Thread: Gassing Scales

How can you tell if the scales on a razor are "gassing"? And if they do I've read you are suppose to isolate that razor from other celluloid scales? Does anyone store celluloid scales in a way to protect the other scales if you happen to not use the razor for a while and it "gases"?

Thanks,
John

you can tell the scales are gassing because the blade rusts, and other razors in the area also start rusting. I'm not aware of a better way to detect this condition. You could probably store your razors in ziplock freezer bags, but even that won't keep it completely isolated should one start outgassing.

Keeping the razors out of bright light when not in use seems to help reduce the likelihood of celluloid decomposition, and it seems like the marbleized or iced scales are the most common culprits.

Usually celluloid has a subtle vinnegar like smell to it if you rub it slightly and when they start to deteriorate that smell becomes more pronounced and you don't need to rub it to get that response. Of course if you have rust or corrosion where the blade is near the stuff you have your smoking gun.

This is great info for us Newbies guys!

Thanks,
John

The marble colored celluloid is extremely prone to this. There is a collection of razors on ebay right now that demonstrates this extremely well. There is a gunstock razor in one corner and it is horribly rusted and the razors around it are somewhat rusted with the worst rust occurring nearest the razor with the celluloid rot. It's like a circle of rust that extends from the problem razor.

Celluloid deterioration or "rot" cannot be stopped by any process I know of. The only solution is to remove the handles and discard them if the blade is still worth saving - if not, discard the entire razor.

Celluloid rot usually is accompanied by not only a rather pungent celluloid smell but usually also some disfiguration/discoloration of the celluloid. Discoloration of the scales accompanied by notably severe rust that corresponds to that discoloration is proof positive to me that it's celluloid rot. The latter alone is all the proof I need. I've had hundreds of celluloid razors without problems but I've had a few that did have celluloid rot. The stuff eats the blade - not just rusting it. It will literally eat holes right through the steel.

Do you know the item number on Ebay?

How does gassing happen then? I don't understand the concept, but from the one post it seems to come from the celluloid and it being left int he sun can create the reaction?

The molecules start breaking down and releasing a gas vapor - I thought it was ammonia but I could be wrong, it hasn't happened to me yet. The gas acts as a catalys for the other celluloid molecules to start breaking down, and you get a chain reaction. I don't know that it's ever been proven that light encourages this process, but its prevalence in the translucent celluloids would seem indicative, I would think that the dark celluloids are protected partly because the dye tends to absorb the light instead of the celluloid material. Celluloid rot can happen even without the stimulus of light, it's just not a very stable plastic. Lots of the old hollywood movies have disappeared because of this as well, rotting away in their canisters.

Here's what can happen. The offending razor is the one in the upper right - the gunstock marble colored celluloid. This particular celluloid has a high incidence of celluloid rot. I've encountered it before with this pattern.

Originally Posted by PapaBull

Here's what can happen. The offending razor is the one in the upper right - the gunstock marble colored celluloid. This particular celluloid has a high incidence of celluloid rot. I've encountered it before with this pattern.

Is there a general rule of thumb of how many years minimum (under the worst conditions) it would take for this chemical breakdown to start?

Regularly disinfection and coating the scales in protective oils won't avoid/delay this process?