Thread: Having a rust problem

(if this appears twice it is because there was an accidental send for the previous post)

All,

I just received a Hen and Rooster and I'm having a problem with rust spots forming on the blade. I've only used the razor twice and I rub it with alcohol and coat it with some Wahl clipper oil each time after use. At this point the problem is mostly cosmetic, for the most part I can remove the spots with a little vigorous thumb rubbing or fingernail scraping, but I want to address this issue before it becomes a problem. I thought this could just be the byproduct of a high carbon steel but wanted to check with all of you for suggestions on what I could do different.

My preparation is somewhat laborious and I was wondering if I'm doing too much. My current razor prep is thus:

1.) remove oil from blade using 70% isopropyl alcohol and dry
2.) strop and shave
3.) dry, and clean any soap residue with alcohol
4.) dry and apply some Wahl clipper oil

Someone please let me know if I'm going a little overboard with the alcohol and oiling please.

Thanks,

Q

Quintin,
Are you getting orange rust or black spots? I get the black spots pretty easy on my Dovo "Ready For Use" (it wasn't) if I don't get the water off of it quickly after a shave but never orange rust.

Anyway you can post a photo of what this looks like? It concerns me as I sold these and so far have not heard of an issue with rust.

I basically just wipe the oil off of mine with a tissue and skip the alcohol step but do ocasionally use Barbicide. Maybe mine still have trace amounts of oil and that ir retarding any tendancy to rust.

Anyone else have this with an H&R razor?

Tony

Q, It sounds like you're working too hard and not getting any results.

As a rust preventive oil, might I suggest Ballistol? Ballistol is non toxic and biodegradable. It's friendly to leather so you don't have to worry about your strop and there's no need to degrease the razor before use.

Another idea would be to apply a micro crystalline wax such as Renaissance Wax (after proper degreasing). This would provide a water resistant protective coating that, again, would be face and strop safe.

Of course keeping your razor in a low humidity environment between uses is a must.

I hope this helps,

Library Guy

Tony,

Something tells me I'm just being paranoid. This being my first real-deal straight razor I don't really know what to expect. By the way, your strop is awesome.

My first couple shaves with your H&R were alright. I'm still used to the shavette and as a result think I'm shaving at too shallow of an angle. Thanks for the concern and I'll get some shots of what it is I'm talking about when I shave tomorrow.

Q

Yeah, regading the humidity concern, I've stored the razor outside of the bathroom. Thanks for the Ballistol suggestion. My next question was actually going to be if there was a "face friendlier" option in terms of oil.

Thanks guys.
Q

Q,
I use Dovo's Steroil which is supposedly a sterile/clean mineral oil. I am sure baby oil is safe too but has perfumes, etc.... which could be a problem as some aditives could stain the blade. Some oild are petroleum based, some are vegtable or plant based.

Tony

I think that unless your really anal about it any razor will get those black spots on it. I don't thing they are rust maybe from the cream or something I know I get them also but they come right off with a little metal polish. I use the sterol from Dovo also and I think its about the best. Russell Knives sells a rust inhibitor also which is silicon based but I think its more for long term storage and there is also sentry solutions which works good. The Sterol is really specialized and you don't have to degrease before shaving just a quick wipe and shave.

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Q,
I use Dovo's Steroil which is supposedly a sterile/clean mineral oil. I am sure baby oil is safe too but has perfumes, etc.... which could be a problem as some aditives could stain the blade. Some oild are petroleum based, some are vegtable or plant based.

Tony

Plain old mineral oil is sterile. It's sold as a laxitive, believe it or not, so it's fit ( ) for human consumption. It's also the primary ingredient in a lot of hair-tonics (like Vitalis), the other ingredients being color and fragrance. You can also use it as butcher-block oil, and for cleaning stainless steel appliances. The stuff sold for those purposes are much more expensive, but it's just plain mineral oil.

I use mineral oil on my blades when I'm traveling, but I don't know if it's the most effictive rust preventitive. At home, I usually put a thin coat of petrolium jelly (Vasiline) on the blade. I've never had a problem with rust, and I keep my str8s in the head normally.