Handles in Water

[Lynn]

Glen and I were talking razors and handles and shaving the other day and I found out that he gets the handle wet always when shaving and I never do. I just rinse the blade and or towel off the suds as I go through the process.

This made for some further discussion regarding treating natural materials such as wood or horn or ivory to help protect from the water.

It would be interesting to hear from you guys regarding what kind of consideration you give regarding the handles based on whether you get them wet or not during the shaving process.

Thanks,

Lynn

[JimmyHAD]

Ninety nine percent of the time i avoid getting them wet. If I do I wipe them PDQ.

[Doc]

I get mine wet as little as possible. I also always leave it out to dry over night before putting it away.

[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).

[Aquanin]

I keep the scales dry, however sometimes they can get a few drops on them so I aways dry everything very well and leave them out for the day until I get home at night. When I make scales, I always take into consideration that water will get on them and take the necessary water proofing steps for wood.

[dkapp]

I keep my handles and hands as dry as possible when shaving. If they do get wet, I don't stop to dry them off. I just dry it all when I'm done shaving.

I also put a drop of oil at the hinge when I'm done.

[pjrage]

I don't run the scales under water when I'm shaving, but I also don't freak out if I get some droplets on the scales either. I only have two razors so far with wood handles that I wouldn't want to get wet. I do try extra hard with those not to get them wet. But anyway, with whatever I use, when I'm done, I dry everything - the blade, scales, etc, and I blow into the scales with the towel on the other side, to try to clear out any extra water that might have splashed in there as best I can.

I'm not sure what everyone else means by "leaving it out before putting it away," but I don't store my razors in an air tight container or anything like that, they are just stored a shelf in the bathroom. This has been working out for me just fine so far. It's high humidity in there during/after my morning shower (of course), but is the same humidity as the rest of the (central air conditioned = lower humidity) house for the rest of the day.

Haven't noticed any problems yet

[JimR]

is getting scales wet a problem?

I know I'm new at this, but they call it "wetshaving" for a reason, right? I certainly don't soak my scales or anything, but if they get wet I don't worry about it too much. I dry them off when I'm done, when I dry everything else.

If they're made of something that will be damaged by a little soap and water, they have no place in the bathroom, as far as I'm concerned...

[onimaru55]

I think most scale materials are pretty safe form a little moisture if they are dried after use but I like to keep scales & hands as dry as possible while shaving mostly from a safety point of view & also to keep the pivot dry. Blade & pivot always gets oil/water displacement treatment after shaving regardless. I live in high a humidity area & rust is a very real problem.

[dnjrboy]

I don't really care what happens to my razors when I am using them, as long as I don't cut myself or whack the razor against the sink. So, I don't even notice if I douse the thing or now.

I do try and dry off the scales as best as possible when I am done. I also leave the blade out to dry with the blade out of the scales for a day or two before closing it all the way. I have plenty of razors in the rotation, so this is never a problem for me.