Thread: Rusting

FWIW
I have used WD-40 for over a year on my razors with no ill effects to date...
I however don't spray it on the razor I use a small piece of TP then just wipe the blade. The only thing that I could see being bad is that it could cause skin irritation if you didn't wipe it off first....

Many of the police Dept's and the military discontinued use of WD-40 back in the 80's because there was a notion that it could penetrate a primer pocket on a round and cause a misfire from a dead primer. Whether this was ever proved I still don't know......

I use sewing machine oil because it is super cheap, formulated for high-carbon steel *and* non-metal materials, and it is easily available and doesn't harden up.

Don't use just any oil.

Paper shredder oil is really bad. I used that once and within a couple of weeks it had turned to gum, ugh! It was difficult to remove, what a mess.

Vegetable oils can do the same thing.

Tuff glide is OK, but fairly expensive and it has a strong odor. I don't know about long-term preservation with Tuff Glide as the carrier solvent evaporates quickly leaving a dry lubricant. In a moist environment you *might* get corrosion, I don't know.

I just purchased a razor made in 1851 and it is remarkable how little corrosion it has. It also had no oil on it. It was just stored in a musty dry attic for a century. The horns scales were eaten up by bugs, but the steel still looks good. Dry is the key.

Originally Posted by toolarts

Tuff glide is OK, but fairly expensive and it has a strong odor. I don't know about long-term preservation with Tuff Glide as the carrier solvent evaporates quickly leaving a dry lubricant. In a moist environment you *might* get corrosion, I don't know.

I started out trying to use Tuff glide and got corrosion on my SRP Special Edition razor. Switched to Carnelia oil and have not had a problem since.

Dovo also makes other products that are great at preventing corrosion!

Guys remember you are putting this on your face and all the ones mentioned leave a film thats what the are meant to do. They do work though. Stick with the natural oils. I would stay away from Tuff Glide I have seen it leave a stain on a razor that was stored awile more then once.

How long will natural oils prevent rusting? Lets say the razor is stored away in a cool place, like a computer desk drawer

It depends on the exact oil actually. Vegetable oil might go sour quite fast, which may or may not create problems down the line. Mineral oil is stable and you can find food-grade mineral oil.

My longer blades are kept in a cool (but slightly humid) place. I tend to give them a wipe, a full inspection and a new coat of mineral oil once a year. There hasn't been a trace of new oxidation on those blades.

Originally Posted by foundlingofdollar

No WD40? Have I found something it can't fix?

Thats what I use. Spray a tiny bit on to a cloth and give the blade a quick wipe before I put it away. Its working so far..!

Also, make sure the blade is totally dry before you put it away, and that the scales have no water droplets on them either. Check in between the scales for stray lather/ water and wipe it out with some tissue.

Originally Posted by fritz

What about plain vanilla mineral oil, or Johnson's baby oil? Just as good? Bad for the razor??

This is what I use, works great, easy to find, is non toxic, and won't hurt scales, etc... I have never seen anyone post a downside to this.

-Chief

I use a hair dryer and then put the razor away with out any oil. If there is any oil left on the blade I want it to be able to evaporate away. However if I am going away for a long time or for a blade that needs work I will give it a liberal coating of vasaline. Doesn't seem to do any damage, but can stain some scales.