Shaving with the same razor every day

Today I decided that I was getting tired of shaving with different razors everyday.
I only have around 15 razors and have 7 that are keen enough to shave with, the others I need to get to the hone so I was rotating these 7 on the days of the week. Every razor gives a bit of different shave and have to use varying techniques with each as some are different lengths and grinds. My 4/8 wostenholm which up till now was one of my best shavers had to make its way into the stash of shavers that needed some hone work, this left me with 6 keen ones. then another one went, and I realized that they were all going to start failing one after the other pretty much in succession. So now I am starting with my wapi and going to hit it for 7 days then switch to the next so at least I can now get consistent shaves with each shaver and not have them all have to go to the hone at the same time so I can spread out the honeing process instead. Not that I mind honeing at all its just that its been a few months and I suspect my skills might suffer from the time gaps as well.
This I see as giving me two advantages:

* consistent shaves with single shavers
* spread out my honeing so I stay keen (pun intended)

Just thought I would share and see if others out there find this method to be of more value.

Sean

A couple years ago, I could be found shaving with any one of the couple dozen razors I had. Now I switch off between a Dubl Duck Pearl and an Eskilstuna (Engstrom), each for a day or two. It's nice having to hone only a couple razors every few weeks and as you mentioned, know the shaving characteristics of the razors you're using.

Now and then I'll have an urge to prep another razor that I used to use and add it into rotation, but I have to remind myself the added work this would involve. This doesn't mean I plan on selling any of the other razors though. :w I might end up using them someday. LOL

I used to have 6 or 7 in rotation. I found myself not looking forward to the next in rotation on certain days.

Now I have 4 favorites. A Thiers-Issard "evide sonnant extra" 5/8 roundpoint, a 5/8 Joe Chandler custom with Desert Ironwood scales,a Dovo "Bismarck" and a Mastro Livi "new grind" with Pau Violeto scales. All give great shaves. No sense in shaving with a razor you don't care for.:shrug:

I don't mind having to hone. I absolutely hate it when I get finished shaving and wishing I had used a different razor.:cool:

Honing is like riding a bike. You never forget or lose the skill. I have over 90 razors and have them divided up with about 25 I rotate through during the week and another 40 or so I use on a weekend rotation and the others are kind of in reserve.

Unless you've chipped them, it should only take 5-10 minutes to touch the edge up on each one.

I use a Puma 39 (11/16" half hollow) on a daily basis and I have an Imperial (Eagle) razor(6/8" full hollow) that I use as a backup. The Imperial is stiffer and lighter than the Puma but still a great razor and great value for money.

The Puma will last a good month between light touch ups and I like it because I can shave daily with it with total comfort.

The advantage of using just one razor is you get a consistency of shave and your razor is always in tip top condition being stropped on a daily basis.

I tried a rotation and every day I got a slightly different shave. I didn't enjoy this. For example, I have a Taylors Eye(1000) razor which is superb in every way. However, I find that it gives me too close a shave. By that I mean I don't need to shave the next morning, after using it. I don't find that convenient and so I go with the razor that works best for me. Somebody else will prefer the Taylor's eye or a another make which suits them just fine.

I used to always get a great shave from a 5/8" razor but as I've got older (not wiser), the wider blade seems to suit me better.

I like to shave with a different razor every day. I seldom use the same one twice in a week or two. The photo shows 1/2 of my rotation. Aside from having RAD I wanted to learn how to hone and needed a lot of practice hence the plethora of steel. :) I take a look at the assortment when it is time to shave and one or another will strike my fancy. This could change and I might find one or two that will be my go to razors but right now I'm having too much fun switching up.

Lovely looking collection Jimmy.

I think you have too many and should send me that tortoise shell handled Puma that's just sitting there rusting away.;)

I've been at this for 4 mos. now and until recently did not have enough razors to rotate, so I have typically used one razor for a week at a time before switching. I find my razors tend to need a touch-up after 3 to 5 shaves and leave me pretty irritated by the end of a week if they haven't visited the Spyderco.

I've heard the theory that the blades should rest for at least a couple days between shaves to restore the edge. I'm planning on starting to rotate once my 6th razor comes in the mail later this week, so I'll be curious to see if there seems to be any difference in the shaves. Let us know if you notice any difference going the other direction, i.e. from rotating to not.

I'm becoming increasingly convinced that if left too long spinning in the rotation, razors get lazy and don't do their best work for the master shaver. I recently thinned my rotation by six razors (not that one could notice the change) to let the other razors realize that they might be tested and if not up to the mark they may also be un-rotated. I hear a grumbling from the razor shelf. I'm not sure if this bodes well.:hmmm:

Sweeney, Sweeney, Sweeney, from what I can hear, seems to be the buzz from the bathroom. should I worry?

As I am new to straight shaving, I liken this to my DE expperience.

I had a large number of vintage gillettes and one new merkur HD.

I shaved with my most expensive razor because I thought it was the best.

It wasn't untill I gave away most of my vitages gillette to family that I ended up selling the expensive one or two and only have the merkur HD left.

After that my shaves only got better. There were no surprises when coming to the sink first thing in the morning.

I am resiting switching razors until I get consistantly good shaves that I am satisfied with.

Currently using the F. Renolds frameback that I won in a givaway a couple of months back.

A fine little razor.

Well after a couple of weeks of staying with one razor a week I have noticed some significant improvements.

After just a couple of days in a row with the wapi I noticed it started to actually get sharper undoubtedly due to daily stopping. By the end of the week it was scary sharp and had to put it down as my neck needed less and less pressure/angle otherwise I would get some burn.
My next razor was a newly aquired Super Adjustable that I thought might be fun to try out since I had not tryed one prior. This lasted a few days till the blade went south.
My next rotation was a freshly honed #44 Fox which gave an okay shave the first day and a great shave the second.

So far this new rotation technique is working out splendidly...

Sean

I'm funny in that I usually shave with the same razor daily until it needs a touch up. Then I hone up another and shave with that one until either it needs a touch up or I tire of it. I'm plagued by a psychological razor tug of war; I have a desire as most of us do for trying as many razors as possible. However, the other "tug" I have is a desire to go "old school" and commit to one or two razors tops for years and just go with those. Right now a DD Dwarf and alternately a Larkin are the razors I've used for months.

When I shave with the same razor daily and since that one razor is part of my daily regimen, that razor seems to become a part of me. I didn't get that feeling when I'd swap razors daily in the beginnings of shaving this way.

Chris L

I'm a lot like JimmyH-AD! I really like shaving with different razors. Looking at his picture reminds me of my herd, although, I would kind of like to shave with one razor, but how could I pick one? - and, could I be faithful to it? That's funny!

I don't think I could stick with one razor, maybe 6 or 7???? :shrug:

Steve

Yeah, I agree, it would be hard to stick with or even choose one. That's why for me I think that "tug of war" I referred to will be a lifelong internal battle.;)

I do admire the guys that commit to a small stable of razors though.

Chris L

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Originally Posted by Chris L

I do admire the guys that commit to a small stable of razors though.

Chris L

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for me being in Australia, the shipping and exchange rate mean that I have to be very careful about what razors I get/buy/etc

At its highest point my stable has been of two razors, right now it's one, with one on the way. Does this matter? I don't know, i do know that the shaves I get are fantastic .

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Originally Posted by keljian

i do know that the shaves I get are fantastic .

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That, my friend, is ALL that matters!:tu

Chris L

I have only 4 razors in my rotation, and I shave with whatever razor I feel like at the time. For whatever reason I put off honing for as long as possible. I also shave only every 2 or 3 days.

I have more razors in my 'todo' pile, but I plan to sell them after they are restored.
I plan to hang on to the interesting razors (like my 8/8 W&B and my 6/8 John Barber) but I want to sell my resto razors after they're ready.

My need for razors is much less than my need for restoration equipment. Restoring razors is my hobby, and I sell the finished ones to pay for that hobby. :)

Until recently, I was forced into this exact situation!

I am currently deployed overseas and brought 3 razors with me; a DD Pearlduck Special #1, a Torry and my Friodur. The pin on the Torry turned loose and I managed to bugger the edge on the Duck with no hones to restore the edge :cry: leaving only the Friodur for roughly two months. With an occasional touch-up on a VERY small pasted strop, the Friodur actually worked out pretty well!

I recently received a package from my wife containing my Spyderco hones and some MF hardware to fix up the Torry. All three razors are now back up to snuff, but now I find that I have used the same one for a week or so (in this case the Duck) with excellent results. My best guess; I attribute it to each razor having it's own unique "personality" and becoming more familiar with it after repeated use. As I become more familiar/comfortable with a particular razor the shaves get better/closer. Less variables I guess would be a way to look at it....

I actually swapped back to the Friodur this morning to test her out after touching up with the hones. Very nice shave but I nearly nicked the hell out of myself! I guess because I had become accoustomed to the previous edge (getting much duller than I had realized) and I had been using the Duck for the previous week or so. Test complete, it's sharp!

Tomorrow I intend to put the Torry in service for a few weeks to see if the thought about a "personality" holds true (for me anyway).

v/r

Allen

I have always kept one razor on the go till it wont respond to normal refreshing. I will then hone this razor and and put it away oiled. Then sit and pick over which razor to bring into service. With a quick hone etc everything is set.
I am sure like the rest of you guys, there are some in the collection that don't ever see the lather after their first outing. With me this covers razors from my fathers set and some that it just seems a shame to hone and strop any more. razors I use in this protracted rotation only numbers 5 and they are all no better than can be bought cheaply for on Ebay.

PuFF

Varity is the spice of life. I find using a different razor each day is Invigorating enough and less trouble in the long run than say a different woman each day. :nono:

If you had lets say 100 str8s that meet your shaving standards and say each blade would be good for 3 months before needing a visit to the hone that would be ( averaging 20 days to a month) 9000 days. You wouldn't have to hone a blade for 24.67 years!:w

I shaved with only one razor for a couple of years. Now, I have 4 straigths that are honed up, but still use only one straight primary. I just like to have a couple honed up incase one of my friends wants to try them out. But I don't see anything wrong with using one straight as long as you take care of it and wipe it dry. I strop it 10 times after wiping it dry.

I have a 7 razor rotation but break up the routine with vintage razors. I have 4 Livi's, 2 Austs, 2 Pumas, a Revisor and to many vintage. I know a lot of you don't like Chromium Oxide and I was one as well. Once I got my Mastro Livi loom strop with chromium oxide on a very fine linen and his skin side, touching up a razor in a couple of minutes is very simple. Very rarely go to the stones anymore. If you are a non believer, watch Mastro Livi dull a razor and restore it using just his linen and skin loom. Doesn't take a lot of skill but really does the job.

Using the same straight every day has helped me to learn straight razor shaving faster.

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Originally Posted by Purvis

Today I decided that I was getting tired of shaving with different razors everyday.
I only have around 15 razors and have 7 that are keen enough to shave with, the others I need to get to the hone so I was rotating these 7 on the days of the week. Every razor gives a bit of different shave and have to use varying techniques with each as some are different lengths and grinds. My 4/8 wostenholm which up till now was one of my best shavers had to make its way into the stash of shavers that needed some hone work, this left me with 6 keen ones. then another one went, and I realized that they were all going to start failing one after the other pretty much in succession. So now I am starting with my wapi and going to hit it for 7 days then switch to the next so at least I can now get consistent shaves with each shaver and not have them all have to go to the hone at the same time so I can spread out the honeing process instead. Not that I mind honeing at all its just that its been a few months and I suspect my skills might suffer from the time gaps as well.
This I see as giving me two advantages:

* consistent shaves with single shavers
* spread out my honeing so I stay keen (pun intended)

Just thought I would share and see if others out there find this method to be of more value.

Sean

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I have 13 traditional Straights that i rotate, but about 2 weeks ago i started to use à straight for 7 day's at a time. I found that method very good and i enjoyed my shaves better. The shaves are more consistent and i also get more use The The straight i used. To my opinion it's also a good way to be up to date on your honing(refresh) routine.

Another thread has been revived.... no matter, it's just as well.

I tend to work on a pet project razor and thus only shave with it.... I keep trying things, trying to eek out the very best in the edge, and when I'm good and bored, I tend to go on to another razor, knowing full well that I've figured the current blade out.

My "today" razor is an unknown, I'm guessing 50s or so vintage. The grind is a faux frameback, but when you shave it sounds like a singing full hollow. I have swore and struggled with this darn thing.... I almost gave up on it, thinking it was cheap steel, but then I tossed it on a Shapton 16K for 20 laps, just to see what would happen. Well, that's all it took... it got wicked sharp and with about 6 laps on crox/hard knit wool and back to my previous unsuccessful Jnat for another very light 10 laps, it was darn near perfect. When it was time for a refresh, I tried to get away with just my Jnat, but nope... this blade insists on 20 laps with a synthetic. I have never seen anything like it. The blade will never make a looker... it's got deep pitting near the spine on one side... too much to remove, but there's lots of good steel between the edge and those pits, so I could shave with it for the next 30 years and still not reach those pits. The scales are like the 50s Schick handles... butterscotch color... not even a pin at the toe end of the scales... just glued. I figure it was pretty cheap when it was sold and whomever bought it, gave up trying to get it honed.

Yesterday I decided to give it 100 laps on my 8" coticule, as a touch up..... not bad, but still in need of more.... they must have forgotten to temper the blade after hardening, and yet, I don't have problems with chipping?!??!

Back to the original story... yes, I tend to shave with the same razor, day in and day out, until I get bored and want to go onto the next challenge. I tried the rotation thing, but it just does not work for me..... ditto on the shave brushes... I bring one out, use it until I feel like a change and then swap it out.... Summer time is my boars hair brush time, with Proraso type soaps and creams. Now that we are entering the cold part of of the year, my larger badgers and floral scented creams and soaps are calling to me again.

Regards

Christian

Let us not forget, one razor used to be all that most men had. They probably used only one or maybe two soaps their whole life. Brushes were used until they were no longer serviceable.

I'm guessing that the average gent settled for 1 soap.

Gents who were better off and could afford it, were the takers of the 2, 3, 5 or 7 day sets. The primary reason for those sets were to reduce the need to send them to the barber for honing.

The average Joe, who could not afford such a luxury, would instead spend some money on a barbers hone, again in an attempt to lengthen the time between honings done by the local barber. Such a person would not waste money on several soaps when only one was needed, and an inexpensive boars brush and a basic strop would have rounded out his kit.

The Dandies who could afford to buy things they wanted, would often frequent shops in London, such as Trumpers, Trufitt and Hill or Taylor of Old Bond Street etc. for outrageously priced soaps, creams and aftershaves... not to mention fancy handled badger hair shaving brushes and razors.

Those few who were particularly well off, would have the barber come to their home and shave them there...

Ah, what it would have been like to live in the 19th Century.... as a rich man of course! <grin>

Regards

Christian

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Originally Posted by Joed

Varity is the spice of life. I find using a different razor each day is Invigorating enough and less trouble in the long run than say a different woman each day. :nono:

If you had lets say 100 str8s that meet your shaving standards and say each blade would be good for 3 months before needing a visit to the hone that would be ( averaging 20 days to a month) 9000 days. You wouldn't have to hone a blade for 24.67 years!:w

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Of course then you would have to hone 100 razors, presumably one a day for 100 days... On the plus side I expect that you would be very good at it, but then forget the skill over the next 25 years. Then I don't suppose I will still be breathing let alone shaving and honing in 50 years time.

That settles it a 100 day set it is :rofl2:

I have a dozen or so straights, stock seems to go up and down 2-3 either way , always buying or selling something it seems.

I snagged a NOS Henckels 72 1/2 , and I have used it every day since it arrived sep 1, just love it ! also got a 72 at the same time I still have not shaved with, dunno what has happened but this is my perfect straight so far.