Thread: Does hot water dull straight razor and DE blades?

Guys, what you think does straight razor edge and DE blades get dull if rinsed in hot water?

Well, look at river valleys and all that stone cut by cold water. Of course it does take geologic time for that to occur. So hot water or cold water - that rinse is not going to dull your razor even in the time that humans have left on the planet. Rinse away!

Nope.

When it comes to eroding steel, the temperature of water doesn't really make a difference -- it's the force of the water that counts. And it'll take millenia for water at 'faucet force' to erode any where near enough steel to cause a noticeable difference.

It is perfectly fine to rinse your blades under hot water - HOWEVER, make sure you dry the razor properly afterward:

• A straight needs to be wiped off/dried well after each use otherwise it will cause staining and corrosion (e.g. rust) -- which in very trace amounts CAN cause the edge to become dull
• A doesn't really need a thorough towel drying, just a few good shakes

Hot water will not dull your edge. It can, depending on the temp of the water as you rinse, warp it just enough to cause a poor shave.

On the other hand, after your 1st stropping, rinse it hot water and strop again.
Let know how you like the edge. I find it gets a keener edge.

Originally Posted by Bladerunner

Hot water will not dull your edge. It can, depending on the temp of the water as you rinse, warp it just enough to cause a poor shave.

On the other hand, after your 1st stropping, rinse it hot water and strop again.
Let know how you like the edge. I find it gets a keener edge.

+1 on that advice...In fact an early 20th century brochure by the Robeson Cutlery Company recommended running your str8 razor under hot water before stropping.

IIRC I read an old Gillette shaving brochure that recommended running hot water over the DE blade before beginning to shave. I also have read that in a set of Torrey straight razor shaving instructions and that is what I do. The hot knife through butter principal. No idea if it helps but so far it doesn't hurt anything.

I have really hot water in my house and a 30 second bath in the water and then put the blade to your skin and yeow.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I have really hot water in my house and a 30 second bath in the water and then put the blade to your skin and yeow.

Try putting it on the strop instead. It will cool it down to comfortable temp.

If you'd read my micro what thread you'd lnow that the longer your edge is in water the more it will rust, technically yes water dulls. I am not sure whether temp has a great effect but it probably has some to accelerate the reaction

Back when I got into pro tattooing some of the old timers lamented the fact that they had to sterilize the needles because they said that the heat dulled the points a little bit. Whether there is anything to that I don't know. A steam sterilizer is run at about 265 Fahrenheit with pressure, I forget how much pressure at the moment. Whether the points are dulled by the heat I couldn't say but they are plenty sharp and in the old days we would re-use them as long as they weren't hooked or blunted. Now it is single use.