Thread: How many razors in you rotation?

Hello, all!

Im very new to straight razors (had my second shave this morning) and currently only have two razors. One is not shave ready yet. I wanted to know if it was ok to use the same one every day or is it necessary to rotate. Thanks! - eric

I'm new to wet shaving myself but when alls said and done and I get them back from my honemeister I'll have 15 in my rotation..... got a bit of RAD real quickly!

Originally Posted by wonton118

Hello, all!

Im very new to straight razors (had my second shave this morning) and currently only have two razors. One is not shave ready yet. I wanted to know if it was ok to use the same one every day or is it necessary to rotate. Thanks! - eric

Eric, no problem with using the same razor everyday but at some point it will start to pull etc, thats why most have a few back up razor, if you can touch up the edge then its no problem.

I'm actually finding my self "rotating" one at a time. I have about ten and sometimes I change to another one. But sometimes six months pass in between changes.

Only been shaving with a STR8 for about a month now. I currently have three razors in the rotation (one 100 year old Boker, one new Boker, and a Friodur) and I'm picking up my grandfather's ("Charlie the Barber") razor in a day or two so that will bring the total to four. I'm not sure what brand/size/style it is, or even what condition it's in, but I'm going to get it restored anyway...for sentimental reasons. My goal is to shave with it, if not everyday, at least once in a while....we'll see.

I think I'd like to end up with a total of 7 in all, adding one from each of three of the big name brands as budget allows, perhaps with the new ones having different characteristics from those currently in my stable. Let's see if I can hold to that as RAD (inevitably) sets in.

Originally Posted by wonton118

Hello, all!

Im very new to straight razors (had my second shave this morning) and currently only have two razors. One is not shave ready yet. I wanted to know if it was ok to use the same one every day or is it necessary to rotate. Thanks! - eric

wonton118, welcome to the site!

To use one razor only it's ok, just remember to strop it every time you use it. On average it is estimated that you need to re sharpened it every three months and so the more razors you have the less often you have to re sharp them hence the old tradition of the seven day sets.

There is not real need for too many razors since the more you use a razor the more familiar you get with it and the better you can use it and therefore in my opinion rotating razors too often doesn't let you to fully understand your razor and the shave might be less comfortable/close that otherwise could be.

Originally Posted by dcrls145

wonton118, welcome to the site!

To use one razor only it's ok, just remember to strop it every time you use it. On average it is estimated that you need to re sharpened it every three months and so the more razors you have the less often you have to re sharp them hence the old tradition of the seven day sets.

There is not real need for too many razors since the more you use a razor the more familiar you get with it and the better you can use it and therefore in my opinion rotating razors too often doesn't let you to fully understand your razor and the shave might be less comfortable/close that otherwise could be.

Great! Thanks for all of your input. I'll keep this in mind. Thanks for the welcoming!

Guess I'll try and get my second straight razor honed so that I have two in rotation and just change every week. That way, I'll get 6-7 days of using and getting used to one razor before rotating to the second.

Snuff,
I will get down to two if they will give me perfect shave in one pass:-)

Regards rotation, it is changing from time to time as I progress with honing and razor preparation. Many of my DD (which I considerd pretty good razors few years back) are gone since I got in my hands few Dorko, TI, Torreys:-)

Originally Posted by Snuff

I might be a bit of a weirdo but I now have 7 instead of a whole lot and feel happier as before.

Originally Posted by Martin103

Eric, no problem with using the same razor everyday but at some point it will start to pull etc, thats why most have a few back up razor, if you can touch up the edge then its no problem.

Oh stop it. You have to have lots. Of course you do. Tsk.

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Oh stop it. You have to have lots. Of course you do. Tsk.

This coming from the Man telling us a year ago he would stop at 2 oh wait ...... maybe 5. Yes 5 should be all I need!
Wait.... maybe 7? Yes seven to make a full weeks rotation.
LOL How many you up to now Carl????

Paul