Question about buying used/from classifieds

Hello everyone, I stumbled onto this site from a Facebook group I found yesterday and I like all the info I'm finding.

I've been using a shavette for over about 5 years now. I've always wanted to buy a straight razor, but there was only one model I seem to find in local stores and for 200$ it does not look appealing, . Then I've found the Classifieds section on this site and thought it would be a nice place to look to buy one. My only concern is in buying a used blade. I would need some info on cleaning and disinfecting it to prevent diseases. As well if you guys have recommendations, feel free to let me know!

Have a good weekend!

JF

I've bought a couple from Holli4pirating and they were great blades and shave ready. I am sure that just about anyone selling here will be good merchandise just as well.

well any mild disinfecting soap would be fine, nothin lives on cold, clean steel for too long. like Dial soap.
most of the bigger sellers have germicides that theyll use before they ship anyway..
soap, or just rubbing alcohol on a q tip... dont get ridiculous and soak it over night or anything, just wipe it on with a q tip and wipe it off.
but honestly, unless youve got some immune defficiency, i wouldnt worry about it, like at all.
as for recomendations, it kinda depends on your price range....
Check the Wiki tab up top, there is a list of razors that are ok to use, and a list of razors not to buy.
Good Ones
Bad ones

nasties dont live very well on dry steel for long. so it pretty much disinfects itself through postage time. If you really want, a bit of time in the sun (UV light) can make sure theres nothing left.

All my current razors are vintage. We have a nice article in the Wiki that should help: Sterilization - Straight Razor Place Wiki.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...cohol-dip.html

oh wow that is a good price on a new name brand razor.

I don't think I currently own any new razors, except for the custom made ones. After few hundred vintage ones I can say I have never be concerned about diseases.

Basically there isn't anything bad that distinguishes between old and vintage steel. When the razor is honed the surface that is getting exposed has never been in contact with air before. And then it gets in contact with the honing stones, the strops and the skin of the person who shave-tests it. So there is absolutely no difference between vintage and new production as far as the edge that is touching your face.
Vintage razors that are not perfectly sanded may have some tarnish, on the blade, but that is simple iron oxide and doesn't contain any organisms that can be bad for you. The soap,hot water, metal polish and oil have most certainly killed anything that might have been there.

So, in my view the only difference is that I find a lot of the vintage razors of much higher quality than the current production, or to be more precise, my skin likes them better. Sometimes they're cheaper than new razors too, which is even better, but I've bought them for more money as well.

Thanks for all your info!

I purchased 3 Wapis (1 plain, 1 SFK and 1 SFM) from the classifieds section and will have them honed by Floppyshoes. I'll just go for the alcohol dip after... Thanks!

JF

If the Wapi's are New Old Stock you may find that honign is not required. I just got mine which came still sealed and only needed a good stropping
Welcome to the site
btw, If you are just switching over from Shavette's don't forget you'll need a strop too

I would buy ones that are shave ready. If you are concerned about sanitization of the blade wash it up with some antibacterial soap and then let it sit for 2 weeks. Most bacteria or dangerous beings will not live past this long.

Well, you learn something new everyday.

I spoke with my grandfather today and learned that my great grandfather was a barber. My grandfather had kept a few of his razors and gave them to me...

Attachment 25513

From top left to right, then low to right: GEQ Wostenholm& ... Sheffield Eng, Gilt-Edge, J.A. Henkels Twin Works, Prior Solingen, Beam Blue Steel.

They all need cleaning and honing. Any I should use? If so I'll have a full set with my Wapis

you should use all of them. they're all full hollows so they'll be different from your wapis
it's george wostenholm too

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by brockoli

Well, you learn something new everyday.

I spoke with my grandfather today and learned that my great grandfather was a barber. My grandfather had kept a few of his razors and gave them to me...

Attachment 25513

From top left to right, then low to right: GEQ Wostenholm& ... Sheffield Eng, Gilt-Edge, J.A. Henkels Twin Works, Prior Solingen, Beam Blue Steel.

They all need cleaning and honing. Any I should use? If so I'll have a full set with my Wapis

---

Nice find. You should ask about any sharpening supplies. If Great gran was a barber, he may have had some nice hones. A barber's hone and you can keep your blades sharp for a long long time without re-honing. Real lucky and he will have had a Escher or coticule.

If you don't want to get into honing you can always sell them to me.:)

I've sold 2 and bought others in the classifieds and have never had any issues with unclean blades. The 2 I've sold were ones I shaved with so they were clean. And the same for the ones I've bought... :gl:

Granpa did not have a strop or hones. He joked that his father did not give him the stop because he feared he would beat his kids with it (supposedly he gave the hones and strops to someone else in the family).

Very nice, instant rotation for you.

Enjoy,

Joe

Well, grandpa still had a few things from his father's barber boxed somewhere. Unfortunately, nothing that can be used for shaving, unless it is for shaving a head. He gave me some old scissors, thinning scissors, hand clipper and electric clipper...

JF

Those razors look great! I am jealous. I wish I had family heirloom straights. They would never leave my rotation until theres nothing but a nub left.

As for nasties on the blade, not sure I can add anything else other than my agreeance. Honing removes steel. Like Gugi said, the steel underneath was never in contact with any nasties that might have been on the old edge. A quick alcohol wipe is all I do if I have any concerns. Which I don't.

Plus, I'm not sure if stropping would kill viruses or not, but thats yet another line of defense. Oh, and the soap. It is soap after all.

Tetinus is the only thing I would be even remotely worried about sticking to the blade.