Thread: Oh no, rust spots on brand new Bismarck

Your razor has timber scales & the rust is where the blade might rest against them. The scales may not be well sealed & could hold moisture even from the air. Suggest not closing blade hard against the scales.
There is a chance that some rust spots were developing before you even owned the razor.
For more stubborn rust the tip of a soft timber chopstick with some metal polish works well.
You might even consider a water displacing type of oil post shave. I use 'Inox' but WD 40 will do in a pinch.

Stop blow drying it! It does not matter if you are using room temp air,I refinish metal all the time and the last thing I ever try to do is hit the items being re-blued or plated with my air gun,the air will cause the water to vaporize and flash rust the steel. Even if you cannot see immediate discoloration the effect is already starting on a microscopic level,removing the water is a good thing but vaporizing it via the use of air (free oxygen) is a bad thing,you are fueling the effect you are trying to prevent. Wipe down the blade with a dry cloth,get into the scales too then displace any water in the hinge with oil,work it a bit then apply to the blade as usual. None of this however will prevent the eventual discoloration of the steel where water beads have already evaporated away,for this..read below.

Others have suggested using a Q tip rubbed with stainless buffing compound,I do this on my straights,even did it on my La Form the other day. It looks like the side opposing the logo is entirely gold washed,if so don't use compound because that wash will come off in a hurry,use jewelers gold polish and assuming that is just discoloration it'll come out with no problem. If it's oxidation from the underlying steel..things get complicated and options few if any. I'd still try the gold polish.

Great advice pixelfixed.... Thank you

+1 on stop using the blowdrier.

for the rust spots i had the same problem once...on a new razor...i panicked...but i solved it like this...

Cotton swab with a small quantity of fine polishing paste to remove the rust stains(they were minor...i gotto them in time.) degreased the blade, dried it, aplied reinassance wax... rubbed it in....RW is imo the best you can put on your carbon blade and it holds its protection 3-6 shaves as i use it.

Also if you are storing the blade in a box or pouch of any material that does not breathe(like cartboard, wood, leather etc) - aka plastic, tin it is very heplful toput a small bag of dissicant - the little bags you find in your new pair of shoes do just fine - they absorb the moisture.

Heep in mind that even if you dry the blade and the handle well there is also moisture in the air, and moisture on our hands (opened pores after hot water, sweat=salt water=corosion)...so the dissicant bags are worth the effort.

Question on the blow-drier thing: would a blast of compressed air also be a problem? I had considered using that on the pivot, though I haven't tried it yet.

Compressed air depending where it comes from often harbours a lot of moisture IME

I don't oil my blades unless I'm storing them and have never experienced rust - do you keep it in the bathroom where there might be lots of humidity?

Good wipe with tissue paper over the blade and in between scales, then put back into felt case. I wonder if it isn't a problem of humidity for you.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

After your shave, run the water at max hot,will be maybe 140 Degs max, rinse the blade for 10 secs, the blade will be the same temp.
(no it will not effect the temper) wipe the blade with a tissue,set the blade on a washcloth.
Rinse your brush,put your stuff away,Take the razor which will be compleatly dry due to the heat,give it 10 strokes on leather, apply a little mineral oil
Leave the blade in an open position in a stand or whatever,put away the next day,you will never see rust spots.

Thanks for this. Will go and try this myself.

One question though. I always just put my razor away. How to minimize leaking oil on the surface i put it on? I just have to put on less or? How you guys do that?

Originally Posted by toroo

Thanks for this. Will go and try this myself.

One question though. I always just put my razor away. How to minimize leaking oil on the surface i put it on? I just have to put on less or? How you guys do that?

Put some mineral oil on the blade,I use a small plastic tub with a roll of cotton Gause saturated with it, two swipes,run your thumb and index finger over the blade to evenly spread the oil,I use a razor stand of sorts,let it set a day, than put the razor away with never an issue.
Put the blade on a paper towel, leave it open,will work fine.