Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Razor

RAZOR, an instrument employed for the purpose of removing the hair from the human beard or head.

As shaving is to many persons a painful operation, cutlers have applied all their skill and ingenuity, to remedy such inconvenience.—Hence strops, and washes, or soaps of a peculiar nature, have been contrived, with a view to facilitate that process; and some artists have so far succeeded, as to produce excellent instruments: the best, however, we believe, are those manufactured by Mr. Savigny, of King-street, Covent-garden; who has brought his Patent Razors to the highest degree of perfection, of which they are perhaps susceptible.

Much, however, depends upon the manner in which the razor is managed. The hone, therefore, ought first to be wiped perfectly clean, after which a few drops of sweet oil must be poured on it. The operator should next place his thumb and fore-finger sideways, on the part of the heel, in order to take firm hold both of the blade and of its handle: one side of the razor is next to be laid flat across the hone, in such a manner that its shoulder (or the part contiguous to the heel), may touch the nearest part of the stone. The razor is now drawn towards the person, somewhat circularly, and with a slight pressure, till he arrives at the point. When such side has been thus passed for a few times, the opposite one is to be conducted in a similar manner, till the edge uniformly assumes a wiry appearance. Lastly, bnth sides are to be moved a few times across the hone, from the heel to the point; in order that a perfect regularity may be produced in every part of the edge.

The razor, being thus honed, must now be drawn obliquely, from the point to the heel, across a strop, that is perfectly flat; and which is furnished with two leafhers on the smoothing side: after this operation, it is fit for immediate use.—It deserves, however, to be mentioned, that those boasted powders, or unctuous preparations for giving a fine edge to razors, consist merely of crocus mortis, or the red calx of vitriol, which is spread on the strop, by mixing it with a little oil or tallow.

Those of our readers, whose faces smart from the use of indifferent razors, or who may wish for further instructions relative to their management, will meet with some pertinent hints on this subject, in Mr. Kingsbury's Treatise on Razors, &c. (8vo. 1s. 6d. 1797); in which it is fully and perspicuously discussed.