Guys, what you think does straight razor edge and DE blades get dull if rinsed in hot water?
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Guys, what you think does straight razor edge and DE blades get dull if rinsed in hot water?
Well, look at river valleys and all that stone cut by cold water. Of course it does take geologic time for that to occur. So hot water or cold water - that rinse is not going to dull your razor even in the time that humans have left on the planet. Rinse away!
:beer2:
Nope.
When it comes to eroding steel, the temperature of water doesn't really make a difference -- it's the force of the water that counts. And it'll take millenia for water at 'faucet force' to erode any where near enough steel to cause a noticeable difference.
It is perfectly fine to rinse your blades under hot water - HOWEVER, make sure you dry the razor properly afterward:
- A straight needs to be wiped off/dried well after each use otherwise it will cause staining and corrosion (e.g. rust) -- which in very trace amounts CAN cause the edge to become dull
- A doesn't really need a thorough towel drying, just a few good shakes
Hot water will not dull your edge. It can, depending on the temp of the water as you rinse, warp it just enough to cause a poor shave.
On the other hand, after your 1st stropping, rinse it hot water and strop again.
Let know how you like the edge. I find it gets a keener edge.
+1 on that advice...In fact an early 20th century brochure by the Robeson Cutlery Company recommended running your str8 razor under hot water before stropping.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bladerunner
IIRC I read an old Gillette shaving brochure that recommended running hot water over the DE blade before beginning to shave. I also have read that in a set of Torrey straight razor shaving instructions and that is what I do. The hot knife through butter principal. No idea if it helps but so far it doesn't hurt anything.
I have really hot water in my house and a 30 second bath in the water and then put the blade to your skin and yeow.
Try putting it on the strop instead. It will cool it down to comfortable temp. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
If you'd read my micro what thread you'd lnow that the longer your edge is in water the more it will rust, technically yes water dulls. I am not sure whether temp has a great effect but it probably has some to accelerate the reaction :D;)
Back when I got into pro tattooing some of the old timers lamented the fact that they had to sterilize the needles because they said that the heat dulled the points a little bit. Whether there is anything to that I don't know. A steam sterilizer is run at about 265 Fahrenheit with pressure, I forget how much pressure at the moment. Whether the points are dulled by the heat I couldn't say but they are plenty sharp and in the old days we would re-use them as long as they weren't hooked or blunted. Now it is single use.
king,
Well there you go. From the comments it would appear that both use and water will dull a razor. That's a heck of a note as it really hooks me on the horns of a dilemma as both I use a razor and rinse it in warm water during my shave and, after all that abuse, give it a final rinse it in hot water before wiping it and putting it away.
A fella just can't win. :confused: Or can he? I used that rinsed razor again this morning - sharp it was!
:beer2:
I wouldn't be worrying about hot water doing anything to a razor. I have never had any razor rust from rinsing in water hot or cold nor have I ever had a blade become dull from it either. If you soak the blade in water that's another story of course.
I think that sometimes it's possible to worry too much over things. Most of us have been shaving happily for years without giving the temperature of the water a second thought.
if the water is very hard and the temperature is very high, your razor could possibly melt away in front of your eyes
it has never been a problem for me though
That actually happened to bladewielder's grandma. :rock:Quote:
Originally Posted by hoglahoo
heh heh . It may not be enough to worry about. If we were stropping off micro rust we would see it accumulate on the strop, or at least feel its result.(yes/no/maybe?) Rust does happen. It requires the presence of water.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce
No, why would you think so?
After reading here for a couple years fccexpert I have yet to see any advice of need for cleaning your stop/linen from any accumulation of iron oxide. If it gets on there(the edge) to be stropped off where does it go? why do you choose the No option:)Quote:
Originally Posted by fccexpert
Any WWII veteran, metalurgist, or someone who lived through the great depression knows the answer to this one. Use as much hot water on your face as you want. This makes the bristles stand up for a closer shave so that's good but never rinse a razor in any water that is not as cold as it can possibly be.Quote:
Originally Posted by king1976
When rinsing the blade in warm/hot water the blade undergoes expansion followed by a contraction back to its normal size as the blade goes from hot back to normal temperature again. This makes the edge dull perhaps because the hot water softens the metal.
When rinsing with only cold water the blade goes in the other direction by contraction first and then expansion back to its normal size as the temperature goes from cold back to normal temperature again. This does not dull the edge.
With safety razor DE blades these days it is even worse. Hot or even warm water will soften the polymer coating on the blade. Then when the blade expands because of the warm or hot water the polymer stretches. When it contracts again not only is the edge dull but the polymer is all wrinkled up which effectively makes the blade seem even more dull. This happens pretty much instantly and is great for companies who manufacture razor blades because the consumer has to replace the blade sooner.
To test this, lather and shave only half your face with a new razor (be sure to always rinse it in very cold water). When finished this side of your face, rinse the razor several times while changing the temperature of the water from hot to cold. Now lather and shave the other side of your face. If you do not immediately notice that the blade is now more dull you will for sure notice the next time you use the razor. Mine usually last until the wife takes them in the shower. I have had some blades stay perfectly sharp for at least a few years of daily shaving.
As for the temperature of the water that you use on your face that is a personal preference but if you want your blades to stay perfectly sharp for considerably longer they must never touch anything other than cold water.
The difference between 50 F and 150 F isn't going to soften hardened steel any noticeable amount. Your blade has already been hardened up around 1500 F and then tempered up to around 400 F. Heating it back up to anything under boiling water shouldn't do anything to soften it any amount that matters. What hot water does do is heat your blade up and make it dry quickly after being wiped. Blackpowder muzzleloader shooters draw hot soapy water into their closed-breached barrels to clean them. The hotter the better. After drying by running a patch down the barrel, they leave them alone until lightly oiling the inside for storage. This is because hot steel air dries fast. It's been done this way for hundreds of years. Oxidization is worse for your edge than hot tap water, and I'd rather have mine dry fast than avoid steaming water. Just my opinion.
Hmmm... I just noticed this thread is 2 years old.
Wow, kikito1 of one post resurrecting a two year old thread, and a quality one at that! Mods, please don't delete this or ban him, I want this post in whatever archive of incredible posts you've got! This one's a keeper!Quote:
Originally Posted by kikito1
There are those (well respected Honemeisters) that feel stropping a warm blade after shaving will ruin an edge.
I do not know why or if any real science is involved,I wish I knew more,perhaps just a factoid.:(