Thread: On razor rotation and resting

Fellow shavers, I have gotten a variety of responses and tales when asking this question. I usually rotate my razors so they get 72 hours between each use. The idea is to give them time to "rest." It was my understanding (and maybe I'm wrong) that this was the original reason behind 7 day sets. Rotate through a different razor each day until you get back to the first. Recently however, a fellow shaver suggested that barbers only used 7 day sets so they could sharpen them all at once and would frequently use the same razor repeatedly for weeks at a time. What do you guys think? Am I foolish to rest my razors through a 72 hour rotation?

I have never heard any evidence that resting does anything to the razor. It's been discussed a fair bit; perhaps a search will show you some old threads.

7 day sets I am not so sure were marketed for Barbers.. They were AFAIK more for "Gentlemen" originally, and then more as Collectables..

There were also 2,3 & 4 razors sets

As Holli said "No proof", but it does work as a really good excuse to have at least 7 razors

after 7 days the memory of exactly how sharp that razor was begins to fade.... and with a rotation of 7 razors it will be a long time until you need to hone.

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.

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.