Thread: Quick Question about Razor Care

Hello. I just got a razor set from Vintage Blades, and I've read a fair bit about saving with a straight razor. The one step I'm most uncertain about is properly caring for my blade once I finish up using it today.

The straight razor place sent me a short sheet with my razor saying that I shouldn't every rinse it under tap water and oiling it after every shave. However, I haven't seen any other mention of this anywhere else and in several of the videos I watched people did rinse their blade off under tap water.

So I'm wondering exactly is what are the best steps to take in cleaning and maintaining its blade while and after I use it (in reference to things other than honing and using a strop).

I rinse mine under tap water, dry it off with toilet paper (moving the toilet paper toward the edge), make sure it is completely dry, and then I store it in a bureau in the bedroom. Keeping the razor in the bathroom invites rust, and rust never refuses an invitation.

There's no need whatsoever to oil after every shave. Rinse it and wipe it dry. If it's going to be a couple of years before you use it again and you live in a really humid place you might want to put some oil on it but shaving with it even occasionally and wiping it down afterwards is more than enough.

I also strop 40 laps linen and 60 laps leather after shaving but you said "things other than strop" so I'll let it go at that.

Hope this helps and welcome to the forum!

Never let water get in the pivot under the scales. If you do, wipe the razor dry and use a blow drier to be certain that there is no water remaining under the scales. This usually works for a daily use razor, but a razor in short term storage is best oiled with a nonoxidizing eatable oil like mineral oil. Keep the razor steel wiped free of fingerprints, skin salt and oils cause rust. If in doubt, wipe with an oily patch. Longer term storage requires rust protection such as is used for firearms, but these coatings should be wiped off before shaving or stroping on leather. Oiling steel that is not dry will not prevent rust. Rust is steel that has oxidized and is gone. Nothing can put the lost steel back. It is far easier to prevent rust than restore a rusted razor.