Thread: Oiling your razor

I don't know if this is a good practice, but I use the same razor every day and since I use it every day I figure I don't need to oil it, plus as a happy accident, out of convenience I place my razor at the back of my laptop (at the screen/keyboard joint) which I keep on all the time and the little heat from the laptop keeps my razor really dry.

Should I go with the WD-40 then for my SR (Kidding)? Seriously, I do use that on the threads of my DE but am using mineral oil on the SR. I'll look into ballistol oil. Camellia oil looks pricey so far. Where do you buy it for $7.00?
From a red throated Kentuckian.

I'm with Knife here. Never oil because i use the same razor every day. But do oil for the ones put away for storage. Sewing machine oil.

Originally Posted by KYPHILIP

Should I go with the WD-40 then for my SR (Kidding)? Seriously, I do use that on the threads of my DE but am using mineral oil on the SR. I'll look into ballistol oil. Camellia oil looks pricey so far. Where do you buy it for $7.00?
From a red throated Kentuckian.

It's still on sale at Amazon for $7 (2 oz bottle) - Greenhealth Camellia 100% Pure Oil, ships/sold by Greenals. Free shipping

Originally Posted by Frankenstein

I'm with Knife here. Never oil because i use the same razor every day. But do oil for the ones put away for storage. Sewing machine oil.

Yep... I use one or two razors for a week or more then oil and rotate them out.
I have been eyeballing the tissues in a box that have "lotion" on them to keep
a tender nose from turning red. I have looked on the box and the "lotion" is
basically mineral oil. I am going to give a box a try. Just wipe the last
of the lather off with the tissue and put it back on the shelf.

Originally Posted by KYPHILIP

Should I go with the WD-40 then for my SR (Kidding)?

Glen; (GSSIXGUN) sends all of his restored/honed razors back to the owner with a light coat of WD-40.

He includes a paper telling the owner what stone was used to finish the edge. This paper also states that the razor was lightly coated with WD-40 and also how to use the razor the first time. The instructions also include how to strop it to keep it up to par after the first shave! While he doesn't mention WD-40 in particular, he does tell the owner that a buffed/restored razor has 'fresh' steel and that it's prone to oxidization and that it should be kept oiled for at least 1 month!

I used WD-40 on my great grandfather's W&B for several months, then I switched to Ballistol.

I oil a razor after each use.

I use Ballistol because I have about 2 quarts of it for gun and general use; and it emulsifies with water. Emulsifying with water is a nice feature since it is usually very humid where I live and I do a bit of canoeing, hiking, etc...

Most oils should work just fine.

I rinse my blade with hot water, wipe then blow out the pivot from the back side. then lay it on my sink towel and just fold a corner over it that doesn't cover the scales to that I will not forget it is in the towel.

I clean all my shaving stuff and then get to back to the razor. I use an applicator mixed with Billistoal and Camelia oil.



Works very well and has kept all my razors like new. Oxidation will still take place but in at very minimal level and nothing that a polishing compound will take off at each honing session.

Take Care,
Richard

Anyone use vasoline?

I heard one person, I think a senior member, say he only oils his razor if it is going into storage(out of rotation). I have been using a light coating of mineral oil and then removing it with an alcohol wipe before stropping. I've stopped oiling at this point. Still don't know which way to go on this. I thoroughly dry it as well as inside and outside the scales, then I give it about 50 on the leather side of the strop. I want to avoid any oxidation and it is stored out of bathroom.
Anyway, I'm still learning and had an "ahah" moment shaving my neck. It was successful using angled strokes first WTG/XTG and ATG. This required a very light touch and with the spine almost flat. It felt good that I missed my jugular! Seriously, this was the first time in that area with minimal irritation/redness. It felt good. Used Nivea shave balm followed by Palmers Cocoa Butter lotion.
Thanks for any input you have!
KYPHILIP