceiling, everything is just plain moist and the room's humidity would remain above that of the rest of the house for a good hour, fan or not.

 

[shimpster]

no i dont

 

[Muse]

Whoa! I just watched this:

How to Sharpen and Reuse Your Razor Blades for Years . Don't know how well it works, but the guy seems legit and his method is incredibly easy and fast. I'm going to try it.

Here's another one I just watched. It's for electric shavers and is easier than the other method I saw espoused on Youtube, which required metal polishing compound:

Clever and very simple way to resharpen heads

 

[HeXen]

I use some kind of teflon dry oil. feels dry but acts like an oil.

 

[destrekor]

I think the Braun cleaning station units use a solution of alcohol, with just a teeny tiny bit of mineral oil.

I lost my cleaning station, so every now and then I put some rubbing alcohol in a cup and half-submerge the head of my razor. I haven't actually thought about using oil - if I have any, or I might just buy some, I might have to try using a drop or two of mineral oil in my "cleaning solution."

 

[IBMJunkman]

One of these days I will realize I skipped shaving too many days and even the electric won't handle it. Will be the first time I get a shave at my barber.

 

[twinrider1]

I never did oil my electric razor back when I used one. I do have a trimmer now that I clean and oil after each use.

 

[MovingTarget]

Nah, but I probably should. I've never had electrics last beyond a year or two of use. They are convenient when I don't have enough time for the old DE razor.