Razor storage

[gwanzek]

This could possibly be more appropriate for the Newbie forum, and it's likely a discussion that's already been had, so here goes.

With my growing razor arsenal, I find myself with more and more questions about usage and storage.

For those who routinely use more than one razor, please allow me to pick your collective brains. Here is a stream of consciousness-like list of questions I often ponder.

• Do you store your razors upright (to prevent water pooling) or on their side?
• Do you store the blades in your razors? If not, where do you store your in-use blades?
• Do you bring your in-use blade from razor to razor, in an effort to always switch blades out on the same day of the week?
• Is a more aggressive setting on a Fatboy more appropriate to use after several days of not shaving?
• What's your typical post-shave razor cleanup routine?

I realize, to each their own. But how about tried and true, been there done that, don't knock it until you've tried it advice?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Boba Fett]

-I store my razors sitting on the narrow side, so water runs off a little bit more than on the wide side (I think it does at least. haven't had problems yet) They sit on a towel so things stay dry and the don't rub up against solid materials.
-I keep my blades in my razors
-Not really understasnding #3. I think you want to know if I use the same blade, but different razors everyday. the answer is no. I may use different razors everyday, but the blade is different, and I keep a blade in a razor until it can cut no more.
-Don't own a Fat Boy, so no help on #4.
-I rinse off my razor, only cleaning it with a small toothbrush and warm water when I change blades.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

 

[Mr. Scruffy]

My current rotation is a Merkur 33C and a Red Tip. The Merkur is loaded with a Merkur blade (they're not so bad) and the Red Tip is carrying a Feather.

I start my week with the Red Tip M-W and end with the Merkur Th-S. Sundays off. Three uses of each blade, replace them both on Monday.

I let my razors rest on the narrow side of the head when not in use. I'll leave the blades in the razors unless I'm storing them for extended periods.

Haven't moved to the Fat Boy, yet.

I always rinse may razor after each use and take the blade out to wipe off any soap/stubble residue. Dry everything thoroughly. I also strop my blade on the fleshy part of my palm before placing it back in the razor.

I use Scrubbing Bubbles once a week on the razors. We have notoriously hard water in Texas and you can't let anything build up on your razor/blade. Not even for one day.

 

[cooncatbob]

After I shave I set the razor on the narrow side on the counter to dry then I hang it in the rack.

I've never switch blades from 1 razor to another, blades are cheap when bought 100 at a time.
I shave with a razor for a week and then change razors, when I change to a different razor I put a fresh blade in it.
If I keep shaving with the same razor I change the blade after 3 or 4 shaves, I don't shave with a blade until it starts to degrade, these aren't expensive $4 cartridges where you have to milk every shave you can from them.

 

[Lucky11453]

At this time I only have a couple DE razors in my rotation, a Gillette ABC Pocket, Bulldog and 5/8 Inox Straight Razor. When I'm done with my shave I rinse everything off. I always take out the blade and wash off the soap residue, then I dry the blade and razor thoroughly. Just like Harry I also hand strop my blade on the fleshy part of my palm before placing it back in the razor. It may sound like a lot of work but it really isn't. This is where I keep everything, the 5/8 Straight Razor and my Derby, Feather blades are in the draw.

I would say no to the more aggressive setting on the Fat Boy adjustable. When I don't shave for a couple days I use a new blade and just take my time.

 

[Boba Fett]

Man, I wish I had the room the two of you have to store all of my stuff! I am confined to a small portion of the medicine cabinet for my aftershaves, half a cupboard for my creams and soaps, and a small shelf for my brushes, razors, blades, and mugs.

 

[T Rick]

I'm still experimenting with both razors and blades, so here's how this noob is doing it. Last week, I used a different razor each day. Same blade until it bit the dust (except for in the Single Edge of course), then new blade. Regardless of switching razors or not, blade comes out each day, thorough rinse of blade and razor, dry both. Install blade in whatever razor I'm using the next day (same or different) and hang on the stand in the Meds cabinet next to the brush.

This week, I'm experimenting with blades, so though using a different razor each day, they are variations on the same (all Techs, I have 6). Fresh blade of a different type each day, after shaving, rinsing and drying the blade, I place it back in it's wrapper and place it with other partially used blades in a travel soap dish with a snapping lid. Once I've done this for a week, I intend to go back to rotating in some new razors, and try these blades until I have used them each (I get 5-6 shaves from a blade). Maybe I'll use one razor and try each blade... but I really just want to stick with variety for a while, and I have lots of razors I've not even shaved with yet.

 

[gaseousclay]

• Do you store your razors upright (to prevent water pooling) or on their side?
• Do you store the blades in your razors? If not, where do you store your in-use blades?
• Do you bring your in-use blade from razor to razor, in an effort to always switch blades out on the same day of the week?
• Is a more aggressive setting on a Fatboy more appropriate to use after several days of not shaving?
• What's your typical post-shave razor cleanup routine?

- I usually store my razor on its side.

- I keep the blade i'm using in my razor until I switch it out for a new one.

- I narrowed my safety razor usage down to one that I really like so I don't switch them out from razor to razor.

- I can't really answer the Fatboy question. I've used mine maybe 3 times and had used the same setting each time.

- my post shave razor cleanup isn't as good as everybody else's. I usually give my razor a good rinsing under the tap, shake out the excess water and towel dry it. when i'm changing out blades I try to clean the razor to get some of the soap/cream residue off.

 

[Luc]

* Do you store your razors upright (to prevent water pooling) or on their side?
* Do you store the blades in your razors? If not, where do you store your in-use blades?
* Do you bring your in-use blade from razor to razor, in an effort to always switch blades out on the same day of the week?
* Is a more aggressive setting on a Fatboy more appropriate to use after several days of not shaving?
* What's your typical post-shave razor cleanup routine?

1-I keep my main razor in a upright position on the stand, the other are away.
2-Yes, the blade are cleaned, pat dry and re-installed in the razor after each use
3-I usually use one razor so no but if I would use more than one, yes
4-Unsure as I don't use an adjustable but I wouldn't think so unless you feel it's appropriate
5-Apply left over lather, clean brush/bowl/razor. Clean lather on my face with cold water and dry with towel. Apply AS. Walk away!

 

[Hughies_online]

Here's my DE routine:

* I store the razor being used on its side. I only use each razor twice (and then I swap out the blade and clean them) and I switch to another razor in my rotation. Razors not being used are kept in their boxes after being air dried.
* The blade being used stays in its razor for 2 days and is then discarded. I don't use a blade more than twice.
* I don't use a F/B and shave everyday. I use a slim however and it is always on the same setting (6).
* Rinse in hot water after each use and air dry on its side. I scrub them down between blade changes with an old toothbrush and hand soap.

Hope this helps!

 

[dashmaverick]

At this time I only have a couple razors in my rotation, a Gillette ABC Pocket, Bulldog and 5/8 Inox Straight Razor. When I'm done with my shave I rinse everything off. I always take out the blade and wash off the soap residue, then I dry the blade and razor thoroughly. Just like Harry I also hand strop my blade on the fleshy part of my palm before placing it back in the razor. It may sound like a lot of work but it really isn't. This is where I keep everything, the 5/8 Straight Razor and my Derby, Feather blades are in the draw.

I would say no the the more aggressive setting on the Fat Boy adjustable. When I don't shave for a couple days I use a new blade and take my time.

+1 Very classy sir, very classy indeed!

 

[ctakim]

Very nice Lucky!

 

[stellarfly]

That Art of Shaving setup is S-I-C-K!! so classy! Take that cartridge razors!!!Ha ha ha!

 

[DonOhio]

I heard radio money guy Clark Howard, a notorious cheapskate who uses 10 for $1 bag razors, say a study showed that drying off even cheap razors after using - even just blowing off excess water - increases their life dramatically. Whether it works or not, it's a habit I had from back when I used the Mach (now I have to open the doors, o'course).

I also heard freezing blades in liquid nitrogen GREATLY increases their toughness and life span. I'd find out if I had any laying around.

 

[Bit2]

I use a wooden test tube holder for daily use and a chest for razors w/cases.
I bought two test tube holders and they work great.
I do have a double deck job I may end up selling (bottom pic)

Don't screw around spending too much money.
I would have saved money if I had just bought mine form Cooncatbob, and I still might do that as well.
The brushes shown are my starters. I am restoring two and making two and I will not have enough room for them.

As for questions:
I keep blades in razors, I do not switch. Blades are cheap. I may use the a SS for a few days, then go the Knack. Occasionally use a Tech.
I use my Red Tip or Slim (5 setting) with a feather for multi-day growth
John
Here are some pics:

 

[WhosYerBob]

• Do you store your razors upright (to prevent water pooling) or on their side?
• Do you store the blades in your razors? If not, where do you store your in-use blades?
• Do you bring your in-use blade from razor to razor, in an effort to always switch blades out on the same day of the week?
• Is a more aggressive setting on a Fatboy more appropriate to use after several days of not shaving?
• What's your typical post-shave razor cleanup routine?

• Immediately after I shave and rinse off the razor, I plop the whole thing into a jar of 91% alcohol and let it stay there while I finish the rest of my cleanup. Then I take it out and stick it in the cabinet horizontally.
• I loosen the cap so the blade has some room around it to dry.
• I swap the same blade between different razors until it becomes dull.
• With my Futur, my first pass is 6+; 2nd is a 4; last is a 1-1/2.
• Rinse off the lather with hot water, switch to cold water, pat dry, splash on Superhazel, air dry, touch up with liquid styptic, then aftershave.

 

[Lucky11453]

This looks like a very good idea.

 

[rac]

hi
after i have had a shave ,normally run hot water over the razor , dry with a tissue while still warm and then put in a rack ,or sometimes when i have around seven out ,may leave on side edge ,next day put the blade in another razor ,if i have 7 blades on the go can never remember which one had the newest blade and there is the thought about family members picking one up and cutting themselves.

 

[luvmysuper]

I have an old Iron Lung which I have modified with a de-humidifier to keep the internal humidity perfect.
I took part of an old air hockey table, and put a 30 HP blower on it, so that my razors rest on a cushion of air, and never have to physically touch the surfaces inside.
Once a day, a 3 man team of metallurgists come in and examine the blade edges with a 1000x handheld microscope, and they change blades whenever it appears that a shave might be rough.

Ok, so I had to get a bigger house to hold the Iron Lung, and the noise from the blower is so loud the neighbors are always calling the police, and the 3 man team is expensive, intrusive and I think they've been eating my Doritos, but man do I get good shaves.

 

[ramon]

All my straight razors are storage in a pelican case , the others in a Dovo inox stand with my Vulfix brush , sorry only one , how many brushes you need?.