Thread: A suggestion for new and old

Originally Posted by GaiusValeriusPulcher

I had an idea a couple weeks ago. After dinging my razor on the faucet and realizing how much water I was wasting I went to Target and bought a large soft plastic bowl to use as a basin. Basically what I've been doing is filling it up with hot water and using that water for shaving and rinsing the blade. The benefits are that it saves on utilities (and water if you're eco-consious), opens up the sink for someone else to use, and since the plastic is soft, accidentally hitting it when rinsing doesn't nick the razor. My bowl only cost 1.95 in the kitchen section.

The classic shave basin is still a good idea.
The classic basin included a pitcher of
clean warm water.

Today a plastic basin and a plastic pitcher would
do the trick. Use a sponge to pre wash then
shave and wipe the razor on the sponge then
a final rinse of the sponge, razor and face with
the rest of the water..

And yes plastic is more forgiving than brass plumbing
I am unwilling to find out how forgiving so I am a
wipe and rinse guy myself.

Less of an issue with being a Polar Bear shaver - in fact that's part of the reason for me being one.

No problem with turning the cold on for a few seconds to rinse the razor then off again. Continual running of the hot water seemed wasteful to me - being a beginner I figured cold was safer than risking dinging the blade swirling it around in a bowl or mug or hot.

I have heard of 18th century soldiers using a pail of water as a mirror and rinsing the blade in it. I can't vouch for the reliability of my source, however. Has anyone else ever heard this?