Thread: first straight razor help

i just received my first razor. i used it for my first shave, following the "first shave" instructions from here. not a real close shave, i know this will come with time. the Dovo razor came with instructions to NOT rinse it under a tap but to just wipe it with a cloth. is this something i should worry about if im drying an oiling each time?

Originally Posted by skydive

i just received my first razor. i used it for my first shave, following the "first shave" instructions from here. not a real close shave, i know this will come with time. the Dovo razor came with instructions to NOT rinse it under a tap but to just wipe it with a cloth. is this something i should worry about if im drying an oiling each time?

Congrats on the 1st shave!! The close shaves WILL come with time, don't worry..

As far as running it under water; I don't know how much that matters. I know I've been rinsing mine for over 6 months with no ill effects..Although I may be missing something??

G'Day and welcome to SRP - well done on your first of many shaves - it does get better and easier.

I always run my razors under the hot tap and then wipe them off before a light strop and oil.

I reckon the heat from the tap helps to dry them off - but that's just me

The hot water won't hurt the Dovo. But there are two reasons to not rinse it off:

a) Lots of people have chipped their edges on taps and sinks;

b) You want to avoid getting water into the pivot.

And (before I get flamed) there's one good reason to rinse:

c) it gets soap film off the blade.

My habit is:

. . wipe the blade, rinse if needed;

. . dry the blade;

. . 10 laps on a leather strop;

. . one drop of oil, spread around the blade with tissue.

So far, no rust.

. Charles

The sink area is full of hazards to a straight especially if you are careless. Personally I wouldn't worry about it. I rinse my blade throughout the shave and after and dry on a cloth using a stropping motion. yea, I've nicked blades but never on a faucet.

Rinse the blade under hot water but be sure not to get the pivot wet. The heat will help dry it too. You will eventually ding the blade on the faucet like everyone else. I'm sure that's behind Dovo's warning. Be careful! If I plan not using it, I spray it with WD 40 since it is a water displacer.

Originally Posted by jbtusa

Rinse the blade under hot water but be sure not to get the pivot wet. .

....Or THIS is what happens!! (brand-spankin' new 7/8" Timor Special)..Not the best blade I know, but still....

can't tell...but is that rust in your pivot? Just got my first blade (art of shaving) and am looking fwd to my 2nd shave with it.

I got a tiny bit of rust on my Invisible Edge classic, & I've only had it for 3 weeks. When I first started I didn't realise just how susceptible they are to rust. It was just a couple of tiny spots on the tang/shank area. I just put a small amount of Autoglym car polish on that bit & it went away (it works for the car, so why not). I've been more thorough with my drying since, but I still rinse the whole thing when I've finished a shave & the rust hasn't come back. It's like everything to do with straight shaving, it takes more time & patience than throwing a Mach 3 around. You have to build up your own routine over time, & I'm liking that side of things.

I agree with cpcohen1945. I feel there's actually no good reason for me to rinse my razor at all, wiping on a bath towel 1/2 way through to clean the grip area of cream, during the shave on a folded wash cloth on the sink edge to remove lather, on a bath towel after, then with a tissue with Eucalyptus oil is all I do. I think it's especially hard to remove water from the pivot. Rinsing would cause me to want to flick the water off and I'd be afraid I'd ding the razor on the tap.

Close shaves certainly do come, and you'll be amazed at HOW close and perfect it can get!