Thread: Oh for pete's sake. Help.

Originally Posted by MistressNomad

In the mean time, I'm gunna go at it with the Rocca. I'm trying out shaving cream tonight!

FWIW, I dunno what cream you're using, or what brush for that matter, But I've given myself a lot of fury over improper cream whipping, Start out with NO water, just the bare minimum in the brush, and whip the cream out as much as you can, until it's either a very flat paste and won't go anywhere, or it actually starts to build lather... Once it's building dry lather, add just a tiny bit of water, and whip a lot... The longer you whip the better.

You may know all of this already, but I wish someone had told it to me in blunt terms - No water to start with, VERY VIGOROUS whipping for a good while before adding water.

Hope I helped, or at least didn't harm :P

Cheers,
Jeremy

Hello, Cassie:

A lot of great advice from everyone. If I may suggest, try alcohol on the blade — and keep it away from the scales. Also, try vinegar on the blade.

Regards,

Obie

My first thought would have been Windex. I would soak your Wapi in the stuff for about half an hour and then gently wipe it off. I've seen this work with a number of applications and I would think it would be safer than nail polish remover. Though I'm not sure what it might do to the scales on your Rocca.

Thanks Jeremy! I did start out with a bit less water. It's Palmolive.

I found it was actually easier to make lather with the cream, and it was slicker.

But I didn't feel like it had as much cushion. It also seemed to dry out faster, and there is something in it that my skin and nose isn't too fond of. That's a very common thing for me with mass production shaving foam and body soaps. I don't know exactly what it is, but some chemical preservative that just doesn't *quite* agree with me.

My skin is feeling a little more burn-y than usual after a straight shave, but not as much as after a disposable shave. And I have to say the shave is quite close.

But I got some more to try out!

Vinegar, eh? I got that laying around. May give it a try.

I don't think I'll have to do much to the Rocca. There's a little bit by the heel-end of the spine, but mostly it's fine. The Wapi, on the other hand, is a mess.

Would I want to soak it? Since the Wapi is all-steel would this be ok? If so how long?

I find that creams lather much more easily than soaps, and you get more lather, but they dont provide quite as much cushion, slickness and glide as soaps do. The more I go down this road, the less I am using my creams..! I still like them, I just prefer soap.

Give a few other creams a try and see what you think. Castle Forbes and Trumpers both do excellent creams, and I believe CarrieM makes them as well. Its all about finding things you like, plus playing with all this different lotions and potions is fun...!

I'd avoid soaking the razor if it were me. These blades seem to tarnish pretty quickly, so I wouldnt want to have one in anything for any length of time, especially a solvent..!

Give the different ideas (vinegar, alcohol etc..) a try though. Just put some on a cloth and gently rub it on the blade. Hopefully the mild solvent effect will remove the oil.

When you're done, make sure you thoroughly rinse the blade to remove any of the solvent you used. Any left over could tarnish the blade over time.

And also make sure that you totally dry the razor once you have rinsed it.

Good luck!

Well, do note that vinegar is acidic and sometimes used to induce patina (read: corrosion) to razors. Use with caution if you decide going that way.

My money would be with alcohol and acetone, with hot water wash, very through drying and meticulous oiling after the treatment. Because alcohol and acetone will dissolve any protective oils on the surface. And as Bill said, Mr Acetone is not Mr Scales' friend.

Sorry, I didn't real all the replies, but I'd stay away from harsh solvents to clean your blades. Something like MAAS or Mother's mag and aluminum polish should do the trick. I've bought Ebay blades that lool like they were stored in Cosmoline. if not, "Goo Gone" the sticker remover orange based stuff available in Home Depot or places like that. It'll be with the solvents. If your using it on a WAPI, your fine... It's ok on your blades and will wash off any gunk, quick. Nail Polish is Acetone. I'd be careful getting nail polish remover near my scales, especially if their celluloid....My two cents...

Shit, Did you say, Wapi? Just put it in the dishwasher. it's Dishwashere safe....

Just Kidding, but it probably is....

Originally Posted by Obie

Hello, Cassie:

A lot of great advice from everyone. If I may suggest, try alcohol on the blade — and keep it away from the scales. Also, try vinegar on the blade.

Regards,

Obie

acids will patina the blade, you do not want to use them unless you want to polish after that.

The first thing I would use is WD-40. It will take of sticky tape marks and such almost as well as oops or goof off.

Mackie, I have no experience with this, so I cannot comment but, isn't WD40 a lubricant, not a remover? And, if it works as a remover, would it also double for oiling the blade in between lubrications?