Thread: Sterilizing affect razor sharpness?

Hey guys,

i exclusively use feather ac dx with pro blades.

i use a blade 10 times and throw away.

After the shave and before the shave i put aome alcohol (%96) to sterilize the blade. And i remove the blade from razor and keep seperately.

But since i started that process i feel that blade goes dull in 3-4 times shave....

Any idea or experience about it?
Furthermore do i need to sterilize the blade?

Thank you in advance

When I use the DX/Pro my post shave is a hot water rinse them an alcohol dip for 10 seconds. Then I close it...
Every time you handle the blade you risk not only the edge but your fingers/body parts.
After I had 30+ shaves I started getting 14-18 shaves per blade, with some edge to spare.

The more you use these the longer your blade life seems to be, once you have a blade that works for you.

Smooth shaving...

I just wipe mine off and put it away in the holder. I figure the only germs I'll contract are germs I already have, so they'll probably fight each other, get tired and give up.

Why do you sterilize it after each shave if no one else has used it? Just curious.

Some sterilizing compounds are way more than alcohol. They contain other germicides and may cause a slight loss of cutting ability on some blades due to surface corrosion. Could also be from getting the edge too clean and oxygen will cause corrosion. I had a bad time with a mouthwash that splashed on a blade. deep pitting by the time I noticed the problem.
Every product has a good and a bad side. Pure grain alcohol will soak up any water and will dry completely. That said the 190proof will only soak up about its own weight in water, over time. Check the other posts and do as you think best.
~Richard

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

Why do you sterilize it after each shave if no one else has used it? Just curious.

My Grandfather and Uncle where Barbers, Mom was a Nurse and I design/develope food processing plants, I can't help myself...

Never have sterilized a razor in my 50 years of shaving me. Back before we used disposables to shave tattoo customers I used to keep my straight razor (Weck replaceable blade) in a solution of barbacide. I would change it every couple of weeks whether it needed it or not, and no one ever got anything .......... Here is an old tattooer's setup from 1980. He tattooed from the 1930s up until the '80s when he passed away. Up in Virginia. Note the cold cream jars under the bowl dust cover. When the ink got stiff he would add a little Listerine and stir it with the Q-tip. Alway dip into the jar with the machine one customer after another.

The pitcher in the background held a sea sponge to wipe the tattoo area before, during, and after the tattoo was applied. This was the way most all tattoos were done ..... no changing needles or ink containers between customers, the whetstone in the photo with the eye loupe is to correct hooked needles. I was tattooed that way in the '60s and '70s before tattooers began wearing gloves, and using sterilization. Point is ........ I wouldn't sweat sterilizing my razor ....... unless it just makes you feel better.

New to me razors I alway soak in Barbercide before I hone or strop them. Fugue that it not only sterilizes them but loosens up any crude so it's easier to clean them.
After honing and once they're in rotation the most I do is pour a little alcohol (91%) on them before I strop and shave with them.

Originally Posted by MJC

When I use the DX/Pro my post shave is a hot water rinse them an alcohol dip for 10 seconds. Then I close it...
Every time you handle the blade you risk not only the edge but your fingers/body parts.
After I had 30+ shaves I started getting 14-18 shaves per blade, with some edge to spare.

The more you use these the longer your blade life seems to be, once you have a blade that works for you.

Smooth shaving...

Thank you but as i have 2 sons i have to store blade elsewhere... Furthermore should i only deep it in alcohol after the shave? Now i deep it before and after... if after the shave is sufficent i should pass 1 step

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

Why do you sterilize it after each shave if no one else has used it? Just curious.

i have acnes and i try to avoid getting more acnes