Thread: Urban myth or true

Originally Posted by ControlFreak1

That's right!

LOOK OUT! IT'S A TRAP! ()

Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

Gooble Gobble Gooble Gobble. We accept you. One of us.

For years I only had 2 razors, twice as many as I needed.(Please dont show this post to my wife!) I dont rinse my blades and they dont get dinged on the faucet. The blade only gets soapy stubble on it, no need for a wash, wipe dry witrh a towel, a little alcohol if desired. This also eliminates rust.

It's a myth. But don't let your wife or girlfriend know that. It's a good excuse to buy more.

Thanks for the welcome guys and the reply's.

Well now I just need to find a razor, a strop, and some soap, I still have my hone and brush.

The prices for razor have gone up loads since the late 80's early 90's, some beautiful blades out there.
I think Im going to get a vintage one with a solingen blade or Sheffield steel.

Any tip on sterilizing old blades?

Thanks

Ian

I think it may be true that seven day sets were sold because of the myth of resting. I think back in the heyday of seven day sets that people didn't strop their razors. Or that they did it infrequently.

Because I only shave with a straight 3 days a week and I have a rotation of two razors I can shave very often without ever stropping.

But the quality of the shave is a little better if I strop. Not much, just a little.

I think this is why there are so many references and pictures of strops in barber shops and not so many in historic homes.

But, early on, the advantages of using a strop were very apparent.

I think so many people are so convinced of the utter sillyness of the idea though that they have never really tried, or there is a small chance that I just hone well and this works (but I would be really surprised if I hone better than the average user).

I don't know if I buy into that Alan. Both my Grandfather and my Wifes had strops from the days when they shaved with straights, for that matter so did my wifes great grandfather. It might have had something to do with the fact that they were all carpenters and knew the value of shrpening on leather but Ithink it was just the norm.

I don't know either way but I know that the strop makes the edge even sharper. I think microscopic particles of rust start on the thin edge after it sits a while and the strop fixes that. I have a seven day set but find myself using only two of them most of the time. I always strop before shaving. It really helps.

Re Hot water rinsing

I think the myth here is that anything that makes your blade hot will dull the edge / change the temper.

Hot water will not be hot enough to ruin your blade (unless you flick the water off and ding it on the sink...)

Some of us like the feeling of a hot blade when shaving too.

Enjoy your rediscovery of the straight!

Michael.

I don't know if this is true or not. But I keep telling my wife that I need a razor for each day of the month in order to rest the blade. Of course she does not believe me.

So she is keeping my RAD in check.

Lu

Originally Posted by Wildtim

I don't know if I buy into that Alan. Both my Grandfather and my Wifes had strops from the days when they shaved with straights, for that matter so did my wifes great grandfather. It might have had something to do with the fact that they were all carpenters and knew the value of shrpening on leather but Ithink it was just the norm.

You are probably correct. I do not know though if your wife's Grandfather goes far enough back to remember when shaving with a straight without using a strop was common.

I'm curious if you've ever tried just rotating though?

A