Taking the blade out every time.

[misterelie]

In my short time DE shaving, I've been changing the blade when I want to change razors and continuing to use the same blade until it goes (although my current test blade, a Red crystal Personna, seems to be made from planet Krypton, pushing into its second week of use on one side with no signs yet of dulling). For me, it isn't a completist thing, I just have a fear of cutting myself on a razor when I brush my hand against it to go for a different one. Safety first, for me. The only time I really feel any fear is when I place and remove a blade from my three piece razors.

[Oblique Human]

Donnie says, "Vacuum!"

But that would pull the coating off the poor things.

[Yuritau]

But that would pull the coating off the poor things.

Only if the coating has a tendency to evaporate, or has air pockets under it! (if either is true, I'd rather is wasn't there anyways, heh)

[Viseguy]

Common sense would dictate that the less you handle a bare blade, the better off you are. Nevertheless, I've migrated to the other camp: I take the blade out after every shave, rinse it under warm running water, pat it dry, and put it back into the razor, which has also been similarly rinsed and dried. I think this improves the performance and life of the blade, but at this point it almost doesn't matter as it's become an integral part of the ritual. It's about aesthetics as much as anything else. When my razors are arrayed on the counter in their test tube stand, the've got to pass inspection. Ten-HUT!

[Captain Coconut]

it's become an integral part of the ritual. It's about aesthetics as much as anything else.

True, and that's a big part of why we do this. Otherwise waxing or electrolysis would be the ideal way to handle facial hair, right?

[Oblique Human]

Only if the coating has a tendency to evaporate, or has air pockets under it! (if either is true, I'd rather is wasn't there anyways, heh)

Remember in Alien, where the vacuum kicked both metal-suited Ripley's and the alien's derrières equally. The vacuum does not judge, it just sucks.

[bakerbarber]

At this point I'm seriously considering removing the blade from any DE after shaving.

My water is hard and depending on the blade and razor I have literally, NO EXAGGERATION, had rust problems with blades within 8 hours of shaving and leaving the blade wet in the razor.

My worst fear came true the other day. I finally opened a pack of vintage Wilkinson Sword blades from England and used one in my new Tradere razor. They shave was wonderful. I went to work leaving the razor with blade in it on its side inside my shower on the rack than hangs from the shower head.

This isn't something new to me, I do it with most every razor and blade usually for a week in a row of daily shaving.

When I came home from the office I opened the shower door to grab my brush and put it up on a rack because I was traveling the next morning. I figured there may be a chance it falls or gets wet if someone else in the house uses the shower while I was away.

Well the brush was the least of my worries when I saw my razor. The edge of that once used Wilkinson Sword blade was red in three or four spots and still had water drops on it from my shave earlier that morning.

I opened the razor to remove it and hopefully wipe off some surface rust to see that there had been a reaction between the blade and the razor in the presence of my awful city water. The blade was not just rusty on the edge. There was rust on the center of the blade and also up in the cap of the razor. The blade was toast. The rust wiped off the razor with a little effort and a q-tip.

I know I have this rust and reaction problem. I don't have a water softener. In the past I kept a bowl of rubbing alcohol to dunk my razors in, but it was a pain.

I've lost so many blades to rust prematurely and wasted so much time polishing rust marks off of my razors that it will probably just be easier to remove the blade between shaves. I just need to change my routine a little and make room for the process.

I guess I need a safe spot to rest a blade and also the discipline to dry everything before darting out the door.

No matter how many times it happens it always amazes me. I had almost given up on using some razors and some blades at all. I had the same problem with Voskhod blades. Rhodium plated razors seem to give me more problems with rust than other finishes as well.

[eastrun]

When I used a DE I took the blade out and rinsed it off every time, never crossed my mind not to. Now the straight gets a good washing every time.

[luvmysuper]

There is likely a distinct difference between rinsing your razor with hot water and shaking the excess off before you put it away, and leaving a razor in a shower stall after having used it with no further interaction.
I think, as you suggested, that making the effort to put the razor in a dry area (relatively speaking as compared to a wet, humid shower stall that may or may not be used by others, thus keeping it very wet) will serve you as well as removing the blade would.
I mean, if you're going to remove the blade, theoretically you have to put it somewhere where it won't get tampered with.
Why not just rinse the razor in hot water, shake off the excess, and then put the whole razor where you were going to put the blade?

[bakerbarber]

I guess habit. Honestly, because I wear glasses and my first priority seems to be getting dry enough to get my glasses back on after a shower too.
I shaved in the shower for so long with cartridges and never bothered with doing anything more than scraping my face with them I seem to marginalize the razor in my mind as my morning routine takes place.
I used to give my razor no more thought than my toothbrush. I'd keep a spare of each and replace them when they got rough.

I would try just setting the whole thing aside after a hot rinse and shake, but the hot water is just as hard and reactive. I think opening the razor and blowing the water out of it helps with TTO razors. For razors that have separate parts, loosening them is about all I can do, and at that point I may as well take the blade out.

[Gordy2]

I would think a dunk in alcohol (I use an old Wally world pill jar) and then air dry would alleviate your problem quite a bit.

I guess habit. Honestly, because I wear glasses and my first priority seems to be getting dry enough to get my glasses back on after a shower too.
I shaved in the shower for so long with cartridges and never bothered with doing anything more than scraping my face with them I seem to marginalize the razor in my mind as my morning routine takes place.
I used to give my razor no more thought than my toothbrush. I'd keep a spare of each and replace them when they got rough.

I would try just setting the whole thing aside after a hot rinse and shake, but the hot water is just as hard and reactive. I think opening the razor and blowing the water out of it helps with TTO razors. For razors that have separate parts, loosening them is about all I can do, and at that point I may as well take the blade out.

[Winblows]

I take it out, rinse it gently under running water stroking it carefully almost not touching the edge, put it away and I turn it upside down next time.

[nteeman]

Rinse and dry razor, that's it. My shaving OCD is not that severe that I need to remove the blade after every shave. Usually ony use a blade for 3 shaves anyway. When I do remove the blade after its final use I do not find any 'schmutz' residue to motivate me to remove and clean after every shave.

[troy1979]

Just rinse off with hot water, a good shaving cream you are not going to have "schmutz"

[Joe_Karp]

+1. I've been doing this for years, and think it does keep the razor AND blade itself cleaner longer.

I do it every time as well.

I've got a cheap toothbrush, and use that to brush down the razor and blade in hot water before reassmbling and putting in its stand to dry ready for the following morning.

I've always done this, so I've got nothing to compare it to, but it seems like the correct thing to do to keep the gear in top condition.

[Neognosis]

I often think that the draw of DE shaving is because it is still a "manly" art, and society today has stripped men of much masculinity.

Then I read about guys buying dozens of fragrant cremes and balms, playing around with blades and meticulous razor cleaning, taking blades out after every shave, posting photos of lather, spending literally 90 seconds making lather for which to photograph, etc. etc. and I think that these were not things that were done when men shaved as a necessity and seems to counter my idea about DE shaving being an attempt to reclaim some masculinity.

I used to watch my father, a real man's man, shave in the morning with a Gillette butterfly, a practical brush, a mug, and a cake of cheap soap. My mother sometimes bought him Aramis for father's day. He spent no more than 20 seconds playing with his lather, got a decent shave, did a second pass if he had something important going on, rinsed the razor and stuck it on the shelf and was done with it for the day.

My father is/was one of the most manly of men.


Would Ron Swanson play with blades and lather all morning?


Makes me think.

[xyz1981]

I grew up seeing my Dad take out the blade every time he was done shaving. So, when I started DE that's what I have been doing.

[VerbaVolant]

I would dare challenge the idea of masculinity and throw in the concept of generational change and evolution. I find present generation more sophisticated than the previous one and access to information definitely helped. Some people like to copy whatever their parents were doing and never challenge any concept, following same lifestyle with a religious discipline. Some could talk about this in a very long thread.
When I grew up it was a manly thing to smoke and all kids got their lungs messed up by their manly fathers nasty habit while proud mothers were watching in awe. I will leave it here.
Enjoy your morning shaves, either way.

[xyz1981]

I would dare challenge the idea of masculinity and throw in the concept of generational change and evolution. I find present generation more sophisticated than the previous one and access to information definitely helped. Some people like to copy whatever their parents were doing and never challenge any concept, following same lifestyle with a religious discipline. Some could talk about this in a very long thread.
When I grew up it was a manly thing to smoke and all kids got their lungs messed up by their manly fathers nasty habit while proud mothers were watching in awe. I will leave it here.
Enjoy your morning shaves, either way.

I have no issues copying what my parents did as long as it makes sense to me.

[VerbaVolant]

I have no issues copying what my parents did as long as it makes sense to me.

Me neither. I absolutely agree with you.