Storing razor blades

[NUTTSGT]

From cutting tubes of caulk to scraping gaskets and removing splinters, razor blades are very handy around the shop.

If you're like me and have a few razor blades laying around the garage, there's no real good place to keep them. One day it donned on me, they're steel are will stick to a magnet and the idea was born.

I cut a strip off a free magnetic calendar schedule. You can find them free all over, from business cards or NASCAR refrigirator schedules. Then it was as simple as nailing it up on a screwdriver rack.

 

[Steves32]

You can buy a dispensor of 100 single edge blades for 10 bux at the big box store & throw it in a drawer & toss the used blade when you are done with it. Cut myself too many times on old blades laying around. You catch the top of that blade above the shelf reaching for a screwdriver & it's instant stiches time. Sorry- that's a bad idea IMO.

 

[NUTTSGT]

You can buy a box of 100 for less than $10. I don't use a blade one time and toss it, that's wasteful to me.

The magnetic strip holds the blade flat and in plain sight, the top of the blade isn't sharp. Razor blades are just like any other tool in the shop, use them wrong or not careful with them, they'll hurt you.

Everybody is entitled to their own opinion, take it or leave it.

 

[38Chevy454]

I think it is a good idea. Also seems pretty safe to me, the sharp part of the blade is protected for the most part. Even if the sharp end hung down, the magnet would allow it to move if you bump it, preventing any serious cuts.

All of my single edge blades are just sitting in the drawer, probably more dangerous to reach in to get one than the magnet idea.

 

[Twiggss]

100 blades for 10 bucks? you are getting hosed.

I get 100 packs for $2-3


Then again if you are paying $10 bucks for blades I could see how you would think this is a bad idea.

 

[JimVonBaden]

I like it. I use new blades for certain things, but hate to throw away used ones that still are useful. I have a metal shelf on my cheap work bench, so the magnet will do double duty!

Thanks,

Jim

 

[NoNN37]

I have a magnetic dish that i toss loose blades into on my tool box lid. works great for me.

 

[rlitman]

I like it. I use new blades for certain things, but hate to throw away used ones that still are useful.

Man, I though I was frugal by using paper towels for increasingly dirty jobs before they get trashed.

When I'm reaching for a disposable razor blade, I want one that's -really- sharp. I have box cutters for jobs that need an edge that takes more punishment.
I keep the box of disposable blades in a toolbox drawer, one blade gets put back in the cardboard wrapper and is placed next to the box when I'm done with it, but it still looks pretty new. If it at all looks as bad as the ones in the picture, in the trash they go, either after being wrapped back up in the cardboard, or a piece of masking tape.

Every other razor in the shop is stored in a scraper handle of some sort or another. I've probably got at least 10 scraper handles in all sorts of places.

Oh, the last box cost me around $2. It was on clearance somewhere.
Normally, the Chinese crappy ones cost me $3-4, and I really can't stand the ones that are wrapped in plastic.
Best ones I've found cost more like $10-12 for a 100 pack. The wallpaper store of all places had USA made razor blades of blued steel, that have a better edge that makes a cleaner cut in the paper, but for general use I don't notice the difference.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Yeah, it depends. It isn't about being cheap, I just don't like waste. I actually keep lightly used razors for stuff like pealing stickers. Not for cutting, that is a different tool. I never use razor blades for cutting. I want fresh ones for stuff like scraping glass, and scraping off gasket material from aluminum.

Jim

 

[Noxx]

Meh, I toss em. "Disposable" is just that. On the rare occasion I need one that's sharper than a bulk pack cheapo I'll get a Feather blade from my shave kit and consider it ruined.

 

[StaggeringGoat]

in the trash they go, either after being wrapped back up in the cardboard, or a piece of masking tape.

That's one of the reasons I don't throw them away until they are rusty and dull - it's a PITA to wrap them up in something. I just throw them on "the pile" on my workbench...I've had a tetanus shot.

 

[Vvmvbb]

I'll be the safety Nazi today.
Straight razor blades are a huge hazard since they wind up in unexpected places and can instantly send you to the ER. Before we banned them out right, our safety officers would write up every blade they saw.
If you cannot find a way to replace them with a better tool, extra thought in their control is very important.
OPs picture is particularly egregious since blades can be bumped exposing a haninging blade right next to easy access hand tools.

 

[NUTTSGT]

That nasty looking blade has been cutting open tubes of caulk, some that were previously used. If I need a sharp blade, I can grab a new one out of the box. If I'm scrapping glass, it's automatically a new blade.

The used blades, that I no longer want get tossed, but not directly in the trash. I have a water bottle with a slit cut in it. I drop the blades into it and forget about them, similar to the old medicene cabinets with the blade slot in the back.

 

[Strouty]

The plastic bottle is a good idea, I have been wrapping my old ones in tape so they can't slice through my trash bag. I like your idea better and will be using it. Thanks for posting!

 

[ishiboo]

That's one of the reasons I don't throw them away until they are rusty and dull - it's a PITA to wrap them up in something. I just throw them on "the pile" on my workbench...I've had a tetanus shot.

When I was using a lot of disposable razor blades, I made a little container out of a cardboard box for disposal... normally I would just wrap them with tape, but when you use a bunch its a lot faster.

Cut a small slot in the box and put a couple layers of tape inside as a "flap" so blades wouldn't fall out if it was dropped.

 

[nit2wn]

We used something like a Clorox jug at my old job. Any big mouth plastic jug would work. For home use maybe an old mayo jar.

 

[rlitman]

That nasty looking blade has been cutting open tubes of caulk, some that were previously used. If I need a sharp blade, I can grab a new one out of the box. If I'm scrapping glass, it's automatically a new blade.

The used blades, that I no longer want get tossed, but not directly in the trash. I have a water bottle with a slit cut in it. I drop the blades into it and forget about them, similar to the old medicene cabinets with the blade slot in the back.

NICE ONE! You've made your own sharps container. This tip is seriously worth one of those $50 prizes, or a tee shirt that the magazines give for good tips like this. I WILL have one of these in my garage the next time I'm in there.

Vvmvbb, I couldn't agree with you more.

BTW, from what I've read, the #1 reason for visits to the emergency room due to lacerations, is from horizontal cuts just above the right knee.
Lots of people are hurt taking out the trash. This is something to pay attention to.

 

[towguy]

Not a fan of the magnet idea but having a "sharpes" container is a great idea. Beats wrapping them in tape and tossing them in the trash can.

 

[csp]

Mine are in a retractable scraper.

 

[Steevo]

Here is your sharps disposal container.

$2.70 on eBay

 

[rlitman]

Here is your sharps disposal container.

Here's the problem with that idea. The inherent danger of disposing of a sharp razor, is just that it is sharp. Nobody is worried about it being a biohazard too.

Once you put it into THAT container, it is "medical waste". That's something you may run into trouble with when you throw it out.
If you can find a similar container that isn't labeled biohazard and isn't red, I'm all for it.

 

[mds5951]

I use a wide mouth Gatorade bottle for disposal.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

That nasty looking blade has been cutting open tubes of caulk, some that were previously used. If I need a sharp blade, I can grab a new one out of the box. If I'm scrapping glass, it's automatically a new blade.

The used blades, that I no longer want get tossed, but not directly in the trash. I have a water bottle with a slit cut in it. I drop the blades into it and forget about them, similar to the old medicene cabinets with the blade slot in the back.

I use a empty wet wipes container for the same thing. It has cross slots in the top already. Just wrote on it with a marker what it is for.

Charles

 

[rshadd]

These look nifty.. anyone tried em?

http://industrial.personnablades.co....009"+Steel+Back+SE+Safety+Dispenser+100+Pack

 

[metaleltr]

Yep, i bought blades at home depot and they came in a container like that, but has a blue button. It works well for dispensing, but i do not know of you can put blades back in it, I have never tried, when i want a fresh one i just reach over and push the button.

 

[PCO6]

These look nifty.. anyone tried em?

http://industrial.personnablades.co....009"+Steel+Back+SE+Safety+Dispenser+100+Pack

I have one that's similar to that. It holds about 50 blades and I keep it in a drawer in a parts bin that sits on my bench. When I take a new blade out of the front of the holder I put the used blade in the back of the holder. When they're all used I put the whole thing inside an empty peanut butter or similar jar, tape the lid on and put it out with the trash.

 

[ihredo4]

I use the same bio-hazard bottle as my other sharps. But then again I am diabetic and have hundreds of sharps to dispose of each year.

 

[pendragon1998]

This is probably more aimed at personal medical waste but this aite lists sharps disposal regs by state. Consider the safety of sanitation workers too.

http://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/page.aspx?cat=7002&id=10284

 

[ATC]

If a little razor blade is giving ya'll this much fuss, I'd hate to see what you think of pocket knives!


I throw my used ones on the top of my toolbox. When it won't do what I need it to, I toss it in the trash can and grab a new one.

 

[PCO6]

^^^ - I'd probably throw out my pocket knives in a safe way too ... but I can't remember the last time I had to do that.

 

[JimVonBaden]

^^^ - I'd probably throw out my pocket knives in a safe way too ... but I can't remember the last time I had to do that.

Exactly. I doubt knives are thrown away at anywhere near the rate of razor blades.

In my city there is a prescribed method of disposing of sharp items:

Knives: Should be placed between two pieces of cardboard, taped together and then placed in the refuse.

http://alexandriava.gov/RefuseCollection#preparation

Jim

 

[PCO6]

JimVonBaden - I believe our by-laws are similar to that. I know that is the way that they require broken sheets of glass to be disposed of.