Thread: Rotation

Hey all!

I have been straight shaving for a while now, a year plus, and I finally decided to pull the trigger and get a nice new razor. I looked on the forums and finally decided on a RA 7/8 razor but when I went to order one on straight razor designs they didn't have one with the Spanish point in horn so I had to order to from the RA site and ship it from Germany. So I have a whipped dog 6/8 and 5/8 razor as well and I wonder how you guys rotate your razors. I don't use the 5/8 that Often, just when I send my 6/8 out to get Honed because I don't care for the 5/8 at all! It's just not the correct size razor for me. Since learning to hone is naturally the next step I'll probably keep it around to learn to hone on so now this leaves my 7/8 and 6/8 to use. What's the best way to rotate your razors, week to week, day to day? How long does a razor stay sharp once sharpened? Can I use one till dull and then use the other? Thanks in advance for all your guys help and advise.

Greg

I'm no expert, but I usually shave every 2-3 days. So I general use 1 blade a week. So I don't generally go to the stones but every 3 months

I shave everyday and use a different razor each day. The rotation brings the blades around in a somewhat logical order though on Sundays I usually use one of the better ones.

There have been threads about allowing a razor to "rest" but I am not sure if there is a real scientific reason for doing so.

I just pick a razor that appeals to me in that particular moment. I have never grasped the concept of rotations.

I have 10 or so that pick from, sometimes I shave with the same one for a few days in a row, pretty much which ever grind strikes my fancy. I touch up when needed, by letting the shave tell me when. I just started using a pasted hanging strop so refreshing a blade now is a cinch.

So as far as a set rotation? IMHO variety is the spice of life and I am fortunate enough to have many options. Soon you will too ; )

No I just look at them lined up and pick one , it usually gets used for a week or so , cleaned up and put up till I decide to use it again, sometimes I get get hung up on one blade for a month or more, I guess that's why I never need to hone very much cause if I used one every day for a year , it wouldn't need more than a refresh. Tc

I get the big razor case out get 4 or 5 and put them in my small case and use them till i feel like a change then do same again. Have enough I haven't needed to touch up yet and some have only seen stones due to buying more I wanted to try out

I have a 2 part answer to this one:
When I am away for work (2 out of 3 weeks) I shave almost every day with one straight, occasionally using a safety razor. I only keep one razor at work.
On my week at home I shave 3-5 times and either use one of my two other straights or (rarely) a safety razor, shavette or (aalmost never) my schick quattro (until the cartridges I have run out). I try to use the same straight for the whole week at home and change them from break to break as the mood takes me.

Use one until it needs to hit the hone.
Switch the next until it needs honing.
I do this working my way through my collection.
My collection of fifteen isn't about quantity, but what I persve as quality.
If I don't like a shave a razor gives it goes bye bye, unless it's worth something or rare.

I have 7 razors in my rotation and use a different one each day in order that they are stored in.