Razors keeping sharpness.....

[Roj Avon]

Ok perhaps this is more or less off topic but I figured this wouldn't be a bad place to get an answer to this question.

Razors....

I'm talking about your typical store bought shaving razor with disposable blades. Take the Mach 3 for example.

I've been told that its actually the minerals from the evaporated water that make razors usless so quickly. Is this true? If so is there a way to prevent this problem?

Secondly, I've never tried shaving with a straight razor. Does anybody here use them? How hard is it to shave with them without frequent visits from your local Parametic squad? Is it difficult to keep them sharp?

 

[SIFU1A]

hmmmm - well my razor blades dont last worth a flip, and i ahve a H2O softner which (supposedly) removes minerals, etc - as far as shaving w/a real razor, my dad was a barber for a while and tried to teach me, but i gave up and bought a safety razor after numerous nicks and cuts - he could do it by feel alon w/no mirror - practice, practice - and he prob practiced mostly on other peoples faces, the way to do it lol - have gotten straight razor shaves a few times at the barber shop though, and they rule - ya can shave and the next day ya wont even hardly feel stubble - if the guy knows what he's doing anyway
- when my dad passed away i got all of his sharpeng stuff, and his razor - somre of the stones are really wierd, hard to describe - and VERY old prob from the '50s - they dont work well on knives, i have found though - maybe the wrong technique??


sifu

 

[Thomas J Ekman]

I bought a Puma Gold straight razor a month ago, and I'm very satisfied with it.
I was very careful the first time, but nothing happened. It takes a couple of times getting used to shaving with a straight razor, but the results you get are very good.
I won't go back to a safety razor.

I was told that the only sharpening I would ever need to do on it was using a strop.

 

[swede79]

I use both a straight razor and a Mach 3. The Mach 3 is much easier to shave with, but doesn't shave any closer. It nicks easier than the straight razor also, maybe because I get over confident and pull too fast. The straight razor will cut you in a heartbeat if your attention wanders, usually you don't know you are cut until 10 seconds later. I have only felt the cuts twice, and they were deep. I have the scars to prove it....

Maintenance isn't that hard, strop before use. I have had to hone it several times due to careless handling. The edge is VERY delicate, and can be easily nicked with only a fingernail. The edge on my DOVO is just under 13 degrees total, in case anyone is wondering.

I used to check my knives for sharpness on my arm, now I try shaving my chin. Believe me, it's a completely different level of difficulty. Or don't believe me, and try it yourself with a "hair popping" knife.

I have been using a spyderco ultrafine ceramic benchstone for the honing, and so far, so good. I wish it was a little more level, the razor is so fine it is easy to find all the irregularities in the stone.

It's a lot of fun, and very satisfying not to keep having to buy blades for it! Enjoy!