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Thread: Resting Razors.....?

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    Senior Member BenjamanBarker's Avatar
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    Default Resting Razors.....?

    So I have seen here and else where people asking and talking about "resting" their razors and edges.....either between using or after shaving and before stropping.

    I don't do this. And it's mainly because I don't understand the concept of "resting" steal. I am not a scientist or claim to know the inherint properties of steal so please don't take this the wrong way but......do people really think steal "reforms" without an outside force? I understand how shaving affects the edge but without some outside force the steal will remain as it last was correct???

    So how did some user find/think "resting" the edge will do any good?

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    Senior Member tlittle's Avatar
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    I'm pretty sure it was some scheme way back in the day to get people to buy more than one razor. ("and if you act now, a second razor in your rotation will allow your blades to rest! Keep your razors going for twice as long!")

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    The Great & Powerful Oz onimaru55's Avatar
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    Speaking of 'resting' , this theory had been put to bed
    http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...e-resting.html
    “The white gleam of swords, not the black ink of books, clears doubts and uncertainties and bleak outlooks.”

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    The razor requires only one night's rest. Put it in bed with you, prop up its little head on the pillow next to you, and kiss it goodnight before you nod off. It is best to do this with the razor in the 'closed' position. If you put it to bed in the 'open' position, it will lose sleep worrying about cutting you, and so will you. Sleep tight!
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    Sharp as a spoon. ReardenSteel's Avatar
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    I think many of us have enough razors in our rotations to be able to use a different razor for each shave each day, so I guess in theory we do "rest" our razors between uses.
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    I read something somewhere about this recently. The idea was to let it rest for a week or something. The theory behind that was that your honed edge would lightly rust in that amount of time. Then after a week, you strop it on linen and leather and you have a brand new edge. This doesn't sound like good science to me. But that's how I understood it. Wish I could find the link. Anyways, I don't really believe in it, but I've heard some guys on here with a heck of a lot more knowledge than me advocate the idea. So, who knows.

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    The Great & Powerful Oz onimaru55's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by regularjoe View Post
    I read something somewhere about this recently. The idea was to let it rest for a week or something. The theory behind that was that your honed edge would lightly rust in that amount of time. Then after a week, you strop it on linen and leather and you have a brand new edge. This doesn't sound like good science to me.
    It was also believed razor edges had 'teeth & fins'.... Da-Dum...Da-Dum...Da-Dum-Da-Dum-Da-Dum .

    Kropp actually recommended stropping after use. There may be other manufacturers with similar instructions but yet we focus on the resting myth
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    Last edited by onimaru55; 03-10-2012 at 11:45 PM.
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    Honing with training wheels JoeTheCarpenter's Avatar
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    Does any one have one of those fancy pants microscopes that plugs into a computer? If it can zoom in enough to see the edge we could have some concrete proof. Take a pic after shaving and leave sit untouched under the microscope for 2-3 days and take another pic. I believe the only time steel will move back to shape is with a good temper and some heat. So maybe by a small blow torch. Haha. The lady folk love em laying around the bathroom.

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    Senior Member BenjamanBarker's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by onimaru55 View Post
    It was also believed razor edges had 'teeth & fins'.... Da-Dum...Da-Dum...Da-Dum-Da-Dum-Da-Dum .

    Kropp actually recommended stropping after use. There may be other manufacturers with similar instructions but yet we focus on the resting myth
    Like I said I don't practice this but recently read a thread where a member commented that their dovo strop said to "rest" the razor before use

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    I believe this is the info from the DOVO site than people were referring to. The overwhelming opinion ended up being that as far as superstitions go, resting a razor to keep the fin intact is a genuine one.

    5. The straight razor I bought a short time ago no longer shaves properly. Do I have to whet it, and how often is this necessary?
    DOVO straight razors are whetted in the factory for use (whetting on leather by hand). If you own a suitable strop, you should nevertheless take into account that the razor must first "rest" after use. After the razor has been carefully rinsed and dried, it should not be used again for at least 24 - 48 hours because the fine "fin" on the cutting edge straightens up again extremely slowly. If the razor is stropped too soon (or stropped incorrectly by moving it backwards and forwards without turning it over), the "fin" which is necessary for a close shave breaks off. Between six and fifteen shaves are possible without stropping in between.

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