Thread: Razor marks.

I'm getting marks on my iwasaki. It is my only razor so it gets used every 1/2 days. I'm getting little black/grey marks on my razor. I have 2 questions.

1. How should I get them off? One that is around .2mm is dark. The other ones are lighter but bigger.

2. How should I prevent this happening. This is my shaving routine.
Strop razor
Place on side in bathroom
Have a shower
Make lather
Shave
Rinse razor with very hot water
Dry with towel
Dry with tissue paper
Strop
Put back in box on living room shelf.

I don't really want to use oil as it would be a pita putting it on then taking it off everyday. I'm 100% sure it is dry when I put it away.

Any advice, Thanks guys.

EDIT: The marking only happens on the omote

Well to be blunt. you don't want to oil it?! Then do nothing and just let it rust...On a kinder note, Perhaps keeping it out of the bathroom while you shower may help, though really, it is no great issue to give the razor a quick wipe before shaving, and then giving it another quick wipe when it's dry, with a cotton wool ball and a drop or two of oil.


Mick

Hi fossala,

The marks are probably oxidation/rust beginning. I think putting your razor in a box without ventilation is what's causing your problem. No matter how well we dry and wipe our razors it's always possible for moisture to remain. Soap film can be almost imperceptible, but will attract moisture. After cleaning, drying and stropping I always leave my razor open and out for most of the day before stropping and storing for the next morning. I think with what your doing, if you leave your razor out and let it continue to air dry before putting it in its box you'll be fine. If the oxidation continues after that, then oiling might be appropriate.

You can get the marks off with some metal polish, i.e. Mothers aluminum wheel polish, or other brands/types of metal polish, but be very careful going near the edge. I sometimes use a q-tip to do small areas. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

Regards,

Howard

I contemplated putting my razor away dry this morning..because so many here report doing so and having no issue. So I put it in the drawer...then thought about it while brushing my teeth.

I concluded that I was being stupid as I pondered it for about 10 seconds, which is exactly 5 times longer than it takes me to oil it.

Look to your favorite razor vendor and they will likely offer a nifty bottle with a felt applicator. Swipe each side of the blade and done.

Excessive on my part? Perhaps, but this (full) bottle of oil with applicator cost me about 9 bucks and should last a few years at this rate. Peace of mind is cheap for once!

Sentry Solutions: Tuf-Cloth

I use this stuff from SentrySolutions. I have used it for years on guns and knives and it has worked just as well for me with razors. They even have a precision applicator bottle that is perfect for getting into pivot areas. I just cut a corner off of my cloth, keep it in a small baggie and wipe the razor down after setting out to dry overnight and before putting it back in the box. Works great and lasts a long time!

I will pick us some q-tips (cotton wool buds for us over here (UK)) and some metal polish. While I'm down my supermarket, what type of oil should I buy?

A lot of us use camellia oil, but that won't be in the supermarket. Quite a few also use mineral oil and that should be available. Good luck, hope you don't even need the oil.

Regards,
Howard

Deleted!
Duplicate post. System froze for a minute and then posted twice.

Sometimes you get marks that are not rust but are hard water stains from the minerals. Light rust will come right off with some metal polish. Hard water stains can be harder to remove.

If you find that the mineral oil tends to pool instead of leaving an even coat, try melting a small amount of bees wax in the oil. You'll likely have to shake it before use, but it makes a world of difference. I have heard that some people never experience this pooling so try the oil first.