Arc5 replacement parts question

[PracticalUser]

Quick question for anyone with experience with the Panasonic Arc5 series - how often are you actually replacing the outer foils vs the inner blades?


I've had my ES-LV65 for about 18 months now and the performance has definitely dropped off. Panasonic recommends replacing the whole WES9032 foil/blade combo every 12 months, but at $45-50 that's pretty steep if I don't actually need both components.


The outer foils still look fine to me - no obvious holes or damage. But I'm wondering if the inner cutting blades dull faster than the foils wear out?


Has anyone tried replacing just the inner blades (WES9068) first to see if that fixes the performance issue? They're only about $25 vs the full $50 for the complete set.


Or am I being penny wise and pound foolish here? Maybe the foils wear out in ways that aren't visible?


Would appreciate any real-world experience with Arc5 maintenance. This thing wasn't cheap and I want to keep it running well without throwing money at unnecessary parts.


Thanks.


steve_p

 

[Jim Elliott]

Steve, welcome aboard. The cutters definitely dull faster than the foils wear. Replacing each separately isn't a bad idea. I'd say you get approximately 15 to 18 months' use from the foils if you're careful. The cutters start to go at around one year. You may notice it takes more passes during your shave at that point.


Try replacing the cutters first. If the razor still is performing poorly, then you know you should also replace the foils. Always be mindful, as well, of keeping the razor clean. Keep us posted.