Thread: Wiping the blade properly?

During my first go at shaving this weekend, I found myself a little worried about damaging the edge while wiping the blade dry after rinsing off the soap lather and whiskers. Instead I just lightly set the blade down on a towel on each side.

Would I be damaging the edge if I wipe the blade from heel to toe sandwiched between two layers of towel? I thought about doing this but envisioned the blade being so sharp that it would catch on the towel as I dragged it through.

I think I saw a video of a guy wiping his blade on a sponge at one point...

What is the best way to dry or wipe off a blade as you progress through the shave?

-Stub

I'm more of a rinser than a wiper, but when I do find occasion to wipe I'll use a very light stropping motion on a towel (often the one I'm wearing around my waist after my shower), being careful not to fold the edge. It has always worked for me as I have yet to roll an edge.

Stubbles,

I pinch the razor between the fingers & towel as far as the belly of the blade (about 1/4 inch from the edge) and wipe; then as Ryan says, a light stropping motion to clean the edge.

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

I actually do both. I rinse the blade to get most of the gunk off it, then I pinch the razor between some tissue and wipe it along its length from heel to toe.

I use Stubear's method of rinse then wipe. With the spine in the middle of the towel, I come as close to the edge as I dare without letting the towel touch it. Occasionally, if I think the edge may need more, I'll give it one or two laps on the linen of my strop. I've never had to leave it out to air dry and I've never had rust.

using the thumb is a bad idea

Gentlemen:

I rinse he blade in hot water, wipe the blade with a towel, followed by Kleenex (both between forefinger and thumb), strop it (15/25) and then oil it.

Regards,
Obie

Conceptually, I don't think there is any danger in using a towel or tissue to wipe clean a blade. Leather is much more abrasive than cloth. What could wiping off a blade with cloth, sliding horizontally along its length, do to a blade compared to multiple vertical passes on leather?

Originally Posted by LarryAndro

What could wiping off a blade with cloth, sliding horizontally along its length, do to a blade compared to multiple vertical passes on leather?

I have a 3/4" slice in one of my hand towels that I was using to wipe my razor off with because I wasn't being careful. (I'm REALLY lucky I didn't cut further through and slice my fingers open!) When the honing instructions in the Wiki states that the TNT is to be used only during setting the bevel because in later honing stages it dulls the edge, cutting my towel likely dulled the edge somewhat also.

After I watched Chimensch's 30 anniversary shave video, I copied his use of a wet sponge in the sink to wipe the lather off. My sink is smaller than his so the point of my Black Diamond spike seemed dangerously close to the basin wall. I gave up on that strategy.

I thought about how a barber lays a dry towel on the shoulder of his client and wipes the lather off on that. So I pick up a dry towel in my open hand now and wipe the lather off on it the same way a barber would. A very short stropping motion.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

Originally Posted by Morty

I have a 3/4" slice in one of my hand towels that I was using to wipe my razor off with...

Yes, but we're talking about what it can do to a blade. That being said, GOOD POINT!

I realize that wiping a blade horizontally on a cloth might damage the blade, although I think not. Even if so, it would be very slight and inconsequential I believe. I believe this to be the case both from experience, and from the logic of it... If vertical stropping on leather is gentle with mild results on the blade, won't one or two swipes horizontally with a soft cloth be even more inconsequential?

The bigger consideration for me is keeping my blade free of buildup and spots, locations where the blade can become rusted. I consider it much more important to clean the blade well than any worry about insignificant (in my opinion) damage to the blade.

For this reason, I always clean my blades thoroughly after every shave with a cloth, using a fair amount of force between thumb and forefinger. The cloth is draped over the spine. And, the cloth comes down almost to the bevel, or right at the bevel. (My stropping cleans the bevel.) If the cloth even touches the edge, there will be very little contact.