Thread: How many razors?

Well, if you're looking for a reason to explain to your wife why you need more than one razor, explain to her that a razor must be "rested" for at least 48 hours after shaving so the cutting fin can regenerate.

Is this conventional barber's wisdom true? Maybe..... maybe not. For a long time, I thought there was no way resting a razor could have any benefit but..... I heard a theory from a prominent metallurgist that made sense - just as a theory, anwyay.

Carbon steel corrodes merely from contact with air and oxygen. Fish hooks are "acid" sharpened and I've noticed that an acid etch will not only eat the metal but will eat it in such a way as to leave a crazy sharp edge. So the theory was that the natural microscopic corrosion that occurs during those 48 hours is removed when you strop leaving a brand new, fresh "fin".

If nothing else, it makes for one heck of a good explanation for why at least three razors are necessary in a rotation.

I suppose every time Bill or Joe
pops in and says "more razors
added" I end up buying another
one.

I hope that they continue to buy
and restore razors, so I can keep
adding.


Terry

There is no absolute number it changes from day to day. When you get a new razor one-day the magic number goes up the next day.

What sweetie don’t you know that every time I buy a razor an angle gets its wings?

Originally Posted by PapaBull

Well, if you're looking for a reason to explain to your wife why you need more than one razor, explain to her that a razor must be "rested" for at least 48 hours after shaving so the cutting fin can regenerate.

Is this conventional barber's wisdom true? Maybe..... maybe not. For a long time, I thought there was no way resting a razor could have any benefit but..... I heard a theory from a prominent metallurgist that made sense - just as a theory, anwyay.

Carbon steel corrodes merely from contact with air and oxygen. Fish hooks are "acid" sharpened and I've noticed that an acid etch will not only eat the metal but will eat it in such a way as to leave a crazy sharp edge. So the theory was that the natural microscopic corrosion that occurs during those 48 hours is removed when you strop leaving a brand new, fresh "fin".

If nothing else, it makes for one heck of a good explanation for why at least three razors are necessary in a rotation.

I heard a similar thing. With regards convincing the wife, I have another masterful and cunning plan, although there is a limit to how often one can use it before (1) the wife twigs to it, and (2) you end up broke. Out of the blue, take her out shopping. Be very attentive, let her get whatever she wants. Secretly nip away and buy those pair of shoes she said she liked but cost too much etc. The rest, as they say, is Henckels - I mean history.

Well, I bought a tool roll with 8 pockets so I thought it would be nice to have them all full. Plus that gives me a nice 7 day rotation with one spare, it gives a little variety in the morning shave. I definately have my favourites though, and these tend to get used more often then some others.

Originally Posted by superfly

The honest, no nonsense answer is that you need only one razor. One brush, one hone, one strop. One bourbon, one scotch, one beer...

Nenad

John Lee Hooker would be proud of you. George Thorogood would not understand, even if he is "bad to the bone"!

RT

Well, Effigy is already on the right road since he'll be getting two in about a week. One to "shave" with and one to "practise" with.

Offcourse you also need to be sure to have tested different sizes and grinds so as to figure out which suits your face best

Originally Posted by LX_Emergency

Well, Effigy is already on the right road since he'll be getting two in about a week. One to "shave" with and one to "practise" with.

He just bought a 6/8 Wacker frameback off me this morning so that's 3 - he's well on the way to being a razorholic!

hahaha doing well it seems. 3 razors in 2 days? That's pretty crazy!!

Originally Posted by LX_Emergency

hahaha doing well it seems. 3 razors in 2 days? That's pretty crazy!!

Actually its worse than that - I have one incoming from Joe that I bought last week!

I seem to be buying lots of razors but still have not been able to shave yet

The two 'mistakes' will go to ebay when the 'proper' razors arrive, so that will leave me with a rotation of three plus one to practice on.