Double Edged Razor Blades

[Bill Mohrbacher]

Recently on one of the forums someone was looking for double edges razor blades to use in his razor plane.  Seems he could only find German blades at over $1 a pop.

I just got ready to do some wingtip carving and found I have no blades left.  I went surfing and found they are still available even if Walmart doesn't have them one the shelf.

I had to stop in Rite-Aid today and found Gillette double edged stainless steel, 10 for $8.79 and Rite aid brand 15 for $5.99.

Yippee!! I can carve away to my hearts content!

[Robert McHam]

The little (about half sized) super wal mart in my little town carries them for under four dollars if memory serves me correctly. I don't remember the brand but there are ten blades in a pack. I do not have the oter packaging any longer but the dispenser shows no brand name. "double edge platinum chrome blades" is the writing on the dispenser.

They are quite sharp but not as sharp as I remember the old Blue Blades to be. The Blue
blades can be found on that big auction site almost every week. I really am glad I have mine but unless in a pinch won't buy them any more. I want better.

The German blades that you referred to are much higher quality and are used by most of the  high end indoor FF rubber builders and they swear by them.
I say try one and compare with whatever you have and you most likely won't go back, even for a buck a pop. Truth is, not so long ago you had to buy them by the pack of a hundred and now you can buy lesser quantities.

Robert

[Dave Nyce]

When I was 9 years old, I used one of my father's double-edged blades to try to modify my Cox RTF plane.  I used a leather glove, which I thought would protect my fingers.  It did not.  I nearly sliced off the tip of my right index finger.  Got stitches.  Had no feeling in it until 10 years later.  Then it returned to normal. 

Nothing to do with a razor plane, but it is about a double-edged razor blade.

Dave

[Larry Renger]

Last time I was in Japan, they still made blue blades that compared in hardness to the old Gillette one.  I bought a stack!  They do show up on e-Bay occasionally.  I still have my "Little Gem" plane from college (45th reunion coming up!)  If you have contacts in the far East, have them check on availability.

It seems to me that some of the free-flight guys also sell blue blades.

One interesting source for a pile of the blades once was an old house that was being renovated.  There used to be a slot in the back of some medicine cabinets for old blade disposal.  One of these happened to be removed, and there was a pile of Gillettes neatly preserved in gooey soap.  Wow!

I also have a German razor plane, and the blades can be damaged, but I haven't worn one out!  I checked, and Hobby Lobby still has German planes and blades, but the blades are $2 each.  But then you get 2 edges, and can prolong the life by occasionally flipping the blade over to reverse the wear pattern.  Probably can sharpen them with the "Scary Sharp" technique, too.  (Do a Google search on the term, it is cheap and easy to do incredible sharpening this way).

[john e. holliday]

Thought I might be of help here, but, the blades I have only show the following:  Super Platinum   Made in Israel     Pat. No. 3071856.  The box there in says 100 Double Edge Blades.   I got them on the Ebay a year or so ago.  Can't find the print out of who had them.  I bought 2 boxes of them at the time.  You might do a search on the bay.  Good luck,  DOC Holliday

[john e. holliday]

Okay guys/gals I did the work.  One out fit has double edge razor blades,  100 for about $20.00.  Item # 180213661767.  If you want more go to the home page of Ebay.  Then in the search type in double edge razor blades and look.  Later,  DOC Holliday

[don Burke]

Like Larry I've still got my "Little Giant" razor plane.  The only blades I've been able to find as noted by everybody, SUCK!  When the "LG" was new I was shown how you could plane down 1/32 balsa to 1/64 to make indoor stick fuselages!  Tain't possible with today's blades!  I just ordered one of those listed by SS Hobbies.  SS was a little cheaper than Hobby Lobby for the same thing, also bought several packs of blades.

[Steve Helmick]

Stainless steel razor blades don't work.  The edge will bend if you hit a hard spot. Blue Blades might chip, and they'll snap in half, which the stainless ones won't. That's a good thing.  Steve

[Robert McHam]

I learned a long time ago that stainless steel is good for holding an edge longer than carbon steel but it takes longer to put it back on. This holds true for a knife. Most will tell you that they prefer carbon steel to stainless. It simply requires more care. Stainless cutters are for the lazy folks and certain special applications. 

Stainless steel razor blades of the double edge variety on the other hand are too flimsy for us. I forgot how they like to flex.

Thanks for that reminder Steve.

[john e. holliday]

I myself use the little block plane with double edge blades on soft balsa.  The plane for the heavy work is the Master Airscrew plane if I remember right,  may have to go look.  Later, DOC Holliday

[Randy Powell]

I've had an old Tatone razor plane for about 20 years. Still works fine. I get double edged razor blade from the local drug store (in my case, Rite-Aid). I bought 4 packages of 15 blades each about 4 years ago and just opened the last package. Probably ought to pick some more up. These are Schick stainless. They will bend if you hit glue or something, but seem to work fine generally.

[Tom Perry]

I myself use the little block plane with double edge blades on soft balsa.  The plane for the heavy work is the Master Airscrew plane if I remember right,  may have to go look.  Later, DOC Holliday

I pretty sure the one you are thinking about is the master Airscrew.  I just picked up a three pack of extra blades at the LHS the other day.  Although faily sharp they can be improved before using them.

A small block plane available at most local hardware stores are handy.  I much prefer using a plane to sanding.   

[Neville Legg]

If you want the heavy duty double edged German blades, Google SLEC, they are in Norfolk England, the lady at SLEC tells me that she is ordering said blades from Germany shortly! I have a Zip plane and these blades are the only ones that will work with out "digging in". They have the standard Gillette slots in them.

Cheers   Neville