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Thread: Back at it

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    Member RazorCut's Avatar
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    Default Back at it

    So it's been abit since I've posted on here and figured I should write up a thread given my latest.

    Intially, early this year I entered the world of straight razor shaving transitioning from the cartridge to a dovo shavette. I imediately enjoyed it but boy was I slow. So i decided to nab a DE and picked up a vintage gillette fatboy and fell in love. I then ordered so many different blades to try out etc etc and as time went on found myself getting away from the straight to the the point of not at all. Now Ialso really like the DE but it doesnt have that therapeutic quality I loved about the straight.

    I had always questioned the shavette as it felt to dainty for me and wondered how a real solid steel blade would differ. I came so close, so many times to pulling the trigger in the classifieds but never did. Still don't know why... But then this black friday rolled around and I got an email on the razor I had drooled over many times. I decided now was the time for me to pull the trigger and did! I ordered a Hart Steel 7/8" round point satin finish in there basic black scales. I also remembered and grabbed a poorman strop kit from the whipped dog.

    I was so stoked about the great deal and still am. Then the whole nerves thing set in again as if it were my first time even though it wasn't. Still it had me on edge and delayed my use until I was completely comfortable monday evening. After those intial nerves on the first pass, I feel right in line. A whole shave - no nicks, cuts or weepers the blade was shave ready as promised. Ive still got some awkward handling to figure out so it took forever same as before but so very enjoyable. I will start doing these on the weekends and DE on the rushed work morning's.

    I do have a question though, what's the recommended consesus on best practices for storage to maintain you razors? Do you oil it after every use? Also before my next I will need to strop for my first time ever, so I assume initial oil to the leather is obvious but how often from then on - before every setting?

    Ofc I'll need to post a pick of my new beauty when I get home
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    Member OldSalt's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by RazorCut View Post
    I do have a question though, what's the recommended consesus on best practices for storage to maintain you razors? Do you oil it after every use? Also before my next I will need to strop for my first time ever, so I assume initial oil to the leather is obvious but how often from then on - before every setting?
    Hi and welcome back. You don't need to oil your str8 after every use. If you keep it in a dry place and have dried it well after use, i. e. with some toilettissue, then you won't have to worry about rust for a while. If you use it very unregularly, say every other month, then it couldn't hurt to give it a thin film of oil before putting it away.
    When you want to use it again, rub the oil off again, i. e. with toilettissue before stropping.

    That's what I do with mine and haven't seen a speck of rust yet.

    Keep at it and have fun.
    OldSalt
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    Senior Member blabbermouth engine46's Avatar
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    Well, many have different opinions about your question. I guess it depends if you are going to use it regularly or if you will get more straights & let it sit for some time. If it were me & I were using it regularly, I would dry it off after use & if you have some of that canned air like for computers & such, blow all the water out but if not, dry it off with some tissue & let it sit out opened for at least 24 hrs. You might want to get some lube for the pivot also which helps keep it lubricated & keeps the water out. I use Tuf-Glide but there are some others out there as well like Eezox, Ballistol & some others. Once you let it sit for a day or so, make sure it is dry & strop it. If you have not stropped much, you can use a butter knife or a dull knife to practice stropping to keep from cutting your strop plus dulling the edge on your razor.
    Good luck!

    NOTE: My internet quit right after I submitted this but I also meant to say if you are going to let it sit for some time like OldSalt mentioned above, then it wouldn't hurt to use a light film of oil on the blade to keep it from rusting. I use SRP Straight Razor Oil along with the applicator they have for it. My internet just started going again.
    Last edited by engine46; 12-02-2015 at 07:51 PM.

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    Member RazorCut's Avatar
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    Thanks for all the feedback thus far guys. I don't have any foreseeable plans to pickup other straights but if I do I will oil pre-storage for sure. I intended to use it weekly just not daily or atleast not until I become more proficient. Still not sure on the strop oiling frequency though.
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    Senior Member blabbermouth tcrideshd's Avatar
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    Why are you going to oil your strop? Just palm rubbing is fine and only if you get an old dryer out strop would you need to oil it, my strops are almost 3 years old and no oil. Tc
    “ I,m getting the impression that everyone thinks I have TIME to fix their bikes”

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    Member RazorCut's Avatar
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    Thanks that helps I had read somewhere to use oil but that eludes me now hence my questioning. Oh wait I recal now, it came with my strop from whipped dog if i remember correctly. In the end I was unclear on it and pretty much all strop vids I recall I never saw oil used in the vids which my explain / go along with your point. Thanks
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    Member RazorCut's Avatar
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    Thought of yet another question. How do u guys store your str8s? I've got to use a medicine cab b/c of my toddler but inside i have room for various arrangements. Do you guys some sort of case, caddy or otherwise? I most dont just leave them out or tossed in a drawer. Iean if it was just the one or so I could see it hanging out in the lather mug but wohat about those with a dozen or three dozen etc?
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    Senior Member blabbermouth eddy79's Avatar
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    I would not keep it in a medicine cabinet in the bathroom if it gets steamy un there. I store mine on top of a cabinet where out of reach and sight. Avoid storage around moisture area's. I have a couple cases converted with high density foam for the bulk of my razors as it keeps them safe and is lockable. I used a small plastic container with the foam to store five for rotation and that is stored up high in a cupboard
    My wife calls me......... Can you just use Ed

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    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    I'll second Ed's advice regarding moisture. I found out the hard way when I only owned one razor and had no honing skills that a little steam will demolish a shave ready razor's edge in an unbelievably short span of time. Needless to say I got a lot better at honing a blade real quick like. I keep mine away from the bathroom. No kids or immature folks come around, so mine actually do lay about in the open.

    I've hit my strop with Ballistol, but that's mostly because it bonds with the leather and protects it from moisture. I usually don't oil the strop before I hone it, or oil it with any frequency. Just once in a blue moon to keep it from drying out. If I'm not mistaken you can get the same moisturizing result by rubbing in some shave lather and wiping it off.

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    Senior Member criswilson10's Avatar
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    I oil the pivot of my razors about once a month. For the razors that I don't use often I coat the blade in oil before putting them away.
    For storage, when I travel, I use a toothbrush holder. It would keep a toddler out of it, but I bet a two year old could get it open.
    I oil my strops with mink oil about once a year.
    Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead - Charles Bukowski

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