Thread: Care of a straight razor

What is the best way to care for a straight razor?

I bought a razor from Bob's Razors and am starting to notice some blemishes on it. When I got it it was about as perfect as you could get but I'm now noticing some slight blemishes. I see what looks like a portion of a fingerprint and some other discolouration.

I try to lightly dry the razor (while avoiding the edge with the towel) and then fold it. I have begun to give it a couple of strops after lightly towelling it just to get the last bit of moister off of the edge.

Should I be doing anything else? Perhaps oiling it every now and then? It seems to be perfectly sharp and shaving well, it is mainly just the finish is starting to suffer a bit.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by spinsheet

What is the best way to care for a straight razor?

I bought a razor from Bob's Razors and am starting to notice some blemishes on it. When I got it it was about as perfect as you could get but I'm now noticing some slight blemishes. I see what looks like a portion of a fingerprint and some other discolouration.

I try to lightly dry the razor (while avoiding the edge with the towel) and then fold it. I have begun to give it a couple of strops after lightly towelling it just to get the last bit of moister off of the edge.

Should I be doing anything else? Perhaps oiling it every now and then? It seems to be perfectly sharp and shaving well, it is mainly just the finish is starting to suffer a bit.

Thanks.

Use a thin layer of mineral oil once or twice a week.
Make sure some is also applied to the pivot, jimps and
tail. Wipe most of it off with tissue the next day.

If the blemishes are slight you can rub them off with
tissue paper or common printer paper. Be gentle
if the surface is highly polished.

Sometimes the blemishes are the beginning of rust
and a polish like MAAS or Simichrome will be justified.

Common printer paper? Am I understanding you properly? You are actually referring to office paper in a printer? Interesting

I will try what you suggest.

Thanks!

The "best" thing to do would probably oil the blade after every shave. I personally don't like to have to meticulosly wipe off oil every day to avoid getting it on my strop. I use a eyeglass cleaning cloth and warm breath to clean and polish before I finally put razor away. I also polish with mother's aluminum polish every couple weeks. Partial fingerprints are an invitation to corrosion with my skin. If I won't have time to promptly clean the blade I use a stainless razor and clean it well that evening. I have read that a peice of shami is a good polishing cloth also.

Hi Spinsheet,
You do not say whether your razor is vintage or a new one.I have vintage razors only but I find that if you leave a razor wet for long periods,water marks appear on the blade.To counteract this I wipe the razor on a towel asap ,then use a tissue to clean inside the scales to pick up moisture left behind.Strop the razor about 10/20 strokes to clean gunk off the blade before putting it away.
Imo it is normal for razors to pickup these marks in use but they do not affect the shave in any way .
If they bother you -use a metal polish or have it polished when you send it for re-honing.
Other members may chime in regarding new razors.
Regards
Noggs

Originally Posted by spinsheet

Common printer paper? Am I understanding you properly? You are actually referring to office paper in a printer? Interesting

I will try what you suggest.

Thanks!

Yes common printer paper.

Many fine surface papers have a fine clay filler
and are slightly abrasive. Cellulose fibers are
also slightly abrasive. Rice paper and other
straw paper is interesting because there is some
natural silica in it.

Many of us saw this link pass by recently:
3. The charcoal of wheat-straw, or the straw of grasses growing in swamps or marshy places. This charcoal owes its efficacy to the small quantity of silica which it contains.
Razor-Strops

+1 on the advice offered in the previous posts. Those blemishes won't detract from the shaveability of your razor, but they aren't pleasing to the eye.