Thread: Help finding "Mineral Oil" in Australia

Originally Posted by Howard

I believe paraffin is kerosene and not mineral oil. Try a pharmacy (chemist, druggist, etc.) for mineral oil which is used to help people stay regular. Personally, I use Dovo Sterol which is a sterile oil. One could also use Camellia Oil which you can get on eBay or from any supplier of Japanese metal tools.

Paraffin is a byproduct of the refining process for petrolium oils. Paraffin wax is not kerosene, mineral oil is not kerosene and yet they both have paraffin in them. Paraffin is found in mineral oil, wax, and several other products and certain paraffins can be found in kerosene.

Did you know that Jet Fuel is just purified kerosene and contains paraffins?

Originally Posted by Pinda

Wandering through the IKEA this afternoon (a pasttime I hate BTW , but I had to find some fabric used on a sofa. Did find it, coldnt buy it... ) in the kitchen parafanalia department I found a bottle of SKYDD. 100% Mineral Oil (parafine oil).

It is used for for wood treatment, such as cutting boards. It contains no solvents and is non-toxic.

That's the stuff we are looking for

It's sold in a plastic 0,5 ltr (17oz) bottle with childproof cap. It's made in Sweden (duh) and the partnumber is 17361. Price EUR 2,95

In the morning I will put it in a spraybottle and use it for my razors and other tools.

I would not treat my razors with it though. Many wood treatment liquids contain waxes and other sticky substances that might be difficult to wipe off your razor. Or try it on a cheap bit of metal first.

I've said it twice already, the stuff is 100% Mineral oil and contains NO solvents. If there was any hint of wax i it it should smell like wax. It doesn't smell at all. Furthermore if there was a wax-content, there should be a solvent present to keep the wax in solution until the drying process is completed....NO solvents.

Again, if there was any wax in it I wouldn;t treat my cutting board with it. I don't like the idea of my chicken-special with a waxy bottom.....

I've been in the chemical industry too long to know what I'm talking about. The stuff from IKEA is the real deal!

(for your peace of mind, I've just used it on one of my razors. I'll wipe it off tomorrow-morning and let you'll know)

sounds like s good find in an unexpected place. Thanks for the heads up Pinda, If my wife sees a receipt from IKEA she will never think it is for my razors.

Originally Posted by Pinda

I've said it twice already, . . . .

"Play it again, Sam!" .

...but someone must be listening

Just wiped off the blade I've treated with SKYDD. As I expected: it leaves no residu, waxy or otherwise. Just a shiny rust-free blade

The stuff is great!

Oh. and by the way, the razor I used it on was one of my daily rotation. Not some fleemarket find.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

where did you find an oiler like that? I can think of a hundred uses right off the top of my head, my tools would love me.

Here you go: http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.a...ile=1&jump=120

Looks like Lie Nielson does the japan made oiler now. I've had mine years so took some finding again

PuFF

Okay, here is the answer to the original question. Then I can explain the laxative thing, but that will come later.

Mineral Oil is a clear, light, flavorless, odorless oil with many uses. Unlike cooking oil, it never goes bad by becoming rancid. Because it is an oil, and oil is not miscible with water, it is good at protecting things from water eg. wood and metal. Because it never goes rancid you can put it on things without worrying that it will ever become gummy or develop foul odors. So you can put it on wood or metal and it will protect it from water without stinking or changing in texture. Very pure mineral oil, can be ingested, this type is called "food safe". Food safe mineral oil is the type that is used for cutlery, cutting boards, razors, and yes even laxatives.

There are many different kinds of laxatives and they work in a few different ways. There are stool softeners, stimulants, osmotic, and LUBRICANT just to name four. Lubricant laxitives do just what it sounds like they do, the lubricant passes through the alimentary canal until it reaches fecal matter, lubricating it so it slides out. Can YOU guess a good lubricant laxative???? That's right, it's mineral oil! Food safe Mineral oil is a laxative just as described above. You have to drink a fair amount of it to achieve the desired effect so it's not likely you will soil yourself while shaving if you use it on your razor.

To sum up, mineral oil is a clear odorless oil that is great for protecting your razors. Food safe mineral oil can be used as a lubricant laxative, but only if you drink a fair amount of it. You can find food safe mineral oil in the pharmacy with the laxatives, sold as a protectant for cutlery or cutting boards, and at lab supply (large quantity)/restaurant supply houses.

Finally, I will say this. Don't use anything on your razors that you wouldn't want to eat! This means WD-40, and any other chemical that you wouldn't want in your mouth. The razor touches your face and comes very close to your mouth, nose, eyes and you don't want anything getting in those places least of all WD-40.

Hope this helps. Good luck getting some Food Safe Mineral oil from down under.

-------Michael

Originally Posted by mjsorkin

Okay, here is the answer to the original question.

I understood the original question to be something like "What are other names mineral oil may go by, and what are good alternatives when one cannot find mineral oil".