Thread: How important is prep in extending edge integrity?

I know that if I cut rope with a knife blade it will dull more quickly than if I cut silken cord. To me it is a given that a softer well hydrated whisker will be easier on a razor's edge than a dry whisker. mparker762's point about corrosion being an edge killer is well taken and one that he has pointed out many times before. IIRC linen was the most effective at removing the potential corrosion ?

I share your opinions, guys. Rather than ask that you guys ditch your preps in the spirit of experimentation and knowing that Glen has had his fill of experimentation for awhile, I know it would be easiest for me to buckle down and prep to determine then how much longer my edges would go; and I know they would. I just have to change my routine and make a bit more time for it.

Chris L

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I know that if I cut rope with a knife blade it will dull more quickly than if I cut silken cord. To me it is a given that a softer well hydrated whisker will be easier on a razor's edge than a dry whisker.

I guess a question then is whether the damage done to the edge by cutting a dry whisker as opposed to a wet whisker is negligible compared to the damage done to the edge by corrosion as the razor continues to be used

In my instance, I'm going to rule out corrosion as a significant factor in edge degradation. I would not rule it out entirely since I would assume oxidation on some level would be inherent in most any environment. Any razor I use for shaving is brought into my bathroom only just prior to the strop and shave. After the shave the blade is dried very well then stropped at least 50 times on plain buffed horsehide and brought to a very dry area of the home.

I recall seeing somewhere that a dry whisker has a similar tensile strength to copper wire of the same diameter. I don't shave dry, but, guilty as charged on being lax on proper prep.

Chris L

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I guess a question then is whether the damage done to the edge by cutting a dry whisker as opposed to a wet whisker is negligible compared to the damage done to the edge by corrosion as the razor continues to be used

Once IIRC Utopian pointed out that if you are honing a razor and let it sit for a very short time surface rust would begin to appear in spots on the bevel. I've seen this happen. I know with tattoo needles when we used to reuse needles ( after sterilizing, now we only use them once) if you let the needle sit a few minutes before putting it into the ultrasonic the blood/skin residue would literally eat into the carbon steel. That is one reason I make sure to give the razor a good hot water rinse, dry and stropping following the shave and wipe it with the silicone gun cloth with the rust preventative.

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I guess a question then is whether the damage done to the edge by cutting a dry whisker as opposed to a wet whisker is negligible compared to the damage done to the edge by corrosion as the razor continues to be used

This is a good point. I also get Jimmy's point, but I don't think the differences between an "improperly prepped" whisker is THAT different from one that is. I think, for me, and YMMV, the more important thing is shaving a clean face. I'm a fairly greasy guy and if I shave after work, I know that I have a high oil content on my face (since I showered in the morning).

So, notwithstanding the existing benefits of prep (essentially soaking whiskers to soften), to me, the obvious result is that you can't get all the benefits of a good lather if you have an oily face, because as we all know, oil and water do not mix.

So if I'm shaving without a shower, I just wash my mug and then I consider myself prepped. I haven't noticed any other differences along the lines of ease of passes, comfort, or edge durability. This is in my 3+ months or so of shaving at which I consider a "more experienced" level.

Also, another important fact that's going overlooked in my opinion is beard thickness/texture. Some guys have baby faces. I'd bet the house that two guys of the same skill, with the same razor, and the same honing progression would experience different edge durabilities.

Originally Posted by Oglethorpe

beard thickness/texture

Are you referring to how densely together the hair grows or the individual thickness and texture of each hair?

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Are you referring to how densely together the hair grows or the individual thickness and texture of each hair?

Individual thickness of each hair. Maybe I'm "splitting hairs" but a blonde hair, blue eyes, fair skinned guy is going to have thinner, more pliable whiskers than a Sicilian with olive complexion and black hair.

In other words, you can't place the responsibility of the durability of an edge on prep alone (and perhaps I have gone slightly off-topic as a result since we are talking about prep only).

Originally Posted by Oglethorpe

Individual thickness of each hair. Maybe I'm "splitting hairs" but a blonde hair, blue eyes, fair skinned guy is going to have thinner, more pliable whiskers than a Sicilian with olive complexion and black hair.

In other words, you can't place the responsibility of the durability of an edge on prep alone (and perhaps I have gone slightly off-topic as a result since we are talking about prep only).

An absolute measure of prep (or an absolute time limit on edges) is not going to work for the reasons you mention, for sure. But relative prep should be OK, as in "an amount of prep that adequately softens the beard of an individual". In addition, this is all relative - extending the life of the edge on an individual basis. So you might get 2 months from an edge based on your beard type with minor prep, while someone else gets 4 based on theirs, ceteris paribus. We want to know what happens to each person's edges if they use better prep - the first guy may extend to 4 months, the second to 6.

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

An absolute measure of prep (or an absolute time limit on edges) is not going to work for the reasons you mention, for sure. But relative prep should be OK, as in "an amount of prep that adequately softens the beard of an individual". In addition, this is all relative - extending the life of the edge on an individual basis. So you might get 2 months from an edge based on your beard type with minor prep, while someone else gets 4 based on theirs, ceteris paribus. We want to know what happens to each person's edges if they use better prep - the first guy may extend to 4 months, the second to 6.

James.

Exactly... I got off topic. Apologies.