Thread: To rinse or not to rinse, that is my question.

I most definitely plan to take him up on the offer. I have already met oldblades and cleared up some misconseptions I had and I'm hoping the Missouri and neighboring folks will have a get together at some point. After my Xmas carving of my face with my new straight of course...

I rinse, not between every pass, but I do. This may seem odd, but it works for me so I will continue to do it, I apply cooking oil to the blade. Have been rust free, never had any set in since I've started doing that. Just a random idea.

Originally Posted by Ciarad

I rinse, not between every pass, but I do. This may seem odd, but it works for me so I will continue to do it, I apply cooking oil to the blade. Have been rust free, never had any set in since I've started doing that. Just a random idea.

I used to do that too, in the form of olive oil dissolved in isopropanol. My rationale was that the alcohol would help to evaporate water and the olive oil would be left behind as a thin coating to protect the blade. The only problem was that olive and other cooking oils actually are fats (triglycerides) that break down and become acidic and corrosive to steel. After that simple epiphany I switched to simply wiping my blades with a very light coating of food grade mineral oil. It is available in all pharmacies and drug stores as it is used as an intestinal lubricant (constipation aid) so that should help you find it. One bottle for a couple bucks should last the rest of your life.

I put tyvek type rag (blue workshop paper towels would work) wadded up into a plastic mustard jar and then pour in about a teaspoon of the oil. Wait a day and put another wadded up rag on top of the first one. The top one draws up just a small amount of the oil but in time it becomes uniformly distributed in it and this is what I use to wipe my blades after shaving. I change the rag whenever I think it needs it, which ends up being once every couple of years and even for that duration the rag is still transferring a very light coating of oil onto each blade.

I've also found tufcloth does the trick too. If it works on my guns, it'll work on my razors

I like the workshop paper towel idea too! 😃 good love the wealth of forum knowledge

It depends on how dry my lather is, if I think it is a bit dry I will wet my face between passes.
As for my razor, I strop off the lather on my forearm and just wipe the dregs off on a towel then strop. The only time my razor comes into contact directly with water is if I am honing or I notice a patch of hair after I have rinsed off my last lather.

I always rinse between passes, just seems natural. Helps remove any dried cream or stray hairs, and re-hydrates the face for the next application of cream/soap.

I used to run the razor under water, did get a few specs of rust but I didn't care for the lather and whiskers drying in clumps on my towel so I now wipe the blade with the cushy pad of my Palm below my thumb and rinse my hand, the towel stays clean and so does my razor.

Also I like to splash alittle water between passes because it gives mea good spot check that I can feel my fave and see how I'm doing. Mainly I think just male sure you wipe well when you're done, strop alittle, and let your scales dry before closing it.

Originally Posted by gflight

Currently I am rinsing between passes and using my DE. I have no idea where to move the straight razor, towel, etc and the items in order for them to keep any resemblance of dryness in my small shaving den (half-bathroom 4X5). In other words it will be a pain to do so and knowing me if the items are in there they WILL get splashed.

I too have a small bathroom and no counter space. I put a washcloth on top of the closed toilet lid and that is where I place the razor while lathering. I use that washcloth for wiping off my blade in order to keep the blade dry. My razors never get near water.

I don't "rinse", but I sometimes splash some water in drier areas before I re-lather...depends on the soap and my speed. Sometimes I need all the help I can get.