Thread: What causes stainging on a SR?

What causes staining on a straight razor?

Some minerals in hard water will do it fairly quickly. I know this from experience. Lather left on a razor can give the blade a colored stain that resembles overheating. I know this from experience also.

Now I rinse and wipe the blade with a tissue, strop 20 round trips on leather and wipe with a silicone gun cloth. Rarely get staining when I stay on top of them.

OK. Thanks. So if i keep the blade clean and dry, no staining.

Originally Posted by mranderson

OK. Thanks. So if i keep the blade clean and dry, no staining.

I can't guarantee no staining if you keep it clean and dry but I can guarantee staining if you don't.

I was starting to notice staining on some of my blades on the front side near the edge. I realized that when I was drying my razor, I was not getting close enough to the edge with my microfiber rag.

I now dry my razors meticulously after shaving with a tissue followed by a microfiber cloth. I do not oil my blades after each shave, and I have noticed no staining since I started being extra careful.

So while there are no guarantees, if you are extremely diligent in the care of your razor, you should be okay.

I would just add there are many factors contributing to stains on the blade. Some have already been mentioned. The humidity in the air is another. As long as you are diligent in care you shouldn't have a problem. If rust begins, some oil on the blade will protect it.

+1 to all the above replies. One thing I don't see mentioned are the stains that mysteriously appear after you have made sure to dry the blade really good. Always use the corner of your towel or fold a tissue and make sure to make a couple of swipes inside and outside the scale from end to end. My very first razor got a couple of water spots from this. If there are water droplets on the inside of the scale, you can dry the blade all you want. As soon as you close it, the water may make contact on the dry blade leaving an ugly stain.

Here's the method I use when I finish shaving to put the razor up until the next morning.

1. Make sure all shaving soap is thoroughly rinsed off the blade. Use the hottest water possible and keep rinsing the blade until it becomes hot.
With a dry cloth or tissue, thoroughly wipe the blade from end to end. The heated blade will keep dissipating moisture from the metal.

2. Using the corner of your towel or a folded tissue, thoroughly wipe the scale inside and out from end to end. I also blow a few times on the inside of the scale right where the tang is hinged to the scale to make sure there aren't any droplets that I failed to get with my towel.

3. Strop about 20 linen & 20 leather. The friction of stropping dries out even more moisture.

4. Make sure to keep the razor somewhere it won't get water splashed on it. ie....keeping it on the edge of the sink. If someone else besides you washes thier hands, they most likely won't take care not to splash water on it. I always keep mine in the medicine cabinet.

I hope this will help. I've been using this method ever since I got stains on my first razor and have never had another problem since.

Good luck and happy shaving!