Rust on my razor (with pics) Also Thank you

Hi Everyone

Firstly I would like to say a big thank you to everyone on this forum who has helped me to make the full transition from using a gillette razor to my Dovo straight razor. I am now fully self sufficient having received a set of 1k, 5k, 8k, and 12k Naniwa stones from SRD, and successfully honed my Dovo best quality razor yesterday with great results using one of Lynne's amazing YouTube videos to guide me.

Unfortunately if have found what I suspect to be rust on my razor (Please see picture) I always dry my razor after use, but I keep my razor on the bathroom windowsill on a stand. Our bathroom will get a little streamy, and we do get some condensation on the window after someone takes a shower, but generally our bathroom is moister free.

I could keep my razor out of the bathroom but I think it looks so good I like to keep it displayed. Can someone advise on how to store razors i.e. should they be kept out of the bathroom, also how to get rid of the rust and stop it from happening again.

Thanks again to everyone for all your help.
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I would not keep a razor in the bathroom. It is just too humid for its long-term health. Sit the stand on your bedroom dresser and admire it as you walk past.

You could get rid of the rust with metal polish and a toothpick - there is some over the etching so that spot will be gone and you'll have a little pitting left, but shouldn't be too bad.
You could keep the razor open and/or make use of thermodynamics and move it to a warmer area instead of the windowsill so that there wouldn't be condensation.

I have a small bathroom and usually have 3-7 razors in there - never had rust problem. They are on a shelf on the opposite side of the window though and closer to where the heating, The one I've just used stays open for at least few hours on top of a towel, but the rest are sitting closed, usually for months.

+1 on not storing in the bathroom. Same thing happened to mine in the bathroom even though I was oiling the razor. Also, make sure the scales are dry before you put it away. I don't run my razor under water during a shave, instead, I wipe it on a towel to keep scales dry. You don't have to do this but if you run it under water, it is good to take tissue and pass it through the scales after shaving. :gl:

I love my SS razor.

There is also wax that you can put on your blade to help protect it. I keep mine waxed and out of direct moisture as well.

I'm with not keeping it in the bath rm. also a drop of oil in the pin area and a drop on the finger tips to coat the blade. worth the time and trouble of doing so. be sure the razor is free from moisture. I do this with all my razors and have never had rust.

+1 on putting in a warm place right after shaving! I sit mine open on top of my bedroom TV cable box which is always warm. I leave it there for 8-10 hours to completely dry after doing almost everything that everyone has mentioned first.

For me, only get the blade part wet with a quick rinse, then immediately dry with toilet paper.

I will then leave mine in the razor stand by the open window to air dry for 30 or so minutes. Then another wipe, drop or two of Tuf-Glide on the pivot area, into a silicone treated razor sock, and out of the bathroom area and stored in a cigar box.

Moisture can cause rust on a blade within hours IME...and I certainly pooched my first Dovo up to learn that lesson...had to send it back to basically get restored almost!! haha

My experience has been all long as I keep the fart fan on durring showering the condensation will not form. I suppose its different in every house.

Neatsfoot oil is what i wipe my blades with anytime i don't expect to use it for a day or two. it's good for the strops too. and my boots and shooting etc.

Lanolin is even better, but more of a grease and stinkier.

Window sill is great for condensation. Warm moist air meets cooler glass/air seepage, cooling air has to lose the water vapor. Vapor don't care= not a good place for unprotected ferrous metals.

If i were sharing my bath, no way i'd leave razors in there.

My dove started to corrode after I first got it as well. I used some polish and a q-tip to shine it up a bit and wipe it off with a towel or tissue after every shave. I also tried oil on my razors but that was a tedious process. Now what I do is wipe it off with a dry cloth after every shave, leave it out to dry over night on my desk and then place it in a cigar box case I turned into a razor case (with little dividers) with some silica gel packs to keep moisture out. Ever since then I haven't had any problems. Hope this helps!

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Originally Posted by WadePatton

Neatsfoot oil is what i wipe my blades with anytime i don't expect to use it for a day or two. it's good for the strops too. and my boots and shooting etc.

Lanolin is even better, but more of a grease and stinkier.

Window sill is great for condensation. Warm moist air meets cooler glass/air seepage, cooling air has to lose the water vapor. Vapor don't care= not a good place for unprotected ferrous metals.

If i were sharing my bath, no way i'd leave razors in there.

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Just to clear up, when I leave my razor by the window to air dry in winter, the dry, moisture free air literally sucks all moisture out of the bathroom, so after 30 minutes its nice and dry - then Tuf-Glide on the pivot area and into a silicone razor sock and into a storage cigar box in another room.

Only took me once to learn that lesson...will try not to mention wiping the blade with Brasso, then a bleach type cleaner, then read somewhere that lemon would remove the rust...hahaha...was a complete panic induced catastrophe...all for one minor filmy white soap stain that just wouldn't seem to come off....:gaah:

++1 on the previous advice. Never store your straight razor in the bathroom. I keep my razors as well as my strop in my bedroom.

You can purchase some Maas or Semi-Chrome metal polish to remove most of the rust/corrosion pictured on your razor. It will remove some of the etching on your blade, so go slow when performing that operation.

Finally, apply a thin coat of oil to your blade after use as suggested in one of the previous posts. I used Tuff-Glide in the past. I now use Ballistol spray.

Good luck!

I not only dry the razor, I also strop it a good 5-10 passes to get any excess moisture off the blade. Also I would not keep it on the window sill. Too much moisture and condensation.

I take care to never get water between the scales of a carbon steel razor. If I do, I dry the area immediately and use a blast of compressed air or a hair drier to ensure that the pivot is dry and apply WD40.

Normally, I wipe my carbon steel with mineral or camellia oil for short term protection. I use a good firearms protection lubricant for long term storage.

Bathrooms have high humidity in use that can start carbon steel rusting. I heatonly the blade section below the shank under the running hot water, immediately wipe dry, then let it sit to dry on a shelf while I clean up. I then strop 30 linen, 60 latigo leather. If a carbon blade, I wipe with an oily patch and store in a coffin or pen case in my dry bedroom.

Maas on a patch or Q tip may get off early staining. Gold wash will probably not survive any abrasive and etching can be damaged. Significant rust may leave behind pits. It is far better not to let rust get started on carbon steel.

I have had no issues with my Friodur razors, SS is much more forgiving of any lapses in razor care.

I keep my straights in in the top drawer of my bathroom counter. I DO have silica packages scattered throughout the drawer. I have no problem with rust.

After use I dry them thoroughly. I use toilet paper to dry the pivot as much as possible. I oil them lightly with special attention to oil in the pivot.

When stored for longer periods I make sure they are coated in heavy oil.

Yea bleach + stainless is a bad idea... friend ruined a still that way

On my guns if I get a little pitting type rust spot I use a pencil erasor to remote ALL rust and spray the entire damn thing with oil lol damn rust... never tried it on a razor but I imagine it'd work the same, plus it can't hurt it any.

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Originally Posted by RezDog

There is also wax that you can put on your blade to help protect it. I keep mine waxed and out of direct moisture as well.

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Shaun, is there a certain kind of wax you're using? Just curious...

The majority of my razors are stored on an open rack, unoiled, in a half bath.
My routine is to run the hottest tap water on the blade, heating the blade up enough so that when you shut the water off it causes the water to evaporate (stole that idea from pixelfixed ;) then I strop, and pour rubbing alcohol on the blade (not the scales) to remove any oils left behind, wipe down with a tissues and back in the rack.

Rust removal - Blue magic

Try coating your blade with some mineral oil after using, and maybe find a sealed case to store it in.

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Originally Posted by Firefighter2

Try coating your blade with some mineral oil after using, and maybe find a sealed case to store it in.

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Silicone razor socks gentlemen, the sure way to fly...

Grooming, Shaving, Skin Care, Lifestyle - MenEssentials

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Silicone razor socks gentlemen, the sure way to fly...

Grooming, Shaving, Skin Care, Lifestyle - MenEssentials

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I have to agree with this. I use these, and they really are pretty great. If I were going really long term, I would probably tuf glide as well, but for my purposes, they have worked well. I bought a dozen, and will be ordering another dozen soon.

And another method. My bathroom door is never closed all the way (I live alone) because a very vocal half Siamese cat hates closed doors. As a result I have almost nil humidity from a hot shower. When done shaving and rinsing blade without getting water in the pivot area I have a medium size jar from olives filled with a mixture of high proof rubbing alcohol and mineral oil that I carefully dip the blade in up to just past the heel. With finger rub some oil on the blade up into the pivot area, lightly wipe excess off with a cotton pad and put back in rack on wall. I got the idea from another SRP member and I can't remember who and I want to thank him, love the method.

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Originally Posted by Brenngun

I love my SS razor.

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Stainless can still discolour you know Mr.smartypants :)

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Just to clear up, when I leave my razor by the window to air dry in winter, the dry, moisture free air literally sucks all moisture out of the bathroom, so after 30 minutes its nice and dry - then Tuf-Glide on the pivot area and into a silicone razor sock and into a storage cigar box in another room.

Only took me once to learn that lesson...will try not to mention wiping the blade with Brasso, then a bleach type cleaner, then read somewhere that lemon would remove the rust...hahaha...was a complete panic induced catastrophe...all for one minor filmy white soap stain that just wouldn't seem to come off....:gaah:

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Well did it work, did the soap stain go away? :)

I keep both my Dovos resting on a micro fiber towel in the drawer of my shaving stand coated with mineral oil.There are a couple of dessicent packets inside the drawer as well. No rust problems.

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Originally Posted by Nightblade

I keep both my Dovos resting on a micro fiber towel in the drawer of my shaving stand coated with mineral oil.There are a couple of dessicent packets inside the drawer as well. No rust problems.

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Why is your shaving stand coated with mineral oil - sorry couldn't resist :)

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

Why is your shaving stand coated with mineral oil - sorry couldn't resist :)

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I know , I know:gaah:

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Originally Posted by Brenngun

I love my SS razor.

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Stainless Steel does Oxidize, it just takes longer! I oil my Friodur after each use!!!

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Originally Posted by Nightblade

I know , I know:gaah:

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Sorry gum, I am in one of those moods, I think it is the jetlag. Best hope I can keep my witticisms to myself at work today, what with it being.my first day back and all. :)