Thread: Resting Razors.....?

I believe this is the info from the DOVO site than people were referring to. The overwhelming opinion ended up being that as far as superstitions go, resting a razor to keep the fin intact is a genuine one.

5. The straight razor I bought a short time ago no longer shaves properly. Do I have to whet it, and how often is this necessary?
DOVO straight razors are whetted in the factory for use (whetting on leather by hand). If you own a suitable strop, you should nevertheless take into account that the razor must first "rest" after use. After the razor has been carefully rinsed and dried, it should not be used again for at least 24 - 48 hours because the fine "fin" on the cutting edge straightens up again extremely slowly. If the razor is stropped too soon (or stropped incorrectly by moving it backwards and forwards without turning it over), the "fin" which is necessary for a close shave breaks off. Between six and fifteen shaves are possible without stropping in between.

Heh between 6 and 15 shaves leaves a fair margin.

I prefer in the absence of scientifically formulated and explained proof to go with my experience, I strop after every shave, and sometimes I'll use the same razor for a couple of weeks, other times I'll change daily, the only constant is that I dry and strop after each shave and I've never had an issue.

Geek

It's all hokum as far as I'm concerned. I use the same razor daily and don't have any issues maintaining a sharp blade.

when the blade heats up from water and friction it becomes soft and maluble. So in all truth it really could loose shape with the slightest nick or hit. I think that is what is meant by most when talking about resting their razors. It gives the steel a chance to dry up and somewhat "harden" again. Just my thoughts though. Im sure others will have their opinions

Originally Posted by sleekandsmooth

when the blade heats up from water and friction it becomes soft and malleable.

Even rinsing the blade in boiling water should not heat the steel that much. I think that if you heat the blade enough to affect the temper of the steel it will stay that way and not 'recover' . Over-use of a rotary polisher like a Dremel could overheat the cutting edge, but not normal shaving and stropping.

Originally Posted by sleekandsmooth

when the blade heats up from water and friction it becomes soft and maluble. So in all truth it really could loose shape with the slightest nick or hit. I think that is what is meant by most when talking about resting their razors. It gives the steel a chance to dry up and somewhat "harden" again. Just my thoughts though. Im sure others will have their opinions

Never in a million years, the only way one could draw the 'temper' from a razor, a plane iron, a chisel, a knife, or any kind of high carbon steel would be to heat the edge until it turns blue, hot water ain't going to do it, friction on a strop won't do it, but leaving it on the lit gas ring of your cooker will definitely do it.

Originally Posted by osdset

Never in a million years, the only way one could draw the 'temper' from a razor, a plane iron, a chisel, a knife, or any kind of high carbon steel would be to heat the edge until it turns blue, hot water ain't going to do it, friction on a strop won't do it, but leaving it on the lit gas ring of your cooker will definitely do it.

osdset + 1. Absolutely NOTHING you do to a razor during normal use will change the temper. Best, John