Thread: Convincing SWMBO to let me shave with vintage blades?

So quick background. SWMBO is the one who bought my first straight razor. A nice dovo BQ. It didn't take me long to develop a bad case of RAD after that and she was completely supportive of my new hobby. I picked up a bunch of old blades from ebay and antique stores. She thought they looked nice and was happy I was enjoying a hobby she basically got me into. I started restoring them a bit just removing pits and rust and maybe a re-scale or two but never got around to honing them since I didn't have any stones. Again, she was happy I was enjoying myself. I finally purchased a norton 4/8k and dmt 325. Well a strange thing happened after I successfully honed my first vintage razor and went to shave with it. She became uneasy with the thought of me shaving with something that has been used before. She is worried about blood and disease. I used barbicide on the razor before and after honing and she still doesn't really want me to shave with them.

I realize that some of you would take this as permission to just buy a bunch of newly manufactured razors like another Dovo, or a Hart or even a few customs, but I genuinely like the vintage razors better. I love the piece of history I am holding and the thought of the person or people who have used it before me. Basically, every reason I like a vintage blade is why she doesn't.

I was wondering if anyone else had this issue come up and were you able to find a solution? A more aggressive way to sterilize your blades perhaps that satisfied the SWMBO?

Thanks.

It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission!

As for the fear of infection, since you're already using barbacide just give the blades (not the scales!) a dip in chlorine for a few seconds, rinse & you'll have disinfected the best you possibly can short of buying an autoclave

That is different.

Do you have any friends in the medical community? If so invite them over to discuss prevention of infectious diseases and sterilization used by the finest minds on the subject.

Generally things die fairly quickly relative to the time a vintage razor sits on a shelf undiscovered. Also there is probably a great chance that there are worse things on your skin every day and the precaution that doctors take prior to shoving a needle through it and deep into your blood stream is a swab of alcohol.

Figure out what level of germicide is appropriate for her comfort and use it. Alcohol is quite toxic to most concerns. A soak in alcohol before restoration and again prior to honing ought to do the job admirably IMO.

I use alcohol on mine. Letting it sit in it for 10mins. Nothing can survive that except perhaps my father how is already well pickled

Unit,
Thanks for the talking point about the needle and alcohol. That is a bit of logic I failed to consider when discussing it with her.

KenWeir,
I have to disagree with you. It might be easier to ask for forgiveness, but it is much easier to get permission than it is to receive forgiveness. At least IME.

Simple facts here. How long does the most resistant virus or bacteria live exposed to the atmosphere like that. maybe a few weeks? Most much less. You're talking a blade that hasn't been used in years. besides that the cleaning solutions and honing and restorative efforts would kill just about anything. I don't think even Anthrax Spores would survive that.

besides, we all do it and I haven't heard of any fatalities around here.

Originally Posted by otalicus

Unit,
Thanks for the talking point about the needle and alcohol. That is a bit of logic I failed to consider when discussing it with her.

KenWeir,
I have to disagree with you. It might be easier to ask for forgiveness, but it is much easier to get permission than it is to receive forgiveness. At least IME.

That's quite possible. Mine will give me a dirty look, but as long as the bills are paid she won't be too terribly angry

There is one obvious solution... baring that, tell her all her creams, makeups, brushes and lotions are far more likely to be brimming with the skin and oils of every woman who ever 'tested' them in shop than your sanded, polished, oiled, scrubbed, soaped and sterilized vintage straights could ever be!

I want her to be less paranoid about germs, not more!

Originally Posted by EisenFaust

There is one obvious solution... baring that, tell her all her creams, makeups, brushes and lotions are far more likely to be brimming with the skin and oils of every woman who ever 'tested' them in shop than your sanded, polished, oiled, scrubbed, soaped and sterilized vintage straights could ever be!

Since we're talking about vintage razors that likely haven't been used in years/decades, try googling some of the most likely/fearsome germs/virii & find out their lifespan in dry air. Odds are it won't be nearly as long as the last time any of those razors were used.