Thread: First semi-shave

Originally Posted by tree1

....snip...
I still can't seem to get slight smudgy soap marks from near the very edge of the razor.

If you cannot ignore them a Q-tip with a drop of MASS
might help if they are not soap.

There are some shower glass cleaners that remove
soap scum. Not the ones to clean grout with chlorine/ bleach!

Again. A drop on a Q-tip (cotton swab) and lightly
clean the blade.

If you find that it helps to lay the blade flat on something like a cutting
board to clean it you are likely pressing too hard. but it does help.

When done rinse and lightly oil the blade. Mineral oil is
a good choice and is inexpensive and easy to find.
Again a cotton swab (Q-tip) can be used to apply
the oil.

Congrats on your first stroke! When it comes to cleaning up, here is my routine. I rinse the blade under hot running water,dry it off throughly with a towel,use a stropping motion on the towel to get the edge dry, and I use a piece of either tissue or toilet paper to get in the crevices. I always make sure there is no water left anywhere. I don't usually coat mine with oil, but it is an extra level of protection against corrosion.

I had exactly the same concerns as you do.

After finishing with my beginners semi-shave this morning I noticed that there were some marks close to the edge.
I had rinsed the blade, wiped with tissue and did the stropping motion on a piece of tissue, but the marks were still there.

I am a little concerned that if I wipe the blade with any amount of pressure too close to the edge, will I do some harm to the edge ?
And how close is too close to the edge when it comes to wiping with cotton swabs or tissue ?

Thanks,
Ian.

I have just this second tried putting a small blob on mineral oil on a rag and did a stopping motion over the mineral oil, this seems to have taken the marks off (or disguised them)

3rd shave, even better than the last. I decided just to shave straight over the dodgy patch on my neck, fully prepared for it flare up, but it hasn't, it's a marked improvement on my safety razor.

Hi Tree1.....seem to be following you around the Internet (British Blades).
I'm in MIddlesbrough as well,seems like I've been straight shaving about the same time as you.After some research I think I'll be drying out my razor (just got myself a new Dovo Bismarck yesterday) and using camellia oil on the blade.

Good luck, Tommo.