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I've hard water and think the limescale build up prevention is what affects this.
Cleaning razor and blade.
- Thread starter Roy
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To those that use 3 piece razors:
Do you do anything to clean and lubricate the threads and what about the hole in the handle? Anything special to clean gunk from it.
I've just been rinsing, wiping with microfiber cloth and drying my razors. Not doing anything else but I heard about using washers, adhesive hole guards, teflon tape around the threads, covering with vaselin etc.
Do you do anything to clean and lubricate the threads and what about the hole in the handle? Anything special to clean gunk from it.
I've just been rinsing, wiping with microfiber cloth and drying my razors. Not doing anything else but I heard about using washers, adhesive hole guards, teflon tape around the threads, covering with vaselin etc.
I picked up a baby bottle cleaning brush at the supermarket that works great on the threads in the handles, but will work in any tight spots. They usually only need a good cleaning after I get them home from the antique store and as required* there after. The big brush doesn't work on razors very well, but it's great on my thermos.
I'll use mineral oil every now and then on the threads or on the moving parts on TTO’s. I’m sure Petroleum jelly would work well to lube the threads, too.
They might have up to 103 years (one in my collection) of gunk on them. Is what I’m doing going to show a difference? I don’t know, I’ve only been doing this for less than two years.
I’d say you should take care of them however you like, they’re yours now.
*Determined by me, of course. YMMV.
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I just use an alcohol dampened Q-tip. Sometimes the top falls of inside the hole so I made a little hook from a sewing needle to fish it out (heat needle tip till red hot then bend it over).
To lube the thread I use a tube of Lypsyl...non-toxic, cheap, small convenient packaging, and seems to last forever.
I shower shave. After shaving, while still in the shower, I rinse the razor while still assembled to remove all the surface soap so I can grip the razor securely for disassembly.
Then I put my foot over the drain hole, and disassemble the razor, rinsing each part well (including the female thread in the handle), and reassemble it.
When I have finished the shower and dried myself, I disassemble the razor again and dry it all with the towel, except the blade which I dry by patting gently between sheets of toilet paper.
Then it goes into the wall cabinet disassembled (and sitting on a small dry towel) until I am ready for the next shave. Except for the blade which sits on top of the plastic container in which I store the current batch of blades, such that it is sitting up on the lip at the edge of the container to let air in underneath. I also leave the door of the cabinet open a bit for a few hours to make sure any remaining moisture has a chance to fully evaporate off.
It sounds a bit complicated, but once you get into the routine it is easy enough. Even if a razor is 316L stainless I still want it to last.
Then I put my foot over the drain hole, and disassemble the razor, rinsing each part well (including the female thread in the handle), and reassemble it.
When I have finished the shower and dried myself, I disassemble the razor again and dry it all with the towel, except the blade which I dry by patting gently between sheets of toilet paper.
Then it goes into the wall cabinet disassembled (and sitting on a small dry towel) until I am ready for the next shave. Except for the blade which sits on top of the plastic container in which I store the current batch of blades, such that it is sitting up on the lip at the edge of the container to let air in underneath. I also leave the door of the cabinet open a bit for a few hours to make sure any remaining moisture has a chance to fully evaporate off.
It sounds a bit complicated, but once you get into the routine it is easy enough. Even if a razor is 316L stainless I still want it to last.
I don’t do anything
I agree
Nope, not a thing.
Rinse after my shave. Remove blade when a new one is needed and put it back together. No washers, no gaskets, no oil, no tape, no lube, no cleaning tools.
I don't even dry it and rarely loosen the handle from the head when I rinse it.
I always disassemble the razor and blade, rinse everything in hot water, flick the blade and dry off the razor. I then allow everything to air dry. If the razor has any soap scum building up I will clean it with a little dish soap and a gentle toothbrush. I prefer my razor to be clean and perfect when I use it and it only takes a minute or so to keep it that way. Sometimes I use the same razor for multiple shaves and sometimes I change which razor I am using each shave, either way I like to keep everything as clean as possible out of habit.
Bro , you need to save $ where you can for all that ammo you blow through!I have a vintage Trac II handle I use with Wilkinson Sword Twin II Plus cartridges. These cartridges were discontinued quite a few years ago. While I have a lifetime supply, I want to get as many shaves as I can from each cartridge before switching it out for an unused one.
If I shave with the Trac II and then just simply rinse it out after the shave and put it up, the smoothness and quality of the shave for my tough beard, is only good for 8-10 shaves.
But after doing just a bit of research years ago on caring for blades and making them last? I now,
1. quickly rinse out the cartridge after the shave.
2. And while I don’t want to dull or damage the blade edges by drying it off with a towel, a quick spray of isopropyl alcohol that is kept in a fine mist spray bottle, will quickly, A. Dissolve all soap scum and hard mineral water deposits instantly; B. But it also immediately, displaces all water from the blades while C. Also disinfecting the blades.
3. A quick towel dry of the handle and it’s ready to air dry and put up for next time.
4. Occasionally, after about every 4 shaves on the same cartridge, I will grab a small rubber strip called a ‘Razr Pit’.
I will hand squeeze some of the left over lather from my brush after the shave and wipe it on the razr pit. Then I will give the cartridge a few strops on this rubber razr pit with the shave cream. This action of stropping only takes a few seconds more, but it cleans the blades in the cartridge and helps to keep the edges of the dual blades in the cartridge straight and smooth.
I keep several die in the corner of my bathroom vanity by the mirror that I turn every shave to count the number of shaves I am getting from the cartridge I am using. The current cartridge is at 18 smooth and comfortable shaves now and still counting. Whereas before, I was only getting 8-10 before taking just a bit of extra time caring for the blade.
I’ll see many shavers who will get up an extra hour earlier to enjoy a shave not inhibited by a clock or timer, but not take any extra time to care for their blade. While a cartridge takes a minute more time, a DE user can simply just rinse and then very easily and quickly, either choose to remove the blade and spray with alcohol or just leave it in the razor and give it a quick zap of alcohol mist from a spray bottle and hang it in the razor holder for next time.
Takes like one extra second to grab the bottle and simply zap the DE and blade with a quick fine mist of alcohol that will clean, disinfect and remove all of the water and then hang it up to dry. Super Iridium’s or Polsilvers are my favorite DE blades because I can get 5-7 easy smooth sharp shaves out of a blade. But if I just simply mist the DE head and blade with alcohol from a spray bottle, I get 10-12 easy, smooth and sharp shaves.
Per blade, that’s only four extra shaves and doesn’t seem like much, but that’s 400 extra shaves per box of 100 blades.
Works for me.
That's all I do. Then I loosen the cap & leave the blade in the razor. I'll clean the razor occasionally.
You lot are making me feel like I’m neglecting my equipment. I may have to add an alcohol dip/swirl of the razor head to my post-shave routine.
I rinse my razor and blade well after each shave with hot water. I clean and polish the razor when I change blades.
KISS works!!
That.
Well, maybe not “polish”, but clean under running water with a brush to remove any traces of caked soap residue, if there should be any, and dry the razor dry afterwards with a cloth towel.
Everybody can do with his treasured razor what he/she likes, but disassembling a razor after every shave makes about as much sense to me as washing one’s treasured car every day.
Some people do it, but is probably does more harm than good.
Regarding the alleged more comfortable, closer and nil irritation shave, that claim is highly subjective (and certainly not my experience) and near impossible to prove, but what has been proven repeatedly is that many, if not most, quality razor blades improve after the first shave(s). So I consider it not only wasteful but also counterproductive to discard a blade after a single shave.
B.
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musicman1951
“Water is bad for blades.”
You are more experienced and more knowledgeable than I. I am probably simple minded.
Not sure what you mean by your statements. . Some immediate thoughts same to mind when I read this.
1. This is such a blanket statement, what does it mean?
2. How could water be bad for a blade? Without using water a blade would be useless when shaving, right?
3. Maybe he means, do not store a blade wet, especially carbon blades because they will rust. BUT wait a minute stainless steel blades do not rust.
4. Maybe he is simply restating what manufacturers state on their labels?
5. Forbid rubbing. A safety warning by manufacturers?
6. Store in alcohol between shaves, then no because you would then have to clean and refresh. Maybe just thinking out loud?
Title: Cleaning razor and blade
Now that you shared your thoughts, how do you clean your razor and blade?
Continue to enjoy your shaves and be safe. Have a nice day.
This is what I do:
1. Use a small brush to wipe gunk from razor and blade.
2. Clean razor with hand soap using brush.
3. Spray alcohol on both razor and blade and let sit for a few minutes.
4. Use a towel to dry both.
5. Breakdown razor and place back in metal case until next use.
6. Place dried blade back in round plastic container until next use.
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I've read in more than one place that drying water degrades the sharpness of the blades, but I just rinse my razor head under the faucet and dry the razor on a towel. I change blades often enough to not worry about the water
I remove the blade and dry it off, not so much for rust or corrosion, more so for mineral deposits from the tap water over time. Just look at your shower head and how much build up is on the waterspouts, or your sink for that matter.
A quick swish in the sink when done and shake the extra water off. No towel, no loosening or anything else. Then place on stand or table if stand is being used by another razor. Never had anything bad happen or noticed any reason to do more when changing blades. Usually change blades after 6-10 shaves. I do not find any extra effort is needed with modern blades in vintage or current razors. To each their own and do what works for you.
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