Do not wipe blade!

[MajorBurnz]

A lot of DE blade wrappers have the admonition "Do not wipe blades". I've often wondered who ever thought it was a good idea to wipe a DE blade. Seems like a strange thing to do.

I thought it may have something to do with the fact that DE blades succeeded SE blades, which are stroppable. The two edges make palm stropping, for instance, dangerous. So maybe that's why that caution is included.

Any other ideas?

 

[clk]

Wiping the blade may wipe off the coating the manufacturer placed on the blade.

 

[mopar440_6]

I believe that the blade manufacturers expect that most people (myself included) would want to wipe away the wax/glue spots from the blade. In doing so the user could be injured thus the disclaimer to protect the manufacturer from any legal implications. Also, on some blades the protective coating is so thin that wiping the blade could damage or remove the coating reducing the life of the blade.

 

[Oasis Man]

The manufacturers must know how we DE shavers are. We get overly excited to shave and may rush putting the blade in to try a new soap, cream, razor, blade, or aftershave! Seriously, just a protection from lawsuits. Just like Mac D's coffee cups say "Caution, contents hot". Duh, one stupid lawsuit.

 

[olschoolsteel]

When blades first came out, they were high carbon steel. They would flash rust overnight if you didnt wipe them down. Shortly after stainless steel hit the market and it wasnt a big concern, but the stage was set for future generations of blade wipers.

Another example is in the 50s and 60s you had to change your oil every 3000 miles. Since the advent of multiweight oil and detergent added, you can safely go 7500 miles without an issue...but the 3000 mile oil change rull still gets handed down and passed around perpetuating a rule that no longer applies.

 

[Mick]

There may be an accumulation of soap on the blade edge which would tempt some to wipe it.

As mentioned wiping removes the smoothness coating and there is a risk to cuts.

I drop my blades on a towel, fold the corner over and press to remove any water from both sides.

wiping blades is a non issue for those who only take the blade out to throw it away

 

[VerbaVolant]

I have no idea why the warning on some blades. I imagine only the sharp edge of the blade making a difference during shaving, the exposed part of the blade that is. If dragging the edge over stubble does not remove coating, I can assure you that patting a blade dry would not remove anything but some moisture/water that is left after you rinse and shake the blade.
I assume we are talking about wiping the blade with a cloth material, suggesting that action will actually wipe any coating does not make any sense to me.

 

[HUF]

I too think it is more "the floor is wet" thing.

 

[whtwolf]

I have no idea why the warning on some blades. I imagine only the sharp edge of the blade making a difference during shaving, the exposed part of the blade that is. If dragging the edge over stubble does not remove coating, I can assure you that patting a blade dry would not remove anything but some moisture/water that is left after you rinse and shake the blade.
I assume we are talking about wiping the blade with a cloth material, suggesting that action will actually wipe any coating does not make any sense to me.

This was my thought as well. If wiping the blade removes the coating, then I would think the first shave would do the same thing.

 

[imbored2deth]

Anytime there is a warning, a lawyer has been involved. Same as the hot coffee in the lap with a loose lid, riding a bike at night without a light, etc.

 

[Riff Raff]

Actually there is a very good reason for not wiping the blade. When using double-edged blades great amounts of science and technology have gone into the manufacture of the blades themselves. The design engineers are constantly changing the designs to get the best performance from the blades that will satisfy the most diverse beard types. When working in the textile industry I found that nano-technologies were used not just in the fabric dyes, but how the fabric was treated for stain-resistance, wrinkle-free, etc. I am sure there were millions of dollars spent on the designs of these blades and for the best performance the blade must remain as close to how it left the manufacturing facility as possible. Therefore, wiping the blade would negate some of those qualities.



That and every time you wipe the blade, a kitten in Moldavia dies. Quit wiping those blades you heartless curs!

 

[rajagra]

It's archaic advice from a time when people were unaware of how fragile the razor edge was, and had no Internet to inform them.
Even today I expect most people would be too ham-fisted if they used DE blades and wanted to clean them between shaves.

 

[ShankS]

I'm scared of slashing my fingers, the first thing that came to my mind when I read it was it's a safety issue, but i'm probably being paranoid lol

MajorBurnz thats a lovely looking razor in your photo, would be great to know its make.

 

[MajorBurnz]

I think we're all agreed that the warning is lawyer mandated. However, there appear to be several explanations of why it was instituted (apart from them trying to cover their posteriors).

One thing: wouldn't the coating on the blades be pretty resistant to being wiped off? I mean, we use these blades to shave with, the coating has to be pretty resilient if it is going to survive multiple uses.

---------------

ShankS:

That razor is a 'custom' - NEW Deluxe Norfolk head - replated in nickel, with a one-of-a-kind Cooncatbob handle: linen micarta over a brass core. The best handle he ever made for me (and he made me several). The rest of the handles have been passed on to new owners. This one has stayed

 

[tacchini]

the only blade i wipe is astras, hate that gum on the blades, all other blades without the gum are left alone.

 

[Wetshavingswede]

I wouldn't go as far as to say i hate it but i do wonder why astras have all that goo on their blades, many competitors make it just fine with far less. Do love the way green astras work for me so i gladly accept this minor annoyance.

 

[Kramerica]

If you wipe the blade, you risk removing the numbers, and then good luck getting the blade properly oriented!

 

[VerbaVolant]

I wouldn't go as far as to say i hate it but i do wonder why astras have all that goo on their blades...

Too much vodka, that's why.

 

[ShankS]

---------------

ShankS:

That razor is a 'custom' - NEW Deluxe Norfolk head - replated in nickel, with a one-of-a-kind Cooncatbob handle: linen micarta over a brass core. The best handle he ever made for me (and he made me several). The rest of the handles have been passed on to new owners. This one has stayed

Thanks for the info, the whole razor looks great and it was the handle I was admiring in particular.

 

[oldtrout]

I wouldn't go as far as to say i hate it but i do wonder why astras have all that goo on their blades, many competitors make it just fine with far less. Do love the way green astras work for me so i gladly accept this minor annoyance.

Personna Medical Preps do not have that annoying wax on them. This makes them my favorite blade, along with the fact that they are great performers too.

I hate that waxy crap getting on my razors, but I still use Astra SPs.