Thread: Maintaining Your Razors - Newbie Poll

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

I agree with Razorfeld and Galaxy51 on this. Also, if you haven't, watch this video, since it answers most of your questions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

Thanks for the video link . . . Quite helpful as always and about what I guessed. I think I might try the CrOx on the backside of the webbing first and then maybe save up for a 12k stone. (Figure that won't break the bank . . . )

I am curious though, as is everything, there are plenty of suggestions and the "YMMV". I don't mind dropping some money to try different pastes/sprays, but I don't want to shell out for a bunch of strops to test on. Any suggestions for how to handle experimentation?

I'd suggest the back of the webbing as Lynn does in the video. If you use the CROx crayon, the front will be unspoiled webbing and the leather will stay clean, which is important. the crayon is fairly cheap and high quality from SRD. When you get the 12k, you'll also need a DMT 325 or similar to lap (flatten) it. That runs the $$ up by about $50 if I recall. Some use sandpaper on glass for that step.

Shaotzu, foam core board cut 3" x whatever you want (actually 12" is most likely the best), heavy duck cotton cut 5" x 14" if going with the 12", rubber cement duck cotton to the foam core after notching the corners to avoid bulk when you wrap it to the back. Then, as they say, go for it. It works for some and it doesn't work for some. Cheapest way I can think of at the moment. And all the materials are available at Jo Ann's Fabrics or other craft/sewing stores.

To quote Lynn, "Have fun."

Balsa wood from the hardware is cheap and easy to use. Just lap and apply paste spray etc. Can't help much with the refresh info I always seem to have a new razor neefs honing and testing

When I was using the same razor all the time for pretty much a year I would refresh it every couple of months. That was with pretty much daily shaving too.

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

Shaotzu, foam core board cut 3" x whatever you want (actually 12" is most likely the best), heavy duck cotton cut 5" x 14" if going with the 12", rubber cement duck cotton to the foam core after notching the corners to avoid bulk when you wrap it to the back. Then, as they say, go for it. It works for some and it doesn't work for some. Cheapest way I can think of at the moment. And all the materials are available at Jo Ann's Fabrics or other craft/sewing stores.

To quote Lynn, "Have fun."

Or just paste the foam core with a good Chrome Oxide. Don’t wait for the edge to begin to fail and do a maintenance routine of once every 7 or 14 days.

Proper maintenance will keep you shaving indefinitely. The problem is learning to strop correctly and effectively.

Good point Euclid, but make sure Shaotzu, if you don't use the canvas, to make sure you are using pastes, not sprays. Foam core board is paper surfaced and fluids of any kind will destroy the surface.

Foam core is great for testing out new paste, it is cheap and quick. Buy the cheap foam core from the dollar store, it is a coarser paper that holds paste well.

Apply your paste in a 2-3 inch X pattern for best results.

And will last a long time.

It depends on the razor I use. I find that my new Dovo Best Quality requires more frequent maintenance than an old Ern.

I shave about 3-4 times a week, mostly on my Dovo. I used to go 4 months before hitting the 4K/8K hones again. After I got the Naniwa 12K, I do monthly maintenance on my Dovo with just 10 strokes on the 12K.

I had originally set the bevel and sharpened the Dovo with tape. However, I got tired of using tape every month for maintenance, I went back and set the bevel & sharpened it without tape. Tapeless maintenance goes much faster and smoother.