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Preventing Rust
Hello everyone,
What is the best method for preventing rust and water stains from forming on one's razors? I have been using a straight razor for a month or two and have been experienceing a few trouble spots for rust. I find tiny rust specks just next to the blade. My guess is that I'm nervous about wiping the actual blade dry because I may dull it, so a little moisture remains around the blade after shaving.
The other trouble area I have is where the tang and handle meet. The metal area of the tang/shank at its connection to the handle is getting rusted because I cannot find a good way of drying it or removing the rust. Any tips on how to keep this part dry short of taking taking apart the razor?
I shave with this razor every other day. Should I oil it? If so, what type of oil should I use? The only oil I have around is FP-10 (gun oil), but I'm not sure if I would want to put gun oil on a razor that I use regualrly. Is the trick just to find a more comprehensive method for drying the razor after each use? Thanks for any advice. Bob
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I just dry mine off. If it gets dull it can always be sharpened. Rust is a problem that won't go away quite so easily.
I take the blade when finished shaving, rinse with hot tap water (mine's 140F+). Then I blow through the scales to remove any excess water. I then pinch the blade in the towel, sharp edge up, grasping gently at the spine, and slowly dry the razor. Be careful not to cut yourself!
You can use a can of compressed air available at most any place that sells computer stuff. That can be used to blow out the pivot area.
I typically shave with each razor in my rotation once a week. I've not had any problems with rust. For storing razors long-term, try some Dovo Sterol available from Ray at Classicshaving.com.
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My wifes hair dryer is always plugged in next to the sink. That seems to work pretty well for me as far as drying off the pivot. As for the blade, I also use a cloth from the spine side to dry it off.
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I towel mine off as well and leave it open while I dress. I also leave the bathroom door open when I shower so no steam gets in the mugs holding my razors. Tis also not very humid in NE Ohio. Lynn
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I dry my razors with towel, after washing with soap and hot wather. This will warm up the blade, and promote drying. After 15 minutes, i aply mineral or light machine oil, to my carbon and stainlesssteel blade.
Before each use, i wash the oil from blades with soap and hot water, and wipe with 96% ethanol alcohol.
That it it.
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Has anyone used Clippercide? It's a spray made by the Barbacide people. It disinfects and also lubricates the blade. They make it to disinfect and lubricate a clipper's blades.
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Somewhere I read Mineral Oil worked. Well, I happen to cook and have an expensive wooden cutting board which I condition with Mineral Oil. I also condition my knife handles with it.
I have always kept it in a "sprayer" which I stored under my kitchen sink. Now I just keep it in my bathroom and spritz each side of the blade when I finish (I rotate through blades so I don't use the same over and over).
Chris
I got it at a chef's supply store,... but it's online here:
http://ww1.williams-sonoma.com/cat/p...&cmsrc=sch
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Most pharmacys carry pint bottles of mineral oil for real cheap.
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I should have mentioned, the sprayer is fillable with any oil. One does buy the oil seperate - mine was 2.49 for a pint. The sprayer is filled and then use the lid to pump and pressurize the bottle / oil so that it sprays.
Chris
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Hello and welcome to the SRP group! Your question is normal and so far you have received a lot of good suggestions. Mine is simply this, don't be afraid to touch the edge of the blade. It is made from steel, a rather durable substance. My routine is to dry off the razor blade by wiping it on a dry towel or wash cloth using the same motion you use for stropping. For the pivot pin and in between the scales I simply use toilet paper that is folded. For oil I use Camilla(sp?) oil after every shave. No problems with rust.
Randy Tuttle