Thread: beginner question- letting the razor rest

Hello Gents,

This is my first post and, of course, I have already made a beginner mistake, although not bad, in my opinion.

I purchased a very nice Dovo from SRD and it has arrived at my home, unfortunately I'm not there to enjoy it yet. I also purchased a nice older razor from Edsons Razors (a Mappin and Webb) after reading about the need to let a razor rest after use. I am now somewhat confused because it seems that buying a second razor seems to be a rookie mistake even though the consesus seems to be that you need more than one razor.
Did I make a mistake or do you actually need to let your razor rest after the first brief sideburn only shave?

Also, I have a beard (chinstrap, goatee) so I won't be shaving my sidedurn to start should I start on my cheek nearest the sudeburn?

Thank you,
Scott

Welcome to SRP!

I'm not so sure about the "let the razor rest" thing, but by having two razors or more you still have a razor to shave with when sending te other one(s) out for honing.

Start with your cheek as you say, it is the flattest and easiest part of the face to shave.

The letting the razor rest theory is just one of many. It's not nessacery I have shaved using one razor almost everyday for 3 months before with out issues.

I have also tried the resting theory and really didn't find it to do anything for the razor.

The only things I have found to really help a razor edge is stropping and honing.

As for having two razors that's not a bad thing what I would suggest though is oil and put one away for about three months and just use the one to get your technique down. Then when the first one needs a honing you can send it out and pull the other out. It will also give you a real good idea of how far your technique has developed.

You can test the "resting a razor" theory yourself. If you have two razors, make a little bed for one of them after you shave with it. Put it in the closet in its bed, tuck the sheets in carefully and turn off the light. A day later you can compare the two and determine whether the rest made any difference. Remember to wake it gently from its rest. Razors can get cranky when awakened abruptly.

I think there was a lengthy discussion about how long you need to rest your 5/8 razor before they grow to respectable 6/8, mighty 7/8, or the heroic 8/8.
YMMV.

Just be careful because they multiply like rabbits.

I always let my razors rest at least 24 hours , before I use them again . Seriously , the razor resting theory was put to the test years ago , on this forum , and proven to be nothing but poppycock .

Originally Posted by ace

You can test the "resting a razor" theory yourself. If you have two razors, make a little bed for one of them after you shave with it. Put it in the closet in its bed, tuck the sheets in carefully and turn off the light. A day later you can compare the two and determine whether the rest made any difference. Remember to wake it gently from its rest. Razors can get cranky when awakened abruptly.

Yes indeed....

As luck would have it I found a big box of razor mattresses
under the sink in my girlfriends bathroom. They work so
much better than mouse pads from the computer store.

As for steel the process of stropping work hardens the ultra
thin steel edge (bend a steel coat hanger back and forth till it breaks).
Normal room temperature will undo that hardening a bit with time.
However if you strop the blade 20-50 times and not 200,000times
the thin edge will not crack off and become dull.

Strop light and smooth with your daily shaver and
it will will be fine.

Originally Posted by ace

You can test the "resting a razor" theory yourself. If you have two razors, make a little bed for one of them after you shave with it. Put it in the closet in its bed, tuck the sheets in carefully and turn off the light. A day later you can compare the two and determine whether the rest made any difference. Remember to wake it gently from its rest. Razors can get cranky when awakened abruptly.

Not sure if beds are the best place... The resting location should be dry and ventilated. Otherwise , you can be proud of your recommendations!

Originally Posted by Annixter

While I'm no steel chemist, I have plenty of experience forging, lathing, milling, heat-treating, shearing, etc. to say that the idea that a metal blade needs to rest after use seems like, as dave5225 put it, poppycock. If it were the case, sheet metal workers, sheering factories, and butchers would be going through blades like no other. Tobacco pipes need resting after use, sure, but wood is not steel. What happens in a steel rest? The molecules dry out, expel shaving soap residues, and somehow sturdy themselves for the next strop? I don't think so. Logic tells me that if it's common practice to strop just before a shave, the action of stropping itself modifies the steel molecules more so than reusing the razor every 12 or 24 hours.

Sorry. But that's why you need to strop! The 'New Growth' needs to be evened out to be smooth. You strop to even out the sharpness.