Rechargeable Razer

[bert31]

Originally Posted by yakky

I have been using the 7000 series for about 7 or 8 years now. Nothing else can handle my coarse hair. I can get a closer cut than with a mach3, and that is important to me because I get a 5PM shadow at 10AM. Be prepared for buying the refills. One lasts about a month for me and I empty my shavings before I put it in the base for cleaning.

I have the Braun 8595 it is it the best electric shaver I have ever had but I think I will still go back to my straight razor.

I don't give my razor the intensive cleaning as often as the razor indicates it needs. I just felt that was over kill. Periodically I manually clean it with the brush and I thoroughly manually clean it before putting it through the cleaning cycle. Basically I only use the cleaning cycle when I charge it, I put it in the base and I turn on the cleaning function. After the the cleaning cycle, I pull the cleaning cartridge out and put the cap back on so the solution doesn't dissolve in the charger. Good manual cleaning before charger cleaning and keeping the cap on the cleaning solution cartridge REALLY stretches the life of the cleaning solution. I will give the 8595 credit, it does hold a charge well especially after the dozens of recharges it has been through.

Despite all this praise, I still think I will go back to the straight razor. After talking to some people and watching some instructional videos on the internet, I think I have found the flaws in my technique which made me give up straight razor shaving a few years ago. Since correcting my technique, I have noticed my straight razor shaves improving so I will keep it up.

[yakky]

Originally Posted by bert31

I don't give my razor the intensive cleaning as often as the razor indicates it needs. I just felt that was over kill. Periodically I manually clean it with the brush and I thoroughly manually clean it before putting it through the cleaning cycle. Basically I only use the cleaning cycle when I charge it, I put it in the base and I turn on the cleaning function. After the the cleaning cycle, I pull the cleaning cartridge out and put the cap back on so the solution doesn't dissolve in the charger. Good manual cleaning before charger cleaning and keeping the cap on the cleaning solution cartridge REALLY stretches the life of the cleaning solution. I will give the 8595 credit, it does hold a charge well especially after the dozens of recharges it has been through.

If you don't clean and re-charge nightly you are shortchanging the performance of the razor. As others have mentioned, if you don't keep it on the base it seems to get slower after the 1st or 2nd shave, its almost like it has a battery and a capacitor for extra boost. Second keeping it clean improves the performance greatly.

I tried to be cheap with the first one I had till I discovered I could only go an extra week or two before needing more cleaning solution anyway. The stuff is uncapped (probably on purpose) and just evaportates even if you don't use it.

To the OP, please keep it charged and clean everytime to give it a fair shake, if you are cheap, experiment after you deicide on the performance.

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by yakky

If you don't clean and re-charge nightly you are shortchanging the performance of the razor. As others have mentioned, if you don't keep it on the base it seems to get slower after the 1st or 2nd shave...

I would expect more frequent charging to be *detrimental* in that it'd contribute to a more pronounced memory-effect.

My 7540 shaves at the same speed for many, many shaves (quite unlike my 7570).

[bert31]

Originally Posted by yakky

If you don't clean and re-charge nightly you are shortchanging the performance of the razor. As others have mentioned, if you don't keep it on the base it seems to get slower after the 1st or 2nd shave, its almost like it has a battery and a capacitor for extra boost.

Not on a Braun 8595. It runs identical from right after charging till its last shave.

Originally Posted by yakky

Second keeping it clean improves the performance greatly.

Its a minimal difference. Most of that is effective marketing by the vendors. Once the battery is dead and I recharge and do a cleaning cycle, I feel a little difference but not much. Hence my not bothering to go through a cleaning cycle near as often as suggested. The more often the you use the cleaning cycle the more often you need to change the cleaning cartridges, excactly what the vendores want.

Originally Posted by yakky

I tried to be cheap with the first one I had till I discovered I could only go an extra week or two before needing more cleaning solution anyway. The stuff is uncapped (probably on purpose) and just evaportates even if you don't use it.

Which is why I take it out of the charging base and put the cap on so it will not evaporate when not in use.

[bert31]

Originally Posted by Accumulator

I would expect more frequent charging to be *detrimental* in that it'd contribute to a more pronounced memory-effect.

Exactly correct.

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by bert31

Which is why I take ..[the solution cartridge].. out of the charging base and put the cap on so it will not evaporate when not in use.

Ah, now there's something I hadn't thought of! Doubt I'm gonna end up bothering with it though Yeah yeah, I know...but life has hassles enough as it is.

[bert31]

Originally Posted by Accumulator

Ah, now there's something I hadn't thought of! Doubt I'm gonna end up bothering with it though Yeah yeah, I know...but life has hassles enough as it is.

Pretty quick and simple process on the 8595, not sure about yours. I figure there is quite a bit of alcohol in the cartridge so it evaporates at a pretty quick rate.

[jfelbab]

Another delighted 8595 owner. I clean mine every other day. I buy the cleaning cartridges from Drugstore.com. Seem to usually have the best prices.

Clean shave and no skin irritation.

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by bert31

Pretty quick and simple process on the 8595, not sure about yours..

Well, let's see, I'd just have to push the button to make the thing pop open, get the cartridge out without spilling it all over, get the cap on (without spill....), then undo those processes (again without...). Heh heh, nah, don't see myself doing that anytime soon

[yakky]

Originally Posted by Accumulator

I would expect more frequent charging to be *detrimental* in that it'd contribute to a more pronounced memory-effect.

My 7540 shaves at the same speed for many, many shaves (quite unlike my 7570).

My previous one was much worse about it than the current one, but I still get the most power using a full charge. Maybe its just me, but if I don't start at the edge, I can stop the blade, kinda like mowing tall grass with a mower.

[yakky]

Originally Posted by bert31

Exactly correct.

nimh batteries don't have a memory effect. They DO have a limited amount of charge cycles, but depleting them all the way is MUCH worse than constant recharging. See that thing in my avatar, it has nimh batteries and it charges and discarges them hundreds of times in an hour.

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by yakky

nimh batteries don't have a memory effect..

I dunno..that's what I've read but I've had plenty of them that *did* display what appeared to be memory effect Better than some other types of rechargeables but not really immune from it, or so it would appear in numerous cases (I can't say I *really* know what's going on but that's how it seems).

My Braun razors *absolutely* do behave that way. I started recharging the 7570 more often to keep its speed up, and the problem got worse, meanwhile the 7540, which I always run down, continues to work like new

.. if I don't start at the edge, I can stop the blade..

Huh, mine's not like that. A few-days'-growth can be a hassle to mow through, but as long as the charge isn't really low the blade never comes close to stopping.

One of these days I'll get around to having them serviced and we'll see what happens then.