Thread: On razor rotation and resting

Hi Lejeune, when do you strop? Is it before or after your shave? There was a discussion on the stropping forum that 'resting' the edge makes for a better shave, that is strop after your shave and not immediately before it to allow the blade to rest. I was speculating there that this might allow the edge to undergo 'age hardening' where metal can harden further after working (stropping). It's all theoretical, but could account for the benefits of a seven day rotation (or even 2!). Have you noticed any difference if you just stick to one razor for a few days rather than rotating?

Originally Posted by Apis

Hi Lejeune, when do you strop? Is it before or after your shave? There was a discussion on the stropping forum that 'resting' the edge makes for a better shave, that is strop after your shave and not immediately before it to allow the blade to rest. I was speculating there that this might allow the edge to undergo 'age hardening' where metal can harden further after working (stropping). It's all theoretical, but could account for the benefits of a seven day rotation (or even 2!). Have you noticed any difference if you just stick to one razor for a few days rather than rotating?

I always strop before I shave. I will sometimes strop after, just as part of the drying process. And I have noticed a little more pulling if I've been using the same razor for several days at a time. I do not hone, although I should learn. The guy that does my honing for me was the one that originally told me to rest razors for 48-72 hours.

I can't see any harm with continuing your approach, but as others said I've not seen much in the way of evidence to suggest resting is a "thing". Even supposing it is a thing I think stropping would dominate any resting effect.

On a side topic, one thing I have noticed with myself is that having a large rotation can in fact induce a bit of a "honing laziness" where you put off honing a razor as long as possible (and probably past the point where it really should be done) because there are so many others to use instead. Eventually what can happen (I know because I have this friend....) is that you repeat this process over an over until you are down to maybe one or two razors that shave OK, and you have 20 or 30 in dire need of honing. I guess that's not really an issue for you if you send your razors out, but I guess the point is a rotation is only as good as its dullest razor. Oh, and don't prohonecrastinate (did you see what I did there? Hone + procrastinate = prohonecrastinate... )

James.

If, unlike Jimbo, you really enjoy honing, then it's good to have a bunch of blades because then the hone wear gets distributed instead of getting concentrated on just one of the poor things. That's my thought on the subject. Rest from honing is what some guys' blades need.

Not that they are providing any science behind it, but the Dovo website says:

5. The straight razor I bought a short time ago no longer shaves properly. Do I have to whet it, and how often is this necessary?
DOVO straight razors are whetted in the factory for use (whetting on leather by hand). If you own a suitable strop, you should nevertheless take into account that the razor must first "rest" after use. After the razor has been carefully rinsed and dried, it should not be used again for at least 24 - 48 hours because the fine "fin" on the cutting edge straightens up again extremely slowly. If the razor is stropped too soon (or stropped incorrectly by moving it backwards and forwards without turning it over), the "fin" which is necessary for a close shave breaks off. Between six and fifteen shaves are possible without stropping in between.
Very interesting how they say you don't need to strop until 6-15 shaves!

Just think for a second - if a barber has to rely on resting his razors for a couple of days he will be out of business in less than a week.

As far as what Dovo says about their razors - well according to them you can get a great shave with the edge they ship from the factory. If Gillette would ship their cartridges with the same level of chipping that Dovo ships their edges they'd be long bankrupt by now. In my opinion the only reason Dovo gets away with their factory edges is because people who buy those think it's a very hard new way of shaving and they need to persevere. Plus the rest of us who simply rehone the razor and move on.

Even the teflon coated cartridge blades have hard time lasting 6-15 shaves, the bare steel deteriorates after one shave and you can't get more than 2-3 good shaves without stropping the razor to remove the oxidation. Dovo's paperwork is simply BS and for proper directions one really should consult the paperwork of vintage razors.

Originally Posted by gugi

Just think for a second - if a barber has to rely on resting his razors for a couple of days he will be out of business in less than a week.

As far as what Dovo says about their razors - well according to them you can get a great shave with the edge they ship from the factory. If Gillette would ship their cartridges with the same level of chipping that Dovo ships their edges they'd be long bankrupt by now. In my opinion the only reason Dovo gets away with their factory edges is because people who buy those think it's a very hard new way of shaving and they need to persevere. Plus the rest of us who simply rehone the razor and move on.

Even the teflon coated cartridge blades have hard time lasting 6-15 shaves, the bare steel deteriorates after one shave and you can't get more than 2-3 good shaves without stropping the razor to remove the oxidation. Dovo's paperwork is simply BS and for proper directions one really should consult the paperwork of vintage razors.

+1
The last two new DOVOs had an edge so poor, that I could understand any beginner, who tries it once, puts it into ebay ("not for me") and returns to the cartriges.

Before I started honing, I emailed DOVO to get some tips (I thought they should know). The answer was prompt but so unbelievable bad, that I wished they never answered.

I shave with an 1880s Wade and Butcher for days at a time.

Assuming that the "resting" theory is correct, I think that we have not given it its due credit. Assume that, after shaving, a razor goes into an extended rest period of 24 to 48 hours. Are we really honoring that as we should?

Are we providing the proper conditions for this resting period? Do they need a proper place to do this resting? Are they more comfortable in a dark environment with no disturbance from noise? Should we keep the TV volume turned down and tip-toe around the house?

Even worse, think about what we do when it is time to use them again. Do we just grab them, strop them quickly and start using them? Try that with your wife and see how that works.

If we are going to give our razors proper rest, then we have to think a little about rousing them from their sleep and getting them ready properly for another shave. I don't think just getting them and shaving with them is very respectful. My recommendations:

1. Get them out of storage, slowly bringing them into the light ever so gradually.
2. Open the blade very, very slowly and smoothly.
3. Avoid any harsh stropping actions.
4. Dip the blade in coffee, caffeine for a fast shave, de-caf for a slower, more careful shave.
5. Compliment them on how pretty they are, saying "My oh my, you look just wonderful this morning."
6. Give them a little kiss on the spine and say "You are my favorite razor, and I will never leave you for another."
7. Shave, and if you get a cut it means the razor knows you lied to it.

I understood the seven day set was designed for the privileged and upper class who had, at their service, a valet who would lay out the days razor for the master to shave with or, with which to deliver the shave for him. The fact that the valet had the other razors out of service allowed time to hone and prep them.

So, maybe a two day set was for those who were 'up and coming' ?

Either way, right or wrong, I can't see any reason why a razor would need to rest for 24-48 hours other than allowing time to service the other razor(s) in rotation.

But what do I know...