rinse or wipe the blade?

albertpotash · 09-16-2008, 05:54 PM

I have noted folks wiping off the blade between strokes, instead of rinsing under a tap (like cartrige people do).
What difference does it make? if one wipes off any water after the shave to avoid rust

?
Thanks

nun2sharp · 09-16-2008, 06:02 PM

Im a wiper it doesnt make sense to me to rinse, you will have to wipe anyway! Hope this helps.

holli4pirating · 09-16-2008, 06:12 PM

I rinse when I need to get lather off the blade during a shave; rinsing removes the lather and cut hair and keeps the blade hot. After I'm done with a shave, I rinse and wipe to be sure to get everything off and get the blade totally dry.

hoglahoo · 09-16-2008, 06:14 PM

I rinse the blade, always being careful to tip the toe downward to minimize the moisture that might sneak up the tang. I fear cutting myself wiping if I wipe the blade several times during my shave while my hands are a little wet. I prefer to give it one wipe at the end of the shave, then strop it a few times

Sharp&Shiny · 09-16-2008, 06:19 PM

I just wipe the blade clean on my forearm & when the shave is over ,I rinse the blade under the hot tap until its warm then dry with a towel & follow up with drying off by wiping with toilet tissue to make sure the blade is totally dry.Then just a few reps on the canvas before storing away. Since I,ve done this all my blades are good & free of rust .Paul

thebigspendur · 09-17-2008, 01:27 AM

I really don't think it makes any difference. I rinse. In the old days barbers had a towel slung over their shoulder and wiped as the shaved.

kaptain_zero · 09-17-2008, 02:30 AM

I think the main reason for wiping today is simply that it keeps that fragile blade further away from the nice chrome plated tap that loves sharp edges for lunch when handled by fumblefingers like me.

I just fold up the barber towel and use that to wipe off the lather when I shave... I'll rinse and wipe at the end.

Regards

Kaptain "Two feet away.... who would have thought that was close enough to nick my razor?!?!" Zero

OLD_SCHOOL · 09-17-2008, 03:00 AM

I usually have a bowl of water with me to dip the razor in to rinse, but 9/10 times I end up wiping the lather off with my fingers. Wiping probably is a lot safer, coz most of the horror stories involve razors meeting faucets head on and losing.

JimmyHAD · 09-17-2008, 03:15 AM

I rinse under the tap...... carefully.

Dave_D · 09-17-2008, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyH-AD

I rinse under the tap...... carefully.

Same here. The blade gets wiped off after the shave.

timberrr59 · 09-17-2008, 04:54 AM

During the shave I NEVER WIPE the blade. I roll the blade over and use it like a spatula to smear the used lather like cake icing onto the area I am to shave. Most of the time it is for a second pass. It saves lather, water, and time. Try it before you ridicule this procedure. I do not seem to dull the edge at all by doing this. The shave goes much smoother also. I only clean the razor after the shave. I do it very carefully to avoid damage to me or the blade. After drying with a towel, my razor gets a good stropping and then a coat of Baby Oil. No problems at all, just a good smooth shave. Works for me every time.

CatMan · 09-17-2008, 05:05 AM

Whenever the blade has collected its max amount of lather I rinse (only the blade!), and I do not shake off drops of water in the sink(!!!), then wipe it with a towel, staying about 1 mm away from the edge. First, I don't want lather accumulating in my towel, therefore I rinse. Second, I don't want water sneaking towards tang and scales, therefore I wipe. At the end of the shave I finish with 20 round trips on the strop to make sure the edge is dry as well. None of my razors received any oil treatment, and yet, all of them are spotless.

Buckler · 09-17-2008, 06:41 AM

Rinse under hot water to get rid of lather.
Believe it or not this helps the shave, hot blade cuts better, go figure.

I rinse at the end, wipe from shoulder to point keeping a mm or so from edge. Then light stropping on towl to get water of edge.

I might add the stroping on a strop due to advice here.

+Buckler

chief · 09-17-2008, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CatMan

Whenever the blade has collected its max amount of lather I rinse (only the blade!), and I do not shake off drops of water in the sink(!!!), then wipe it with a towel, staying about 1 mm away from the edge. First, I don't want lather accumulating in my towel, therefore I rinse. Second, I don't want water sneaking towards tang and scales, therefore I wipe. At the end of the shave I finish with 20 round trips on the strop to make sure the edge is dry as well. None of my razors received any oil treatment, and yet, all of them are spotless.

same here, but without the stropping. Do you strop on the leather?
Afterwards I wipe the blade with some toiletpaper.

gssixgun · 09-17-2008, 07:07 AM

HA !!!! I think I have found one thing that the rest of you are more fanatical about than me.....

and I am the OCD personality.....
Heck I just swish that puppy around in the sink full of hot water blade, tang, pivot, and half the scales.... when I am done shaving I hold it through the tang and tail in my fingers, and snap it hard with my wrist a few times, wipe the blade, oil the blade and leave it open in the drawer until the next day, when it goes to the back, and the next one comes out to play..... I have never had any problems at all.....

Silver · 09-17-2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I fear cutting myself wiping if I wipe the blade several times during my shave while my hands are a little wet.

I wipe and yes Lee I have cut my finger a few times but it's nothing major, ya big jesse.

When I have finished shaving is when I rinse under the tap and dry off with either a towel or toilet roll.

chief · 09-17-2008, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gssixgun

HA !!!! I think I have found one thing that the rest of you are more fanatical about than me.....

and I am the OCD personality.....
Heck I just swish that puppy around in the sink full of hot water blade, tang, pivot, and half the scales.... when I am done shaving I hold it through the tang and tail in my fingers, and snap it hard with my wrist a few times, wipe the blade, oil the blade and leave it open in the drawer until the next day, when it goes to the back, and the next one comes out to play..... I have never had any problems at all.....

probably because of the oil, no?
I don't oil my blades, but I only have a 3 razor rotation ofcourse..

maplemaker · 09-17-2008, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_D

Same here. The blade gets wiped off after the shave.

Same here.

hoglahoo · 09-17-2008, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver

I wipe and yes Lee I have cut my finger a few times but it's nothing major, ya big jesse.

I thought I heard someone taking my name in vain

Don't wave your fingers at me like that, you might bleed on me

Lt.Arclight · 09-17-2008, 02:52 PM

I use a Watchmakers trick. Chamois.

Go to the local autoparts store and buy a small natural chamois. It is treated with cod liver oil. DO NOT WASH IT. I cut it into 3x5 inch strips. Not only does it act like a strop,it removes soap scale and polishes the entire blade.

Use the rest on your fine timepieces.