Some vintage DE blades were packaged unwrapped, to slide out for easy loading with TTO razors. Some of these packs can be refilled with modern blades but watch out for those glue spots!
These instructions may also be useful when vintage blades are frozen up in an older slider pack. After opening the pack you may be able to separate the blades with a fingernail, or by soaking in isopropyl or mineral oil.
Modern Blades
Of modern blades, only ASR still ships some USA Personna blades in slider packs. These packs should be refillable: If you refill a pack of this kind, please post pictures of the process.
Gillette (vintage, all-plastic)
These plastic blade packs have a cover and back that snap together. Unlike the earlier metal-cover packs, the used blade area is part of the backing. Here are some pictures of how these packs come apart.
To get started, turn the pack over and find the seam between the cover and the backing piece. You can use a thin blade for this, or a strong thumbnail.
Pry the seam apart, then push on the backing piece through the cover. Be careful of any blades.
This pack already contains Gillette Bleue Extra blades, but now they have been turned over to reveal the date code V-3. By looking at US_Gillette_Dating_Information we can say that they were probably made in 1990.
Gillette (vintage, metal cover)
| These packs were used for the "Spoiler" blades. The back of the pack snaps out, allowing removal of used blades and replacement with new ones. |
| The front plate is crimped to the base at the top and bottom, as shown. With a little gentle pressure it snaps out. If you use a flat-head screwdriver or another metal tool, mask it to avoid chipping the paint. The plate labelled "INSERT USED BLADE" will also come free, so watch out for any used blades! |
| Here we see the base of the blade pack. Above the loose blades are the front plate on the right, and the plate covering the used blade bank on the left. |
| Blades dispense from each side alternately. For bonus points, line up any arrows on the blades in the correct direction. |
| Keep stacking the blades in alternate directions until done. You can probably get 15 or more blades into a pack. |
| Ready for action. |
Personna (vintage)
| These metal-plastic blade packs can be refilled. The top plate fits into grooves in the plastic side rails. Use a screwdriver and gentle but firm pressure to pop the top plate. |
| This pack already contained blades, but they were stuck together. Flexing the blades back and forth unfroze them. |
| The blades alternate, much like Gillette slider packs. After arranging the blades, pop the top plate back into the plastic side rails. |
Schick (vintage)
The older metal and plastic Schick holders are very easy to reload.
| Here we will re-fill an old Schick Platinum+ pack with new Lord blades. |
| You could use a flat-head screwdriver to lift the metal cover, but no tools are needed. |
| Try not to bend the cover as you pull it up and slide it back. If the cover is bent too much, it will block the blades from coming out. You can usually fix this by bending it back into shape. |
| Now the plastic base is ready. Unwrap the new blades and put them onto the base. |
| If you want the new pack to look nice, pay attention to how any writing on the blades lines up with the cover. Note that the cover is backward from the base in this shot. |
| Now replace the cover. Pull up on the business end as you slide it over the blades. |
| The old bottle has new wine. |
| The first blade is ready to go. |
