Thread: Its all about the water...

As most of you would accept, all water is not created equally. I live in Washington, DC, a place with notoriously hard water. Will the hardness of this water have any extra adverse effects on my razor and/or Norton 4k/8k hone? If so, are there any special care instructions that anyone can offer? A buddy of mine suggested that when I eventually hone, I do so with distilled water...seems to make sense, but I wanted an expert opinion.

I Can't imagine how hard it must be that you'd need to hone with distilled water! Does it hurt to wash with?

haha sometimes. but I never drink it. If you're not aware, Washington DC water was only certified as drinkable about 12 years ago, so its pretty bad. it doesn't actually taste clean, it tastes minerally, and leaves a weird aftertaste in the mouth. but I'm more concerned with my razor than my insides lol

Hardness is about the amount of calciumcarbonate in the water. Hardness affects the way soaps work so you;ll need a bit more shaving soap or cream in an area of hard water. With honing your create so much swarf that will enter the pores that I do not think you have to worry about limescale in the pores.

If I recall, swarf is the metal that gets removed from the razor during honing?

Is there any special care for my razor that I'll need to do because of the hardness of the water?

Where we live, I am on a well and I find that the Distilled water works tons better for me than the tap water which goes through the softener, etc.

Lynn

Thanks Lynn! Any tips for blade care when I shave with water from the tap? Will the hard water affect the blade such that I'll need to employ extra care?

Hmm. The calcium is in solution. So if you wet your hones with it, absorbing the water. then dry them the calcium will be left behind. I'd use distilled water if the hard stuff was in the tap.

You guys reminded me of that 'The Ocean is the Ultimate Solution.'this