Thread: wedge burn

The culprit in most soaps (barring a reaction to something else in the soap) is generally the fragrance (both essential oils and fragrance oils can cause reactions - but its more common with FOs - however QED soaps have very pronounced scents and contain a lot of EOs which have caused some people to experience irritation).

Unscented is best, but chamomile and lavender EO scented soaps work well as both of these plants have properties that sooth the skin and are often included in skincare products. I'm not sure what Honeybee uses, but I do think Colleen makes a nice lavender soap (FYI, lavender does not smell sweet or flowery - but actually has a very crisp, green, herbacious scent that is more reminiscent of rosemary than roses - a very masculine scent).

In generall, the less heavily scented the soap, the less likely it is to cause irritation.

Also, for me, the combination of glycerine, shea butter and clay just can't be beat - the glycerine and shea butter provide great moistuirizing properties and the clay adds slip that helps the blade glide over the face. I've only been using Honeybee soaps for a couple of weeks, but they're betther than anything else I've ever used (I've not used Mama Bear or Colleen's soaps, both of which are supposed to be great as well and are on my list).

I like the alcohol-based splashes - they actually help prevent infection and I like the burn - I don't think they contribute to the type of reaction you experience as the burn stops as soon as the alcohol evaporates.

You might also want to experiment with different types of post-shave treatments. Witch hazel is nice and soothing, also, Jason makes some nice gels (witch vera and tea tree) that contain aloe, witch hazel and other good stuff - very light, soothing and inexpensive.

I strongly doubt that your reaction has anything to do with your blades not having been disinfected - unlike DE razors, there's really nowhere but the pin area for stuff to accumulate and that doesnt' come into conatact with your face. If you do want to clean your blades, I suggest a quick wipe with rubbing alcohol or a 10% bleach solution - avoiding the scales (but you might want to get some in the pin area if you're particularly anal. I've never done this with any of my razors and have never had a problem (however, I would always scrub and disinfect used DE razors given the numerous places where crap and crud can accumulate/grow).

As for the oil you use on your blades being the culprit - a lot depends on what you're using. If you're using a light coat of mineral or camilla oil, I strongly doubt that this could be an issue - however, if you're using something petroleum based or synthetic, this could be a possibility. In any case use a very light coat and take a soft damp cloth and wipe it off before stropping - alternately, a quick rinse in hot water should do the trick.

I don't use oil anywhere but occasionally on the pins - unless I'm storing a razor for an extended period. If you're really worried about rust, I would make sure your razors are in a breathable container (anything but plastic, glass or metal should do) - if you're still worried, buy a silica dehydrator (the same stuff that gets packed in with cameras/optics in little pouches) and put it where you keep your razors - they sell them at Lee Valley for very little $$ and they're treated so you know when the silica is saturated - at which point you put the can in the oven to recharge the silica.

Hope this helps.

Another suggestion for long term storage. Get a military ammo storage can that has a rubber gasket around the lid's edge so it's airtight. Make sure all razors being stored are completely dry including the pivot area and give a light coating of mineral oil. Place them in the can with a couple of silica gel packs and I would suggest oxygen absorber packs as well so you're taking care of both the moisture and oxygen issues(No oxygen= no oxidation.).

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

Another suggestion for long term storage. Get a military ammo storage can that has a rubber gasket around the lid's edge so it's airtight. Make sure all razors being stored are completely dry including the pivot area and give a light coating of mineral oil. Place them in the can with a couple of silica gel packs and I would suggest oxygen absorber packs as well so you're taking care of both the moisture and oxygen issues(No oxygen= no oxidation.).

Yeah, that should keep them pristine for a few lifetimes at least.

X

But ONLY if you make sure the razors are well dried and use the oil and silica.

An airtight container is a rust factory if you don't follow the process Agamemnon set out.

I've purchased a lightly used Dovo that sat in the plastic box that Dovo now uses without being dried properly and/or oiled - and it developped rust on the tang/pin area after what was likely a very short period.

Well... our great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandsons should have the opportunity to experience the joy of Genco. The delight of DOVO. The happiness of Henckels. The bliss of Blaich. The wonder of Wonderedge.......

Originally Posted by suzuki

But ONLY if you make sure the razors are well dried and use the oil and silica.

An airtight container is a rust factory if you don't follow the process Agamemnon set out.

I've purchased a lightly used Dovo that sat in the plastic box that Dovo now uses without being dried properly and/or oiled - and it developped rust on the tang/pin area after what was likely a very short period.

That's been the concern with my DOVO as well. what I do with my razors is after use I wipe them down and then insert a cotton swab between the scales so it's wedged against the pivot to help draw moisture out of the pivot area and let it sit out for at least a day. then I strop it and put a couple drops of oil in the pivot area before putting it away.

I'm much lazier than you are.

I try to avoid getting water into the pin area to begin with, but wipe my tang very well with a soft cloth in any event. Every now and again I put a drop of oil in the pin area just as a precaution.

I then store my razors in a canvas chisel roll or paperboard box - seems to work for me.

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

Well... our great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandsons should have the opportunity to experience the joy of Genco. The delight of DOVO. The happiness of Henckels. The bliss of Blaich. The wonder of Wonderedge.......

And the WOW of a Wade & Butcher!

X

Ya, but...

don't you want them to spend hours sanding and polishing

All fun and no work wouldn't do much for developing character, you know

I say have one mint so that they know what to aspire to, and a buncha gunks so that they can become real men in the process of fixing them

Cheers
Ivo

Some people who are real anal about this stuff use the canned air for computer keyboards to blow out the water from the scales and pivot areas.

I usually wipe my razors down with Dovo Sterol, it a very light lubricant thats..sterile and washes off with hot water and protects the razors inbetween use and if you have a number in your rotation you will want to use something unless you get some airtight box with moisture absorbant packs. For long term storage I use Russells no rust which is a silicon based goo which rust doesn't have a chance getting through but is a pain to take off for razors you use with any frequency.