Thread: Beginner in need of some rust removal advice.

Hi all,

So recently I acquired a razor that seems to have come rusting. The razor is "hy-carbon steel". The rusting is very minimal, there is no pitting (at least that's what I think), and it really is only about a few months of rust. I can scratch some of it off with my fingernails.

it was shave ready about 1 year ago.

The majority of the rust is on the right side of the razor, with a significant portion on the spine.

What is the cheapest and quickest way that I could get this razor back into commission?

here is a pic:

--let me know if you need more

Best,

RH

Start with posting a photo here so we have a better sense of the severity.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Start with posting a photo here so we have a better sense of the severity.

'Nuff said.


However, if a camera is not within distance of you, I'd start with some metal polisher. Maas works great! Others will correct me if I'm wrong, but it's nearly certain the blade will have to be rehoned to ensure the rust didn't touch the edge.

Yes a photo would help, but just like honing try not to remove more than is needed, especially if this razor is a full hollow or double hollow.
I would almost guarantee that it would need a honing, even if you cannot see rust along the bevel with the naked eye, it is still very probably there. Of course my wife did shave last night with a 40+ year old DE blade, so you never know.

I just had the same problem with razors I had sitting for a while. My first line of defense is MAAS, or Mother's mag and wheel polish.
If not, you may have to take more drastic measures...9 times out of ten that's sufficient for what your describing without photos.

Remember to start with a mild approach because you can always get more aggressive if the blade requires. Start with Maas or Flitz or even toothpaste. Avoid any sanding unless it is required because it creates future work for you,

This is one post where until I see a picture I ain't giving any advice. Everything is relative and minor rust to one person is pitting to another so...

hey guys I made an edit with a pic.

Thanks for the help.

BigSpendur was right. People have different senses of scale of severity, and after seeing that picture, I'd say your tolerance is pretty high. Aside from the significant cosmetic issue, your edge is toast. In order to get that razor up to snuff, it is going to need a full bevel re-set in order to hone past what is now a swiss-cheese steel in the edge.

Before honing, the rest of the razor needs to be addressed. You need to eliminate the active rust. Start with a metal polish like Maas, Mothers, Flitz, or Simichrome and start rubbing. See how that does. Unfortunately I suspect that will not be sufficient.

Ron/Utopian may very well be correct, but I have seen razors that look like that BUT the rust is not very deep at all and a clean bevel comes in very quickly. My plan of attack would be to do some circles on each side on the 1k just to see what's under the rust and then decide where to go from there.

If you don't have a hone, you could use your metal polish of choice. I prefer to start with a single edge scraper (looks like a SE blade, but they say clearly they are not for shaving) to take off the top layer of rust. If you put the edge parallel to the razor's edge and make a swipe from spine to edge, all the surface rust should come off quite easily.