Thread: razor rest

Originally Posted by Bart

Where do you think gillette got the idea of their vibrating "Fusion"razors?

From a 1930's invention; The Stahly Live Blade!

Originally Posted by Bart

I have a book (in Dutch) about straight razor shaving.
Bart.

Not 'Gladde Jongens' I hope?
Because I got that book as a birthday present from my sister.
Virtually on every page, the author makes claims that I disagree with.

Things like
- antique razors are for looking at only, and you should not shave with them
- a nick > 0.5 mm means you have to throw away a razor
- 8/8 razors are very flexible (never heard of half hollow, quarter hollow or wedge then?)
- 8/8 razors are extremely expensive.
- rust is the death of a razor.
- custom razors are extremely expensive.

and the list goes on and on.
I am working on a list of disagreements to mail to the author.

Originally Posted by Doc

24 hrs is a wives tale.

In all fairness to wives, I think it's actually a razor salesmans tale.

The edge of the razor will be deformed by shaving, this is unavoidable because steel is somewhat elastic. Like most elastic materials, steel also has a memory and will over time relax toward its original shape. Thus, allowing the razor to "rest" between shaves reduces the cummulative effects and thus the frequency of honing required to maintain an edge.

How long is somewhat subjective. Most of the relaxation will occur in the first 24 hours, and there is probably little additional benefit after 48 hours.

I think it is just an excuse to buy more razors. I've never noticed anyhting like that and don't really believe in it.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Not 'Gladde Jongens' I hope?
Because I got that book as a birthday present from my sister.
Virtually on every page, the author makes claims that I disagree with.

Yep, that's the one. I don't know if he's right or wrong with the "wrinkled foil" principle, but I'm pretty sure he's not just making this up. My bet his he probably got that information from one of the engineers from Dovo, or perhaps Thiers-Issard, during research for his book. Personally I believe the theory may be scientifically sound, but not always theoretical things manifest themselves in daily practice as well. There are simply too much unaccounted variables, like blade thickness, steel alloy, the sharpness of a 30K edge versus a 8K edge, the damage a coarse beard does to a blade versus the damage a soft beard causes, etcetera...
Maybe stropping after the shave, or allowing the blade not enough rest, will diminish the amount of shaves one gets out of a razor before it needs a touch up on a hone. But so what? I like honing, as long if I don't have to hone a razor after every second or third shave.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Things like
- antique razors are for looking at only, and you should not shave with them

As I see things, SRP is a bit the equivalent of a grease monkey forum for guys who rebuild the engines of their own car, which is a very nice hobby I think. But most normal people that own a car just drive with it and fill it up with gasoline if the tank runs empty. For everything else they visit a garage. I know a few guys in my town that took a straight razor course in Antwerp (hosted by Mr Chevalier) They shave for recreational purposes with the straight every weekend. They use a strop and a pasted paddle strop to keep it sharp. When that no longer suffices, they send it out for honing, or in case of an accidental nick, for a regrind. (Dovo offers such a service, through Mr Chevalier's store) In other words, they visit the garage. I guess, even in the old days, things weren't all that different.
From that viewpoint, a lot of what Leo De Brouwer represents in his book "Gladde Jongens" (Smooth Guys, in english) is quite accurate.


[quote=Bruno;166637] - custom razors are extremely expensive.
They are, aren't they?

Kind regards, my fellow countryman,
Bart.