Thread: Brand new Dovo is rusting after two shaves... pics included. Please help!

I purchased a brand new Dovo Black Star from thesuperiorshave.com last week. Shaved on Wednesday and then again today.

During the first shave I thought I saw little water marks or little rust spots but I told myself that I was just seeing things. After all, how could it start rusting DURING the first shave? (It was definitely perfect when I got it in the mail)

Anyway, here is what the blade looks like today right after my second shave. I don't understand why this would happen. Here's all I did:

1. Strop blade
2. Shave / Rinsing off shaving soap with hot water
3. Dry immediately (and thoroughly) with new microfiber cloth
4. Place in oil-impregnated sheath

So what's the story? Do I have some freaky tap water that is destroying the blade?

More importantly... is this blade garbage now? Any recommendations on how I can fix and prevent this or should I just give up and buy a DE?

Thanks!!!

the blade is not ruined, may be it will need to be rehoned, but that will only be the case it there is rusting on the edge.
I would suggest to make sure the scales are dry on the inside after you shave, and also to apply oil to the blade it self. IMHO wrapping in paper is not sufficient enough.,

It's garbage now. Just mail it to me and be done with it!

But seriously... your blade is fine. I would suggest applying a oil with a rag directly to the blade after every use (I use mineral oil). Grab some mothers polishing compound from your local auto parts store and buff out the discoloration. The oil impregnated sheath isn't doing the job of properly coating the blade.

Just my 2cents, YMMV

Originally Posted by mainaman

the blade is not ruined, may be it will need to be rehoned, but that will only be the case it there is rusting on the edge.
I would suggest to make sure the scales are dry on the inside after you shave, and also to apply oil to the blade it self. IMHO wrapping in paper is not sufficient enough.,

I'm very careful to make sure that the scales never get wet. I was very conscious about making sure everything was 100% dry, which is why I am quite dismayed. I've been lurking here for a while and it seems that people recommend oiling blades if you're not going to use them for a while. In my case I shave every other day which made me thing that I shouldn't need to oil the blade.

Like I said in my first post I'm pretty sure that I saw these spots forming DURING the first shave. Are there any accounts of tap water that can have this kind of immediate effect?

I've seen carbon steel rust if you look at it funny. Just the nature of the beast. Chalk this up as a learning experience and start oiling the blade after it is dried.

Sorry you are having problems. It's frustrating.

Before I use any razor, new or vintage, I polish it lightly with Mass (avoiding etching and gold wash) and then put two light coats of Renaissance wax on the blade and buff it with a soft cotton towel.

After every shave, I follow the following regimen.

• Rinse the blade in hot water.
• Dry it with a soft cotton towel.
• Let it air dry for ten minutes.
• Apply two drops of Camelia oil on the blade and smear it on both sides with my finger.
• Wipe the excess oil off with toilet paper.

This has kept my razors looking like new.

Before I did this regimen, I used to have one Boker carbon steel razor that would begin to have dark rust spots before I even finished shaving with it.

I hope this helps.

Happy Shaving!

Maybe I am playing with fire, but in the past two years, I have never put any type of oil on any blade I use regularly. I shave, rinse with the hottest water, dry with a microfiber cloth followed by 12 laps cloth and 12 laps leather. I have had a tiny, tiny bit of staining on a couple of blades, but never anything serious and never any rust. I think it just takes diligence to avoid water in the scales and careful drying. I'm not sure that it is absolutely necessary to oil a blade after every shave if you are diligent with drying the blade, scales and edge.

I have had a number of dovo razors (probably 80% of the models Dovo makes) with gold wash and what not, including this model and I have never had this problem. They have spent up to 15-20 minutes in water during honing and shaving. May be your water or lather is different than my water and lather.

I oil my razors only if I mail them honed and stropped, and occasionally, but not always, if I'm sure I'm going to store them for a long time.

Originally Posted by TerminalFrost

Anyway, here is what the blade looks like today right after my second shave. I don't understand why this would happen. Here's all I did:

1. Strop blade
2. Shave / Rinsing off shaving soap with hot water
3. Dry immediately (and thoroughly) with new microfiber cloth
4. Place in oil-impregnated sheath

There is the problem, DO NOT close the razor, I don't care how good you think you dried it, leave the razor open in a safe place, before putting it away... I leave mine open until the next day, when it goes away, and a new one comes out to play... You might need to oil the razor before it goes away, that depends on where you are at, and where the razors are at, only time will tell...

Originally Posted by Theseus

I've seen carbon steel rust if you look at it funny. Just the nature of the beast. Chalk this up as a learning experience and start oiling the blade after it is dried.

+1... We can only speculate as to the problem but if it persists even after an oiling regime you may need to assess the acidity of your water.
If you're right & the problem happened during the shave, fish tank testing kits will give you an idea if your water is very acidic.
If that is the case a little baking soda or washing soda added to a basin full of water would eliminate acidity as an influence.

Looks like you have a couple of spots on the edge . Bummer