Thread: A couple of question

Hello gentlemen,

I recently began the whole straight razor thing and i can say that its dangerous!! Got a couple of bad cuts but i dont give up that easily.

Unfortunately Ruprazor didn't ship the strop right so i havent stropped the razor yet and here is the first question.
my razor is getting rusty, not on the tip but around the scales and a couple of spots around the neck. Its a Geneva cutlery and i bought it from the classifieds from a very cool guy. So is this normal and how do i fix it knowing i have nothing more than the basic equipment. Is there any particular procedure i should do after shaving or during to keep it from rusting?
Also when is it time to hone the razor ?

Daniel. G

Razors don't cut people. Take it a little slower and pay attention to what you're doing, especially if you're inexperienced.

I find it hard to imagine Kenrup would have sent the strop the wrong way. Contact him to clear the strop-thing.

If you're getting rust, you most likely left the razor and/or scales wet. Dry it well from everyplace you can reach (including between scales) and leave it out to dry in open position (if possible). You can also try oil the blade a little, if you have humid environment.

I guess Maas/Flitz/other polishing agent would clear those rust, but they also might remove the gold etch.

Make sure after you use your razor that it is completely dry before you store it, that will prevent it from rusting, and if you live in particularly humid area you can try oiling it to keep moisture from sitting on the blade. As for the rust that is already there as long as there is no pitting a little bit of oil and a toothbrush should work to clear away the rust. I had the same problem when first stared and now I take special care to ensure my razor is totally dry after I am done shaving with it and haven't had a problem since.

Read my sig below to avoid nicks and cuts. Following the shave rinse the razor in hot tap water and then wipe dry with a tissue and when you have one give it a light stropping on leather to get micro gunk out of the striations. A rust preventative is an option that I choose to take. Store the razor in a non humid environment when not in use.

SRP Wiki beginner's guide here for a good read.

It's time to hone when it no longer shaves well. It's not smooth or takes too much effort to get a decent shave. Did your razor come to you "shave ready"? How are the shaves, minus cuts?

If you rinse your blade please use steaming hot water so it will evaporate. I do not rinse my blades at all, I wipe them on a towel. No dings on the faucet, no rust on the blade.

Try to keep the pivot area dry - even when you rinse this area doesn't need to get wet. It's hard to dry that really tight area between the tang and the scales.

Careful with Flitz or Maas polishes, they will take off any gold etching or bluing and they will dull the edge if they touch it.

Ursus: i am the problem is that i never though that an accidental ligh tap on my nuckles can cut to the bone... Mistakes happen and when its been a month and strop is not here then i wonder what happens. problem solved yet i still don't have a strop lol.

Perdition: what kind of oil are we talking about, some special razor oil or could olive oil do the job too?

Jimmy: rinse you mean only the blade or the whole thing? Also while shaving should i wipe the blade on cloth rather than rinse it on the tap?


Rickboone: It did and the first shave was quite good then the chin is begging to be super hard to shave so i don't bother since it actually doesn't give me the close shave i want.

nun3sharp: so put the whole razor in hot water including scales?

Bingo: I tried to wipe but since my hands get all wet from doing lather, preshaving cream, several lather applications etc i allways end up getting the razor wet :S

Awesome and thank you all for the advice!

Now that we have covered rust prevention how can i take out the rust i have without polishing agents? is there some home made formula to get rid of it in a fast manner?

Just rinse off the blade, no need for total immersion, then towel dry or use a piece of tissue as Jimmy stated. If you wish to use oil, I would use something not petroleum based, olive would be good, Lynn and others use Camelia.

If you are storing it for a while I would be concerned that natural oils (olive oil) might go bad in someway. Mineral oil maybe?