Super Newbie question

Ok, so i began shaving with a super cheap crap straight razor and I am waiting for a Dovo in the mail. My question is, after a stroke when shaving, how do you remove the soap/hair from the razor? I tried running it under water (doesnt always get it off). I also tried filling the sink with water and waving it under the water to remove it all, but with a heavier investment in my new razor i dont really want to risk striking the sink with my blade. I also wiped it on a towel. What would you recommend to remove the soap from the blade between strokes?

Lots of options. I wipe the blade in a stropping motion across the meaty part of my palm, the section under the pinky.

mcjacob,

Get a towel from your kitchen that you use to dry dishes and use that to wipe the soap/cream residue from the blade of your str8 razor.

+1, A towel, That's what Barber's used to use. As a matter a fact, some sites sell Barber's towel's. Vintage or Classic I believe...

Hi, MC;

It's my understanding that your lather should normally wash right off the blade when you rinse under a running tap. I've been told that if your lather doesn't wash right off, then it is too dry. Try adding a bit more water (just a bit at a time) to your lather and see how that works. A drier lather may can encourage nicks, so getting your lather right is key. Getting your lather just right is a matter of practice. It should be moist, but not wet. Keep in mind that you don't have to rinse between every stroke. The blade should hold a fair amount of lather, depending on the width. With a 5/8 razor, I rinse mine after 5 or 6 strokes, depending on how much lather I have on my face. There are lots of good videos on making lather on SRP. You might do a search and see what you find.

As you surmised, swishing your nice new razor around in the sink is probably a bad idea. That would seem to me a quick way to chip a nice blade.

Warm regards,

Larry

i rinse under running water.

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Originally Posted by LarryP

It's my understanding that your lather should normally wash right off the blade when you rinse under a running tap. I've been told that if your lather doesn't wash right off, then it is too dry.

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This can be true, but water type (hard or soft) is actually just as responsible for this.

I agree with the other members, if running water isn't effective then just use a stropping motion on a towel or use a sponge like in Chimensch's video.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

This can be true, but water type (hard or soft) is actually just as responsible for this.

I agree with the other members, if running water isn't effective then just use a stropping motion on a towel or use a sponge like in Chimensch's video.

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Really good point. I hadn't thought of that...

Thanks!

Larry

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LarryP

Hi, MC;

As you surmised, swishing your nice new razor around in the sink is probably a bad idea. That would seem to me a quick way to chip a nice blade.

Larry

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It's also a good way to develop rust near the pins and on the tang. I'm unfortunately speaking from experience here.:( When I got my first straight, I treated it like a DE and swished it under a sink full of water to clean it. Even though I thought I was being careful while drying it, it still led to rust on a nice razor.

I fold up a damp - wet towels on the corner of my sink and wipe when needed. works a charm and when it gets full of soap and hair I turn it over. If the other side also gets full of gunk I unfold and use the inside which is now on the outside if that makese sense.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ganboyi

I fold up a damp - wet towels on the corner of my sink and wipe when needed. works a charm and when it gets full of soap and hair I turn it over. If the other side also gets full of gunk I unfold and use the inside which is now on the outside if that makese sense.

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Kind of like what I do with my underwear to keep from having to do to much laundry... ;)

If the lather sticks to my razor, i usually just have to turn the razor so it is more perpendicular to the flow of water. That usually works. If that didn't work, i would probably end up getting a sponge and placing it on the outside of the sink to rub the lather off.

If you haven't watched chimensch's video, you really need to.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ing-video.html