Resting Razors.....?

So I have seen here and else where people asking and talking about "resting" their razors and edges.....either between using or after shaving and before stropping.

I don't do this. And it's mainly because I don't understand the concept of "resting" steal. I am not a scientist or claim to know the inherint properties of steal so please don't take this the wrong way but......do people really think steal "reforms" without an outside force? I understand how shaving affects the edge but without some outside force the steal will remain as it last was correct???

So how did some user find/think "resting" the edge will do any good?

I'm pretty sure it was some scheme way back in the day to get people to buy more than one razor. ("and if you act now, a second razor in your rotation will allow your blades to rest! Keep your razors going for twice as long!")

Speaking of 'resting' , this theory had been put to bed :p
http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...e-resting.html

The razor requires only one night's rest. Put it in bed with you, prop up its little head on the pillow next to you, and kiss it goodnight before you nod off. It is best to do this with the razor in the 'closed' position. If you put it to bed in the 'open' position, it will lose sleep worrying about cutting you, and so will you. Sleep tight!

I think many of us have enough razors in our rotations to be able to use a different razor for each shave each day, so I guess in theory we do "rest" our razors between uses. :)

I read something somewhere about this recently. The idea was to let it rest for a week or something. The theory behind that was that your honed edge would lightly rust in that amount of time. Then after a week, you strop it on linen and leather and you have a brand new edge. This doesn't sound like good science to me. But that's how I understood it. Wish I could find the link. Anyways, I don't really believe in it, but I've heard some guys on here with a heck of a lot more knowledge than me advocate the idea. So, who knows.

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Originally Posted by regularjoe

I read something somewhere about this recently. The idea was to let it rest for a week or something. The theory behind that was that your honed edge would lightly rust in that amount of time. Then after a week, you strop it on linen and leather and you have a brand new edge. This doesn't sound like good science to me.

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It was also believed razor edges had 'teeth & fins'.... Da-Dum...Da-Dum...Da-Dum-Da-Dum-Da-Dum . :p

Kropp actually recommended stropping after use. There may be other manufacturers with similar instructions but yet we focus on the resting myth :shrug:

Does any one have one of those fancy pants microscopes that plugs into a computer? If it can zoom in enough to see the edge we could have some concrete proof. Take a pic after shaving and leave sit untouched under the microscope for 2-3 days and take another pic. I believe the only time steel will move back to shape is with a good temper and some heat. So maybe by a small blow torch. Haha. The lady folk love em laying around the bathroom.

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

It was also believed razor edges had 'teeth & fins'.... Da-Dum...Da-Dum...Da-Dum-Da-Dum-Da-Dum . :p

Kropp actually recommended stropping after use. There may be other manufacturers with similar instructions but yet we focus on the resting myth :shrug:

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Like I said I don't practice this but recently read a thread where a member commented that their dovo strop said to "rest" the razor before use

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

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Originally Posted by sleekandsmooth

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

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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.

Steel will not become soft and maluable due to shaving. There is not enough heat generated on the blade. To deform the blade in standard shaving conditions, it will occur mechanically not thermally.

As far as the blade reshaping it self after a shave, the myth does not hold true. Steel is elastic and if it is deformed too much, it will be pushed into a plastic zone, where it will not return to its original shape. It will then be permanently deformed and no amount of time will return the original shape. As long as it is not deformed past its plastic zone, the steel will almost immediately return to its original shape.

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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

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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.

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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.

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

I don't think resting the edge makes any difference. These blades are made to used everyday as long as they are cared for. I had one razor for quite a while and I used it everyday and I never had any issues. The advantage for multiple razors is the joy of having different razors to choose and shave from, you don't have to touch up the edge as often, and you have some bragging rights of having several razors.

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Originally Posted by BenjamanBarker

So I have seen here and else where people asking and talking about "resting" their razors and edges.....either between using or after shaving and before stropping.

I don't do this. And it's mainly because I don't understand the concept of "resting" steal. I am not a scientist or claim to know the inherint properties of steal so please don't take this the wrong way but......do people really think steal "reforms" without an outside force? I understand how shaving affects the edge but without some outside force the steal will remain as it last was correct???

So how did some user find/think "resting" the edge will do any good?

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