In grad school back in the mid-70's a fellow grad student and I took up the straight razor. We both bought the "Double Ducks" which was considered the best available. Anyway, I got pretty good at the whole process of shaving, stropping, the occasional stoning, etc. The rule was that you never rinsed the blade with water. You wipe off the soap as well as after you were done with a cotton rag. It was fun at the time, gave a great shave but when I got a real job, it took too much time and was put away.
I really do like the Bic disposable, but also have "just in case" the old traditional safety razors with a large supply of blades. Note that those blades can be re-stropped (be careful) and if necessary restoned. And YES, they will last longer if stored in mineral oil between uses as it is oxidate that gets to them.
In case you didn't know, although most of you will, when you look at a razor edge under a scope you actually see not a smooth surface but a miniture sawtooth. What stropping does is straighten out the teeth that get bent in shaving.
Still got my Double Duck and all the associated goodies.
