Gillette on CBS Sunday Morning

Interesting… I heard Paul Harvey say once (maybe 10-15 years ago) that razors were dulled by corrosion caused by moisture rather than by actual use. Back then he recommended blow-drying your razor blades. That wasn’t going to happen with me – not enough patience. But as soon as titanium blades came out, I switched to them. Sure enough, a four-bladed titanium blade lasts me 3-4 months.

A while back, I disassembled several disposable razors so I could take micro photos of their edge profiles. Each of the used blade assemblies was packed with skin cells and hair particles. Easy to see how corroding moisture would be held for hours after a shave.

Another experience I had also supports the corrosion theory. I have a self-made hunting knife made of D2 steel which is kept in a soft leather sheath. One year I put it away after an end-of-season sharpening. The following year, I knocked down an antelope in Wyoming and handed the knife to my guide. I was absolutely stunned when he handed it back, saying it was dull. I came to the conclusion that the soft, fuzzy lining of the sheath was either acidic or held moisture, which over the span of a year had corroded the fine edge of the knife.

Interesting… I heard Paul Harvey say once (maybe 10-15 years ago) that razors were dulled by corrosion caused by moisture rather than by actual use.

Although I’m no metallurgist, scientificically this can’t be true. If you use a blade, it will eventually get dull. I disagree that it is only moisture that will degrade an edge, and this is from experience.

I sharpen straight razors and I have two that I shave with (not as regularly as I would like but I do from time to time). prior to the shave the edge will pass HHT 3-4ish and post shave without stropping to re-align the edge it will not pass even HHT 1. Now you could say that the edge was degraded from the moisture during the shave, but this is with a stainless steel. Not to mention that, even if you were to try it dry I believe you would have the same results. After each shave you strop the edge on plain leather to remove residual moisture and to re-align the edge. after around 8-10 shaves your edge needs to be taken to a pasted strop (generally speaking of course). This tells me that even with the utmost care your edge will degrade from use and not only from moisture.

make sense? :silly:

I didn’t mean to suggest that razors were dulled only by moisture corrosion, but that over a long period of time, moisture left on an edge in storage could result in corrosion where those molecules are most exposed (as along a very keen edge).

Moisture contacting an edge during the shaving process acts as a lubricant and if anything, serves to extend the life of the edge. I think straight razors may be less subject to edge corrosion since their edges are generally ventilated fairly well in storage. Additionally, their very acute edge angle puts them in a different category entirely when it comes to the hanging hair test. My research finds that disposable razors are sharpened to included angles of 15-20 degrees or more.

cool… glad we agree then! 😆

Interesting… I heard Paul Harvey say once (maybe 10-15 years ago) that razors were dulled by corrosion caused by moisture rather than by actual use. Back then he recommended blow-drying your razor blades.

How did I miss this crazy thread? :blink:

I’ll tell you my experience… a few years ago I went from shaving every day, to shaving once or twice a week. To my dismay… the blades didn’t last any longer. So after giving it some thought and wondering if it was moisture, I actually started blow drying them. (Knew I should have paid more attention to Paul…) I now replace the blade once a year. I can tell you this much… my face doesn’t lie… if there was no change, believe me, I’d know. :woohoo:

Thanks Curtis. I will start blow drying, I did the same thing going from daily to 2x week shaving and didn’t notice much change in blade life. Figured the bigger wiskers used up more blade.

FYI – I stripped the coating off a 1095 bush knife, soaked it in vinegar to force a patina, didn’t like the patina, removed it with baking soda and BKF, applied new patina with steak and red wine. Time to sharpen it (was very sharp before I started) – pulled out the 400 diamonds, not getting it, had to drop to 200# to get the edge back. I know I have done some damage with the sand paper and scrubbing, but I think some was do to the corrosives used to force a patina.