Sharp at the sides?

[misterelie]

Hey, here's a question I am too afraid to experiment to find the answer to myself.

I was installing a new blade on my 3-piece Gillette Tech (turning out to be my favorite razor), and I realized I can't find a great, safe way to grip the razor to screw it back together. When I hold it from the front, my fingers are too close to the cutting side of the blade for comfort. On the side, the blade actually protrudes over the plate, but that seems to be how I'm supposed to hold the razor.

So here's my question: are the sides of a DE blade razor sharp like the cutting front/back edges? Do I need to be as careful with the sides as I do with the front (ie: don't touch unless absolutely necessary)?

 

[craig87c]

The sides are where the DE blades are meant to be held; don't worry about holding onto those edges! Steer clear of the other two sides though.

 

[kiwi_Tom]

The sides of a DE blade are not sharp however like any thin piece of metal still have the potential to do damage if mishandled. In saying this I always hold my 3 piece razors by the edges and carefully tighten them up. Make sure you always have dry hands when doing this as a slip could be very nasty, If you are unsure then just drape a hand towel over the razor, grip it by the edges and tighten away.

 

[cb91710]

Make sure you always have dry hands when doing this as a slip could be very nasty, If you are unsure then just drape a hand towel over the razor, grip it by the edges and tighten away.

Yup. And you don't have to (and should not) crank the snot out of it.
It's not like you're torquing a lug nut. Firmly snug is all you need. If you're twisting the handle enough to twist the head out of your other hand, you're cranking way too hard.
It only has to maintain torque against the pressure against your face... and there should be precious little pressure against your face.

I think it would be doing new shavers a favor if a "training" razor were available with a free-spinning handle.

 

[Domminigan]

On my three piece techs, I prefer to place my thumb on the top plate and my first and middle fingers on either side of the handle hole on the bottom plate. It provides a decent grip.

 

[Viseguy]

What I do is to put the razor, head down, on a soft cloth. When I need to hold the head down to screw on the handle, I gently place two fingers on diagonally opposite corners of the base plate, as shown in the third photo. I'm doing it one-handed in the pictures, but normally, of course, I use both hands, one to hold down the head, the other to screw on the handle.

 

[the_edski]

A safety safety razor? Reminds me of this...starting around 4 minutes in

I think it would be doing new shavers a favor if a "training" razor were available with a free-spinning handle.

 

[misterelie]

Thanks guys, for the advice. Also the tips on assembling my 3 piece. I've kinda been wondering how to do this safely.

 

[Oblique Human]

You could use the towel to hold and screw the head back on.

 

[dcobranchi]

I start the handle and then place the guard flat against the countertop. That prevents it from rotating while I screw the handle in tight.

 

[Bobtrumpet]

You could use the towel to hold and screw the head back on.

+1 I've been doing this since the blade in my Tech bit me several years ago.

 

[Mike'sWorld]

What I do is to put the razor, head down, on a soft cloth. When I need to hold the head down to screw on the handle, I gently place two fingers on diagonally opposite corners of the base plate, as shown in the third photo. I'm doing it one-handed in the pictures, but normally, of course, I use both hands, one to hold down the head, the other to screw on the handle.

This is how I do this also. Only I never touch the razor's head after it's started threading on and I've verified that the blade is straight..