Thread: Do i need to oil my razor?

Hi, this is my first post and after reading a fair bit on here i have decided to have another try with my straight razor after my earlier rubbish attempts.

After wet shaving for about 20 years with mach 2&3's my wife bought me a straight razor (Dovo), brush and cream, I found it hard to use and could only get an average shave on one side and a very poor one on the other side of my face and gave up.

But this was not a waste of time as it introduced me to a Crabtree & Evelyn brush and cream and made me dump that tined rubbish, I'm 43 years old with a relatively smooth (if dry) face and a not too thick beard growth.

The last three months i have discovered DE shaving and have a Merkur 34 HD, Gillette fat boy and three super speeds (yes its Rad setting in) and have been thinking about trying my straight again

So today with a stropped razor (been watching the videos) and better technique learned from my DE's i had a not too bad a shave and am very pleased with the result so far and this can only get better the more i use it, and so to my question should i oil my straight after drying it to protect it from corrosion or is this unnecessary,
any help/advice will be much appreciated
thanks,
Dizz.

If you dry your razor thoroughly, there is no need to oil it on a daily basis. Just keep it out of the bathroom, and it will be fine. Actually, my friend is keeping his razors in the bathroom for 25 years, and there is nothing wrong with them, but better be safe there...

As for the usage of your DOVO razor, g'luck on your second try. Only, I would send that razor to be honed, and than try and shave with it. DOVO's are now shave ready from the store...


Nenad

Hi, it might need a hone as i did the hair test and it only cut it with a bit of wiggle if you know what i mean.
Do you know how i can find someone to hone this for me in the UK?#
thanks,

There are some members in the UK, I am sure they will chime in.

It would be better if you get a hone for yourself, otherwise you will be dependent on others for honing your razor. Norton 2" 4000/8000 combo, or a Belgian coticule are a good choice.

A good strop would be nice too, I don't know what are U using now.


have fun, read older posts and help files here, and ask away...

cheers,
Nenad

I have a leather/linin belt type strop but i will look into geting the other stuff as soon as ive worked out what they are.