Check out this advice

Check out this advice I found online, I'm new straights but this sounds like BS to me... The fin??? Between six and fifteen shaves without stropping?!?!? Resting for 24 hours? Why??


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.

Totally disagree with that. Rest isn't necessary while stropping on linen and leather before each shave is AFAIC. I also do 20 round trips on leather after I rinse and dry the blade. Removes micro gunk from the striations that might lead to corrosion. This has been working for me for a few years of daily straight razor shaving.

I believe this ones been discussed a few times in different threads..lol. I'm pretty sure the common concensus has been that we all agree it's untrue. Most of us strop before and after every shave :) Jimmy....where's the referance to the barbers manual?? lol :deal:

I've looked at a couple of my razors, and it looks like the fins have been knocked off all of them. I didn't see any scales either although when I sniff them I do get a fishy odor. How can I re-install my fins?

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Originally Posted by mrbison

Check out this advice I found online, I'm new straights but this sounds like BS to me... The fin??? Between six and fifteen shaves without stropping?!?!? Resting for 24 hours? Why??


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.

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You probably found this on DOVO's site, right? It's old wisdom on what they thought was happening. It's been revealed since that there are no fins and no teeth on a razor.

The effect they are talking about is probably caused by microscopic rust coming off the sides of the edge when it's stropped right before a shave. The rust probably forms from moisture in the air and when that microscopic layer of rust comes off it can have a keening effect on the blade. I would think it also shortens the life of the edge. Corrosion is the #1 killer of any edge.

Old barbers used to strop during the shave and it did not have a deleterious effect on the edge, in fact it had a keening effect. So strop away before during and after a shave and have no fear that it will ruin your edge.

Hope that helps.

Best Regards,
EL

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Originally Posted by elbonator

You probably found this on DOVO's site, right?

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Actually, I found it here:
Sharpen a Razor Instructions

Although it looks like something that originally came from DOVO since it references the company a few times. I think I felt amused and confused at the same time - I knew the stropping part wasn't right because I already found out what happens to your razor when you don't strop it enough (and it was a hard lesson), but the part about the fins made me a little curious. Glad to hear its been dismissed - who wants to shave with anything that has both fins and scales?

+1, I totally disagree. I strop before and after each shave and I find that works very well for maintaining an edge.

Send them a box of baking soda to get rid of the fishy smell? :)