Thread: Dullness of razors, Article 1854

Originally Posted by dave5225

Sounds like a lot of hogwash , and double talk , to me . I can't really make heads or tails out of what the person is saying , but I think the gist of it is that instead of a 7 day set , you need a 20 day set of razors .

I like the article. Just proof to wifey why I need 20 razors!!!

Originally Posted by CBrown

I like the article. Just proof to wifey why I need 20 razors!!!

... and separate hones to go with them!

Maybe the so called "Honemeisters" just keep the razor for a few days, let it fix it self and send it back?

Sort of like aircraft technicians writing FIFI in the service log!

Originally Posted by Martin103

A small article from 1854, does this make sense to anybody?
Attachment 114954

I have observed that a blade will become strongly magnetized with repeated honing and that this magnetization will dissipate over a week or two. I do wonder if small particles of metal stuck to the edge would have any noticeable effect.

The only thing this article proves is what passed for "science" in the mid 19th century needs to be looked at werry werry carefully

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

The only thing this article proves is what passed for "science" in the mid 19th century needs to be looked at werry werry carefully

Of course they also believed that Cholera was caused by bad air, but I have to believe there was some repeatable observation that led to the resting razor hypothesis. I was under the impression that the resting razor effect was related to the formation of a thin layer of oxide that could be stropped away. What is describe here sounds like magnetization to me.

we must admit that the generation of the '60's didn't invent strange and long living effects of certain types of wacky "tobacco", that authors pipe was filled to the brim with the stuff or so it would seem from the esoteric nonsense that filled the article!!

It's gonna keep me up nights, this image of my blades' edges as long skinny sea anenome things, waving and braiding all random-like. T'aint right! Be STILL, dang you!

One thing I see in the article that hasn't been addressed in the comments is in regard to the stropping. By the same hand, in the same direction. Maybe the answer is to bring in a relief stropper. If you're a right hand stropping person, call in a South paw. Just as the case was in MLB, there was a need for good left handed pitchers, perhaps in the barber shops, lefties were also in demand? I'm right handed, but, by golly, I'm going to try to strop my razors left handed for a while. Hey, I just got a brand new strop, I'm sure everything will be just fine!!

You find that 'resting' advice in a lot of old barber manuals. I guess that old barbers had a lot in common with old wives - both seem to be fond of tales.

Not sure I agree about the magnetising element - low carbon steel is easily temporarily magnetised and loses that property over time or by being knocked about, sure, but to magnetise it in the first place with motions like stropping, banging or honing you have to do it in a north/south orientation - like Catain Ahab banging the harpoon spear in Melvilles classic, Moby Dick.

Regards,
Neil

I used to rest the razors between shaves, now I don't. I have nothing scientific to say other than I have 17 shaves on the same razor without any touchup and it still cuts fine. I might hit the crox tomorrow as it is looking lonely and unused LOL.