Thread: Handles in Water

I keep scales and hands dry. This more to do with the fact that I just feel uncomfortable with the grip if they're not, than anything else.

I keep my scales as dry as possible. Don't like the thought of something that sharp that close to my neck and not under complete control of me. If I do get them wet while shaving, I dry them off immediately and always rub them down real good when I'm done to take all the fingerprints and oils from my skin off the scales and even more the blade.

I don't dunk or get mine overly wet on purpose but if they get wet during the shave so be it, at end of shave I do as Max does spray the entire blade with scrubbing bubbles to remove the soap scum as I have hard water and depending on soap or cream it won't rinse off some blades.

I try to dry the scales both outside and inside as good as possible but I leave the razor open for at least an hour to air dry before closing it up and if not going to be reused soon putting some oil on the blade first, I have everything from cheap Dovo's to a few customs of all sorts of materials both scales and blades and so far no issues.

I'm clearly an exception to the rule. I get my razor and scales saturated.

I wash the soap off the blade under the tap.

Having said this, I am meticulous about drying the blade and scales inside and out with tissue paper. No problems.

Certain scale are known to take the water treatment. Bone, Horn, Ivory, Plastic, Mother of pearl, Celluloid, Ebony wood, and this is why you find these materials on the vintage blades.

As for modern materials, micarta and carbon fiber stand out to me as superbly practical improvements

As for wood, their is no problem if they are sealed with the modern day treatments. This said, not all wood is treated and I find a polish with beeswax polish as good as anything.

To be honest, i have had warped scales from when they have been stored badly (usually flat in the sun) and I have had horn scales that have little hole in them by some bug. But the worst complaint is not to do with water but the cracks that appear around the pins because of over tightening.

I try to keep water off of the handle as much as possible, not because I am worried about damaging the material (all of my razors have plastic scales), but because it makes the razor harder to handle.

Originally Posted by fccexpert

I try to keep water off of the handle as much as possible, not because I am worried about damaging the material (all of my razors have plastic scales), but because it makes the razor harder to handle.

Can I ask, why? I think that when I'm shaving I rarely, if ever, touch the scales/handle.

I keep the scales dry.

During the shave my sink is full of hot water and I use this to rinse the lather off the blade occasionally. I then dry the blade with a towel before going back to the shave. I also keep my hands dry. This discipline has helped me slow down and maintain focus on what I am doing.

Originally Posted by Bill S

I'm another "dry handle" kind of guy. I dry my hands off before I pick up the razor and rinse the blade only (to get rid of lather).

Same here. I can't stand the idea that water might get in the pivot area.

Jordan

It's called wet shaving.
Water will get in the pivot area. Soap and lather has water in it and this will get in the pivot area.
You just need to oil the pivot and use an absorbent paper to dry that area.
Then the water that gets in their comes out again.

I suppose some shavers spray the pivot area with WD 40, others use a blow torch. Funny but I never saw these items down at the barbers shop next to the lather bowl or strop.

Perhaps rather than my sarcasm it does help explain why DOVO has such a large selection of Stainless Steel razors now days.

I always thought "wetshaving" referred to the water and soap being on the beard...

Jordan