Oh no, rust spots on brand new Bismarck

Hi everyone, my 2-week old Bismarck is developing some rust spots. After I shave with it, I wipe it dry, sometimes blow dry it using room temperature setting, and apply a thin layer of SRD razor oil...yet there are rust spots, gah!

When I rinse the soap off the blade, I use really hot water from the faucet. I am very careful not to get any water on the scale and the pin. I store it not folded, but with it open in a container. Am I doing something wrong?

How can I remove the rust? How can I prevent more from developing?

I also own a Best Quality, and it doesn't develop rust at all.

Thank you.

Images: http://imgur.com/a/Oz1O9

I suspect you are forgetting the inside of the scales. If you are going through all that and still getting rust you are missing something simple.

I can't see the rust very well but even a mild polish on the gold will make it disappear. Be very careful!

I added clearer images. I think maybe the container is not dry enough, although I also store my Best Quality there and it has no problem.. I may just start storing the Bismarck in open space.

I used some Bon Ami and the rust spots came off a bit.. (some went away) phew. I guess I'll be applying Bon Ami from now on anytime I see any dot on my Bismarck.

Looks like it's just had a little damp spot. It's nothing to worry about, I'd buff it out with a mild polish on a Qtip. The rest of the blade looks perfect.

I keep a couple of silica gel sachets under the foam in the dovo box to help prevent this.

The only thing I would add is to leave it out after use for a while before you put it away for safe keeping and before you put any oil on the blade. Sometimes there is dampness left behind that becomes troublesome if you store it where it can't get ventilation.

Have never seen rust spots on a properly dried and oiled razor (i use mineral Oil) is a mystery to me why so many people do.

OP-You might consider using a towel to wipe your blade between strokes, as opposed to running water if you don't already.

In spite of the fact that I never run my razor under the spigot, I still dry it carefully, lite wipe with mineral oil, and stow it in an AlembiCase with a desiccant pack.

Because paranoid...

my water is on the acid side, and will cause rust spots in very short order if even a trace of moisture remains. We like to think of plastic as water proof, but in my experience some can hold a "dampness" Usually a trace of moisture under the scales is the culprit. when you put it away in a case, there is no ventilation to allow it to dry. The Bismark may have a higher propensity to hold moisture, or it could be as simple as the scales are closer to the steel than your other razor.
I ALWAYS leave my razor out in the open position for at least over night before putting them away.

It's my belief that if you apply oil when there is ANY moisture left, the oil can trap the moisture against the metal. I agree with the notion that It should be left open to dry more, after hand drying, if you have somewhere you can do that. I leave mine open on top of the bedroom cable box (which is always warm) until the end of the day before storing it. I use no oil on any of my blades unless they're going to be idle for an extended period of time.

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.

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.

Quote:

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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.

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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?

Quote:

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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?

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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.Attachment 162618