Rust Spots after First Shave?

Hey! I just completed my first step into the hobby of shaving my with straight razor. I loved it! I was trying to do as much research as possible on SRP before I took the razor to my face. I noticed after my first shave, while applying my first coat of oil to the blade (living in Florida is very humid), these spots on the spine and end of the blade. The spot on the spine feels like a pit or rough area (catches when you use your nail to go across the spine). I have never exposed the razor to any sort of water and never placed it in bathroom, trying to prevent any rust spot. Like I said, this was my first time using the razor after purchasing it. The spot at the end of the blade is smooth and almost looks like a production defect from Boker. Maybe? What do you suggest I do? Are these the beginnings of rust spots? Is there anything you recommend? Thank you so much for your advice!Attachment 226616Attachment 226617Attachment 226618

Maybe, if you think it is a defect you could communicate with the seller. From the pictures it is hard to see what issue if any exist.

the one thing I will advise you is to not oils a blade until they've had time to dry fully.

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Originally Posted by Haroldg48

Maybe, if you think it is a defect you could communicate with the seller. From the pictures it is hard to see what issue if any exist.

the one thing I will advise you is to not oils a blade until they've had time to dry fully.

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Thank you of the advice. The area at the end of the blade almost appears dark gray to black and smooth. While the area on the spine is the same color as the rest of the blade, but has just lost its polish in this one area. This area is also catches if you rub your thumb nail across the spine. Thanks again for the advice.

If they are on the surface a little Mothers polish should clean it up. Make sure you completely dry your razor.

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Originally Posted by bouschie

If they are on the surface a little Mothers polish should clean it up. Make sure you completely dry your razor.

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Thank you for your advice. In your opinion what is the best way to apply the metal polish with a Q-tip?

And yeah I noticed the spots immediately after my first shave while I was attempting to make the razor completely dry.

Also, with living in Florida, what do you recommend for protection with this humidity?

Thanks again!

Well, Florida is indeed humid, but it's not humid enough to rust and pit steel in the amount of time it takes to shave. How long did you have it before you tried to shave with it? Did you inspect it before you shaved? Have you talked to the seller about this?

In answer to your question about how to prevent high carbon steel from rusting. After use make sure that the blade is dry. You can wipe it with a towel or toilet tissue making sure that you don't touch the cutting edge. Take 2 squares of toilet tissue and run them between the scales to make sure there is no water inside the scales. While shaving try not to get any water in the area where the razor is pinned to the scales, if you do make sure that area gets dried out -- perhaps a blow dryer. Let the razor sit until you are sure that it is dry, then you can put a very light coat of oil on the blade and tang, (again making sure not to damage the edge.) Many people tend to over-oil steel. Only a drop or two of oil spread on each side of the blade and tank is enough to prevent rust. Then store the razor in the least humid nearby location that you have. Depending on what oil you use, you may need to wipe the oil off before you strop for your next shave.

The spot on the toe looks like the razor got dinged against something (faucet? sink?). It's easy to ding your first razor up.

The spot on the spine looks a lot like a manufacturing defect. If it is dead center (side to side) of the spine and rough then it they didn't polish it smooth.
A little bit of sanding with 2500 grit will smooth it down.

The other spots can be removed with Mother's Mag and Wheel Polish, Maas, Flitz, etc. Just be careful of your fingers near the bevel.

after letting your razors dry off, instead of oiling you could put them in a razor pouch or store them in a box with desiccant packets to de-humidify.

Is this a vintage or new razor.
Some vintage razors were plated. Thats what this looks like, from the description you gave. Clean it back up with metal polish, then oil it again

In my opinion the only way to reasonably keep a razor from rusting is to not use it. The spot on the spine looks understandable for a vintage blade but I can't comment on the toe as the picture is out of focus.

Rinse it off with very hot water and dry completely with a towel then strop 10 laps on linen and 10 laps leather then set out open to air dry.

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Originally Posted by rodb

Rinse it off with very hot water and dry completely with a towel then strop 10 laps on linen and 10 laps leather then set out open to air dry.

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That dries off the edge but how about the rest?

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Originally Posted by Uzi

Well, Florida is indeed humid, but it's not humid enough to rust and pit steel in the amount of time it takes to shave. How long did you have it before you tried to shave with it? Did you inspect it before you shaved? Have you talked to the seller about this?

In answer to your question about how to prevent high carbon steel from rusting. After use make sure that the blade is dry. You can wipe it with a towel or toilet tissue making sure that you don't touch the cutting edge. Take 2 squares of toilet tissue and run them between the scales to make sure there is no water inside the scales. While shaving try not to get any water in the area where the razor is pinned to the scales, if you do make sure that area gets dried out -- perhaps a blow dryer. Let the razor sit until you are sure that it is dry, then you can put a very light coat of oil on the blade and tang, (again making sure not to damage the edge.) Many people tend to over-oil steel. Only a drop or two of oil spread on each side of the blade and tank is enough to prevent rust. Then store the razor in the least humid nearby location that you have. Depending on what oil you use, you may need to wipe the oil off before you strop for your next shave.

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Thank you for the information. I had the razor for about a month before my first use. It came to me already with a coat of oil. This was a brand new razor, not a vintage one. To be honest, I really didn't inspect the razor a lot before I started to shave, but I did notice the part on the toe. I didn't put it together that it could be rust, due to the fact that it was brand new. I guess that was my bad.

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Originally Posted by criswilson10

The spot on the toe looks like the razor got dinged against something (faucet? sink?). It's easy to ding your first razor up.

The spot on the spine looks a lot like a manufacturing defect. If it is dead center (side to side) of the spine and rough then it they didn't polish it smooth.
A little bit of sanding with 2500 grit will smooth it down.

The other spots can be removed with Mother's Mag and Wheel Polish, Maas, Flitz, etc. Just be careful of your fingers near the bevel.

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I tried to get the toe in focus on the pictures. But I don't believe I hit the razor against anything, because as soon as I got the razor I put it on my dresser. That is a good idea though.

I just purchased Maas to see what that could for the two spots. Thank you for your help!

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Originally Posted by 32t

In my opinion the only way to reasonably keep a razor from rusting is to not use it. The spot on the spine looks understandable for a vintage blade but I can't comment on the toe as the picture is out of focus.

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Sorry for the photos. I tried to get the spine in focus for you to see. I attempted again with my phone this time. Thanks again for your help!

I recently followed some advice from Rezdog and I switched from Ballistol to Renaissance Wax, an oil to a wax to coat the blade after drying. I am happy with the results, just another option for you to consider.

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Originally Posted by WW243

I recently followed some advice from Rezdog and I switched from Ballistol to Renaissance Wax, an oil to a wax to coat the blade after drying. I am happy with the results, just another option for you to consider.

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That's awesome to know you can use wax instead of oil. I might give that a try. I have reinassance wax from my gun, so I can try that out too. I'm assuming just like the oil, a little bit goes a long way!

Just wanted to follow up with y'all. I spoke with the seller, and they are great and are going to help remove the water spots. In the meantime, I applied a little bit of Maas, and that removed about 95% of the spots. Thank you again for the support.

The first couple of shaves are definetly a large learning curve. I am starting to get the hang of it, but still getting razor burn on the neck and some spots where it is baby smooth and otheswhere you can still visually see the hair cuticle. Getting there! Thanks again.

That's great that the vendor is willing to polish out the spots for you. With regard to Renaissance wax, sure it will work. I used to use it on firearms all the time before I found something even better. There's certainly nothing wrong with using it. However, any very light coat of oil, whether organic or synthetic, will work on carbon steel to prevent rust. For example, I protect knives that I might use for food prep, deer skinning, etc. in the woods with pure virgin olive oil and that works fine. The only trick, regardless of the lubricant used, is to make sure that the blade is absolutely dry before it is applied.