Thread: Razor maintenance

Originally Posted by Michael70

How long have you been straight shaving? If relatively new it may be that you are a bit overconfident now from success and getting a bit sloppy. Because to me, regardless of how sharp the razor is if you are shaving correctly you should be okay.

It may be true. The particular razor is very sharp and unspoilt by my 'honing' techniques. The toe of that razor was sharper than I previously guessed and I didn't hone it for such a sharp toe. It cut a small razor bump right under my nose, though I previously felt the razor was nowhere near the general area. It's been around 3 months since I started using straight razors exclusively. Earlier switched between DE and shavette and the shavette was more unforgiving than a straight.

Yeah, the more you use them, the more comfortable you get. The more comfortable you get with the blade, the more careless. I've gotten more little nips in the past month than in my first 3 shaving with a straight exclusively.

On the bright side, if it's getting sharper that's a good sign your stopping is improving.

Scary nicks and microcuts either are the result of bad shaving technique or a damaged edge.

Originally Posted by Marshal

On the bright side, if it's getting sharper that's a good sign your stopping is improving.

You got that right!

I just looked it up with a microscope 60x loupe. A pretty long chip right at the toe.
must have hit the toe somewhere.

As mentioned earlier, a lot depends on the humidity where you live and how ventilated your bathroom or wherever you keep your razors is. I never use oil on my razors as the ventilation we have is excellent and I don't live in a very humid area. I dry with toilet paper tissue and then strop on linen and leather after. My razors are stored in the open on a custom rack that is on my bathroom wall.

I would never recommend anyone ever store a razor in any kind of case in your bathroom. Putting a recently used razor in an enclosed space after use is just inviting rust whether you put oil on it or not, as the oil can seal any microscopic leftover water on the edge.

However, I have seen examples of what happens when people put oil on a pivot area for a razor. The oil attracts dust, the dust builds up and then traps moisture underneath (including condensation) rusting and ruining the pivot area. I would NEVER put any oil onto the pivot area of any razor and I always tell people not to. The pivot area does not need any if you don't let water get in there to begin with. If water does get in there, use a tissue and then let it dry in the open.

I'm going to repeat it again...

The best way to keep a razor dry is to never let it get wet. Instead of swirling the blade in water in the sink or under a running stream of water, you can just wipe the lather off on a cloth or sponge.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I'm going to repeat it again...

The best way to keep a razor dry is to never let it get wet. Instead of swirling the blade in water in the sink or under a running stream of water, you can just wipe the lather off on a cloth or sponge.

That is definitely a best practice!

I am just wary of putting any oil near a pivot as you can still get condensation in a warm and humid environment under a layer of dust that can collect on top of oil in a pivot area even if no water gets near it! But that is my own personal opinion. Take it with a grain (or sack) of salt!

Originally Posted by Attila

That is definitely a best practice!

I am just wary of putting any oil near a pivot as you can still get condensation in a warm and humid environment under a layer of dust that can collect on top of oil in a pivot area even if no water gets near it! But that is my own personal opinion. Take it with a grain (or sack) of salt!

Wouldn't the salt add to the rusting?

Originally Posted by DonnerJack

Wouldn't the salt add to the rusting?

LOL! No doubts!