After its acquisition, for those who for the first time wants to start using this excellent shaving product, there is a problem of maintaining and caring for this thin and capricious tool. And this is a difficult and troublesome business, requiring constant attention. A hazardous razor must be constantly lubricated with special oil. The metal from which the razor is made has the unpleasant property of darkening, and when left for long periods, it completely rusts! From any other metal, other alloys, a good razor will not work. Caring for a dangerous razor, in addition to the hassle, will also cost you a pretty penny, since special, licensed means for its care cost a lot of money. It includes a variety of abrasives, oils, cleaning fluids, and the like related accessories. Therefore, I propose to find them a cheaper, but no less effective replacement, which I personally have been using successfully for several years and my razor does not suffer from this and does not deteriorate. So, let's start with abrasives.
- The abrasive for straightening the razor’s cutting edge can be replaced with the usual talcum powder baby powder purchased at the pharmacy.
- Grinding abrasive is replaced with chalk. A simple, clerical chalk crushed to dust.
- Abrasive for capital sharpening, which is carried out at least once a month, goy paste is very suitable.
- Cleaner for the blade after use, replace with medical alcohol.
- Corrosive oil for a dangerous razor, we replace it with baby oil, which was also bought at a pharmacy.
Razor sharpening
A new razor bought in a store is not completely sharpened and not suitable for shaving, therefore you must first sharpen it. To do this, we put on a completely flat edge of the table (IMPORTANT!) A sheet of sandpaper P 400 (zero), put the razor blade on the sheet with the entire plane and in circular movements, clockwise, sharpen the blade. The blade has such a shape that, laying it on a flat surface with the entire plane, only the blade butt and the cutting edge of the razor will touch the surface at a certain angle, so that errors in such sharpening are excluded. Sharpening on the one hand to continue continuously for five to seven minutes. Then we repeat the same procedure with the other side of the blade. After sharpening, we straighten the blade on the bar with the skin and goy paste, holding the razor with the blade directed toward us, at least fifty movements from ourselves on one side.
After that, repeat the procedure on the other side of the bar, where the HB tissue is located with talcum powder sprinkled on it.
Below I will give how to make such a bar. Now there’s the final touch: sprinkle chalk dusted with dust on a piece of soft cloth and, gently, without touching the cutting edge, wipe the blade.
After that, if you are not going to use it immediately, just gently wipe the blade with oil and put it in some dry place. For this purpose I use a box with small bags of salt that absorbs moisture from the surrounding air.
And now we’ll make a bar for straightening the razor before shaving. To make it you will need:
- Wooden block (approximately 30 × 5 × 2 cm.)
- Natural leather. Better from the old belt.
- Soft but thick fabric HB.
- PVA glue.
To begin, we will process the bar with sandpaper on a tree or a plane. So that it becomes smooth. Then, we attach some handle to the bar, so that it would be more convenient to hold it during editing. I took the handle from the spatula. Now, having previously applied glue to the bar, we wrap it with a thick cotton cloth. We cut and collapse the corners so that nothing sticks out. And immediately, without waiting for the glue to dry, we glue a leather flap over the entire shelf of one of the sides. We put the whole thing under the press. Can be pressed with heavy books. We are waiting for the time indicated on the adhesive label to dry completely. Now you can use it.
Edit the razor not only before beating, but also after. And at least once a month, carry out a capital sharpening at zero sandpaper P 400. Do not forget to wipe with chalk and oil. Observing all these simple rules, your dangerous razor will surely serve you for many years.
