Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 30
  1. #1
    Bearded iamjackscolin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Brooklyn
    Posts
    5
    Thanked: 4

    Default Wiping the Blade

    Hello all, I've been reading a bit but this will be my first post.

    I've been shaving with a green holder shavette for a couple months now, and my first razors and strop are one the way at this moment.

    I know there's probably no definitive answer, but I'd like to hear thoughts on wiping the blade during a shave.

    Should wiping with a cloth be avoided?
    If not, what kind of cloth is preferable, and what technique should be used? i.e. stropping motion
    With what frequency should you wipe the blade, or if it's just preference what are the common results of higher or lower frequency wiping?

    Appreciate any thoughts, and look forward to talking with everyone.

    Thanks
    glenn

  2. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to iamjackscolin For This Useful Post:

    Sando (04-05-2009), Sunbane (02-21-2009), winterkid (02-21-2009)

  3. #2
    Member FarNorthAK's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Eagle River, AK
    Posts
    47
    Thanked: 3

    Default

    I'm new to straights myself, but I like to use a wet washcloth to wipe the blade during my shave. I just lay it on the counter edge and wipe as needed. Seems to work ok for me.

  4. #3
    Super Shaver xman's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Lotus Land, eh
    Posts
    8,194
    Thanked: 622

    Default

    I rinse and then wipe in a stropping motion on any ordinary towel. Never had a problem.

    X

  5. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to xman For This Useful Post:

    Sunbane (02-21-2009), winterkid (02-21-2009)

  6. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Chicagoland
    Posts
    844
    Thanked: 155

    Default

    I rinse the blade in running water between strokes. When I'm finished, I dry with a stropping motion on a towel.

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to fccexpert For This Useful Post:

    jnich67 (02-21-2009)

  8. #5
    Senior Member AusTexShaver's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Posts
    359
    Thanked: 72

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by iamjackscolin View Post
    Should wiping with a cloth be avoided?
    If not, what kind of cloth is preferable, and what technique should be used? i.e. stropping motion
    With what frequency should you wipe the blade, or if it's just preference what are the common results of higher or lower frequency wiping?

    I don't think there are any hard and fast rules about wiping.

    I'm not sure if I'm in the majority or not but I rinse (VERY cafefully!) the blade under running water when it gets to the point of dripping or when I need to clean the blade to get a better view of what I'm doing or sometimes when I'm doing the upper lip so I don't push lather up my nose. The main reason I rinse is I'm lazy and it's just one less thing I have to clean up. If you rinse I can't stress enough how careful you have to be...it's real easy to put a ding in your blade (or worse your skin) with a moment of inattention.

    I don't think what you wipe with (cloth or tissue) is important as being careful not to cut your chosen medium as it will dull the blade.


  9. #6
    Senior Member blabbermouth ChrisL's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    4,445
    Thanked: 834

    Default

    I flirt with potential disaster to the razor and rinse periodically under hot water in the sink. After shaving I flirt with potential disaster to my fingers by pinching a dry towel around the razor's spine and draw the towel from heel to toe slowly and with some pressure. Then I strop on leather 30-35 times and put the razor away.

    Chris L
    "Blues fallin' down like hail." Robert Johnson
    "Aw, Pretty Boy, can't you show me nuthin but surrender?" Patti Smith

  10. #7
    Comrade in Arms Alraz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Posts
    976
    Thanked: 332

    Default

    I typically clean the razor with running water while I am shaving. When I am finished however, I use a towel to remove the excess water from the blade, strop it a few times and leave the razor open until it dries. When the blade is completely dry, I close the razor. I like the way I do it but could not think why other ways of dealing with this would not be equally effective.

    Al raz.

  11. #8
    ---
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    1,230
    Thanked: 278

    Default

    Mostly, I wipe the bade against a cloth on the edge of the sink. But I only allow the spine to make contact, I keep the blade edge 1/8-1/4" above the cloth. This removes the bulk of the lather without risk of damaging the edge. Also the remaining lather on the blade helps lubricate the strokes that follow.

  12. The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to Rajagra For This Useful Post:

    FarNorthAK (02-21-2009), iamjackscolin (02-20-2009), Sando (04-05-2009), Sunbane (02-21-2009), winterkid (02-21-2009)

  13. #9
      Lynn's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    St. Louis, Missouri, United States
    Posts
    8,454
    Thanked: 4942
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default

    I rinse the razor and wipe with a hand towell after every stroke with the razor.

    Never had a problem.

    Lynn

  14. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Lynn For This Useful Post:

    FarNorthAK (02-21-2009), iamjackscolin (02-20-2009), Sando (04-05-2009), Sunbane (02-21-2009)

  15. #10
    what Dad calls me nun2sharp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Kansas city area USA
    Posts
    9,172
    Thanked: 1677

    Default

    I just wipe it off on the towel I am wearing after the shower, trying to avoid getting the carbon steel wet or banging the blade on the faucet.
    It is easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled. Twain

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •