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I have often wondered how other men wipe the lather from blade
when shaving. For many years I have just used running water
Now I am getting more conscious of water usage. Plus the cost of water keeps rising. These are the methods I have seen:
wiping the lather on your palm.
using a face cloth to wipe the blade
swishing the blade in a sink of water
running water over the blade
what do you do or any suggestions out there?
I use a sponge slightly dampened and wipe the blade across the edge. Saves the blade getting anywhere near the sink edge or taps which can only be good
I use very large blades,7/8-8/8 plus,one side of my face, one rinse.am conserving water by using big blades.
I am the bad example :p
I swish that puppy around in a full sink of HOT water, we have a well so my water is free, (hard as nails but free) I believe in the term "Wetshaving" I just make sure I dry the razors well and never close them until the next day.. I have a special drawer set up specifically for them to sit in over night...
My water is well-borne too (not hard btw) BUT i can't stand listening to the running tap (and it costs to run the pump/water heater). The running tap grates my ADHD nerves in the videos too. :p
SO I adopted the wet sponge method early on. Or a towel. I generally only do a water rinse at the end of a blade's turn, then straight to a towel, stropped dry, only closed if I can verify that there's no droplets hiding out in the scales and that I didn't wet the hinge in the process.
If so, it stays open and gets oiled.
I used to wipe on a towel but now I just rinse, I only do about three or four rinses per pass so not using up to much water. Wiping on a towel just seems to lead to more towels to wash
I rinse under the tap while shaving. If I'm shaving off a beard, which I do periodically, I'll wipe on a cloth or paper towel so the whiskers won't clog the sink.
After shaving I rinse again and wipe down the blade carefully with toilet paper and then strop 10 linen 20 leather. Blade sits open overnight before getting oiled and stored.
There is a long thread on using sponges http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ing-blade.html that also cover other methods too. Me, I use a sponge.
If you want to save on water and heating it just partially fill the sink with cold tap water, wet sponge and wring it out for use. A partial sink full of water should be plenty to wet you brush, your face between passes, make lather with and so on. When finished rinse the blade under the tap and dry with TP. As the water drains swirl your brush in the water and give it a final rinse under the tap too. You really need very little water for a comfortable and "wet" shave.
Bob
I knew I would get some new ideas. Thanks Anthony1954
I'll try a sponge tomorrow.
I use two sheets of toilet paper.. Wipe, fold, wipe fold etc...
I rinse my blade under running water. Until I have hit my blade against the sink I consider the method to be safe enough. And I don't think it wastes too much water since I only turn on the water a short time for a quick rinse. The thing I like about this is that the wet blade glides so smoothly compared to a dry blade, the lubrication makes a big difference. This is why I like it so much.
I have a circular sponge I put on the corner of the sink. When it's damp it get just heavy enough so I can have it an inch off the sink so I don't risk hitting the blade into it.
I'm a sponge on the edge of the sink kind of guy. Rinse all the lather off the sponge at the end - saves water.
I used a sponge for several years, but nowadays I simply rinse under running water.
No mishaps this far, knock on wood:)
The faucet got one of my nice big Wm. Hargreaves once, so since then I've been teasing it. I rinse all my blades, mostly quite large ones, under the faucet while chanting slowly, in an Italian accent, "You want some of this? You want some of this?" I have explained to the faucet that it can be easily replaced while my blades cannot. It seems to have learned its lesson.
+1 I have tried other methods but I have gone back to rinsing under the running water. Just a quick short blast. I love the extra lube it provides too :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Ludvig
I used to rinse under running water, but will convert to a sponge. Hitting the faucet, brought up a very dark side of me I don't want to see any more. Thinking about it, starts annoying me again, so I won't take any risks. A sponge it will be, or at least I'll give it a try.
I run a finger either side of the blade in a pinching fashion slightly downward (the spine is up) a quick flick and the removed lather and beard lands in the water, fingers then get dipped and wiped on the towel draped on my shoulder. It sounds worse than it is but it has become second nature' and so far many cut free years later I'm quite happy to continue.
I rinse under the hot water faucet. Notice I said faucet not hot water. It takes a while for the water that sits in the pipes overnight to get hot. By the time my shave is done the water is hot and then I can jump in the shower and the water there is warm!
I shave on the opposite side of the bathroom to the sink. Using a 50" wall mirror with a shelf under it.
Dry towel on the shelf. Then on top of that goes a wet microfiber cloth. The dry part of the towel is used for hands. The wet cloth for blade wiping.
After each full pass the microfiber cloth goes in a sink of hot water, Rinsed, then I use it to re-wet my face and go back to the mirror to re-lather.
I buy the cloths for about £1 for 3 in a local shop. Every few weeks I'll rotate them. New ones for shaving, The old ones go to the honing bench, And the grubby ones go to the shed for motorbike polishing.
My razor never goes sink side, And when not in use it sits on the dry towel.
I like to shave after a nice hot shower. After I dry everything but the face I fold the towel and set it next to the sink. I use the towel to wipe the blade, and I am not creating any extra towels. If I have to shave but didn't need a shower, then I just use a small washcloth. Since they are small and go in with the towels there is always room in the wash.
I wipe it on my arm, once my arm is full I rinse it off.
Attachment 155752
I use the towel I used for the pre-shave face soak.
I use a damp cotton washcloth, folded in half on the edge of the counter.
Remove the lather with a stropping motion and if I need a clean surface I pull the far edge over to make it a 1/4 fold.
Admit that I have "Razordinkaphobia".
And I remember that my Grandfather and Uncle would strop off the razor on a towel on the clients shoulder (Grandpa) or draped over there own shoulder (Uncle Custy). So wiping on a towel reminds me of them.
Sponge on the edge of the sink for me
I keep a wet folded washcloth on the edge of the sink, then a wet-finger wipe between passes to keep the blade from getting tacky.
But darned if I'm not going to try edhewitt's approach now I've seen it!
My system is way too complicated to explain here. It involves flicking, rinsing & wiping but no hard surfaces are involved other than when I change razors :)
I subscribe to the sponge on the counter method myself.
Under running water, but I don't leave it running, I just flick it on and off with whichever hand isn't holding the razor, typically 2 or 3 times per pass.
This, corner of the freestanding sink. Safe, quiet and effective - like ExLax. I gave up on the running water rinse or sink bowl swish after dinking episodes. No mas. I am now a swiper. Post shave the cloth is quickly rinsed, wrung and hung to dry for another day.Quote:
Originally Posted by MJC
(MWF, Bismarck, witch hazel, Halston.)
Way to get me interested :pQuote:
Originally Posted by onimaru55
For shave testing? Or everyday use?Quote:
Originally Posted by onimaru55
I started out rinsing under running water until I dinged the blade. Bad day!
I went to a sponge, but that just wasn't 'old-school' enough.
I'm now just using towel or toilet paper...more toilet paper.
I meant for every day use. I tried using a sponge this morning and liked that method I guess I will continue using a sponge. Thanks for the advice and info fellow shavers
Yes....... :)Quote:
Originally Posted by edhewitt
