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03-26-2008, 03:28 AM #1
Welcome aboard, Joe.
1) If those men are regular customers, I'd invest in a blade for each one of them for hygenic reasons.
2) I'd only strop the blade before the shave.
3) I'd wipe it down with alcohol after every shave.
As for getting the most out of this forum, I'd start with reading all of the help files. They're amazing. After that, if you have any questions, this forum software has a great search function. If that doesn't work either, we're a helpful bunch
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03-26-2008, 04:01 AM #2
- Join Date
- Mar 2008
- Location
- Elk Grove Village, IL (Chicago-metro)
- Posts
- 14
Thanked: 3Thanks ...
I don't shave the same men every week ...
so having a razor for each customer wouldn't work out too well. But, I do like the suggestion about using alcohol for sanitation, currently I am using Barbicide, and an ultra-violet light sanitizer for the dry sterilizing.
I haven't had the time to search all the areas of this forum yet ...looks like it could take along time!
Basically, I am trying to figure out the best method for:
1. selecting good razors,
2. sharpening and stropping
3. best sanitation method for commercial use
4. also, some advice on prepping the face - before and after the shave
Thanks again!
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03-26-2008, 06:47 PM #3
+1 on checking your local regulations
once you've done that, there are several razors out there that have metal handles and would be good under ultraviolet. (Wapi, Dovo, French army razors) I'm not sure how wood handles would hold up, but plastic would cook and rot under UV.
Also wood can/will harbor bacteria.
Your best bet is probably the Dovo. It's all stainless, has great edge retention, and can be run through pretty much any sterilization process you chose. Wapis are good, but for your use they would lose their edge too fast.
Sharpening and stropping, The stropping part is easiest, Get a couple of strops from Tony Miller. A hanging strop for when you shave, and a paddle strop with 0.5 CrO and 0.25 diamond paste.
For sharpening, You are better off having a professional service your blades until you can read up and learn to hone. A good honing setup can be costly... Also it takes time and a gentle touch to learn to hone properly. I will extend this offer to you If you check your regulations and can legally use a regular straight in your shop, I will do the initial honing on your razors for free. (Although If I ever make it to your shop, I expect a free shave ) I would love to see traditional straights in a barber shop.
Sanitation: the best method is autoclave, but I'm not sure how the temperature will effect the edge. Second best is extended exposure to UV. ultra Violet light breaks down DNA, so it will kill pretty much everything given enough time. but it will not kill where it can't reach. so you would need to use a squirt of clippercide in your pivot area.(the pivot is not likely to touch or cut anyone, so you're safe there.)
Finally the prep: the guys have already hit on this
but you can still provide all of the "old tyme" amenities of a barber shop shave, or maybe you already do. Hot towels, hot lather, face massage, and selection of aftershaves and balms, etc.
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03-26-2008, 07:07 PM #4
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03-26-2008, 07:18 PM #5
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03-26-2008, 08:09 PM #6
yeah, but they stink, you'd have to put a chemclave in a location away from where your customers could smell it... Plus the chemicals are expensive, and sometomes hard to find. My brother used to use a chemclave on his tattoo equipment before he could afford an autoclave.
like I said, the UV would work for all exposed areas of the blade, and as long as you don't filet anybody, you aren't going to get blood or body fluids in the pivot, so a blast of clippercide should work there...
This topic has come up frequently enough, maybe we need some references to barber and health regulations so we can see a common thread, and maybe understand why It's not allowed in so many areas.
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03-27-2008, 03:13 PM #7
- Join Date
- Mar 2008
- Location
- Elk Grove Village, IL (Chicago-metro)
- Posts
- 14
Thanked: 3Thanks to everyone for the excellent information!
After reading through everything, I think that the best way for me to shave my clients ...
would be to purchase a 'Feather' and some of the 'heavier' blades. So,
I don't know much about these razors, and I thought perhaps some of you who are knowledgeable about these razors would give me some direction as to which model would be the best for barber shop use?
And also, does anyone know the best place to purchase the Feather & blades?
Thanks for everything, and I have certainly learned alot in a little while here!
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03-27-2008, 04:35 PM #8
Classic Shaving is a site sponsor and has good customer service. Here is a link to the Feathers.
http://www.classicshaving.com/page/page/1240646.htm
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03-27-2008, 10:18 PM #9
- Join Date
- Mar 2008
- Location
- Elk Grove Village, IL (Chicago-metro)
- Posts
- 14
Thanked: 3