Thread: Razors and Rust... Less then a month with a Razor and already few rust spots...

So I purchased a Razor a few weeks back, a Ralf Aust, I have been using it about every other day. Just today I noticed Rust spots and was wondering what I could be doing wrong.. I clean the blade with a microfiber after I shave but this did not stop the rusting. This was a new blade that I received and Just after 3 weeks it has signs of rusting. The biggest rusting spots are where the blade meets the scales. I feel like I have now ruined this razor. It is my first Razor so I did expect a learning curve, but I did not expect to see rust this early on in the process.

Any advice??

Edit: I do live in a very hot and humid city as well... Houston..

A little oil can go a long way for protection, but you say it where the blade meets the scales...
Can we get a picture?
In worst case your scales are celluloid and in the process of breaking them self down, hurting the blade as they go.

I've been through all that and learned my lesson. On this forum I recently saw a photo of a straight razor in which the whole razor, scales and all, are wet. All I could do was cringe.

Now when I shave I NEVER allow water near the scales. This takes some care but can be done. After shaving, I carefully wipe the razor down, using a near-stropping action to protect the edge. Then I put it away where I keep razors in my dresser, certainly not in the shave den. I haven't seen rust in over a year. Prevention goes a long way!

Originally Posted by ace

I've been through all that and learned my lesson. On this forum I recently saw a photo of a straight razor in which the whole razor, scales and all, are wet. All I could do was cringe.

Now when I shave I NEVER allow water near the scales. This takes some care but can be done. After shaving, I carefully wipe the razor down, using a near-stropping action to protect the edge. Then I put it away where I keep razors in my dresser, certainly not in the shave den. I haven't seen rust in over a year. Prevention goes a long way!

+1 to this. This is exactly what I do. On rare occasion I also put a little oil, such as eucalyptus or mineral oil on a piece if napkin and wipe a small amount on the blade and pivot and then wipe it off with a clean piece of napkin. I also fold a piece of napkin in half and wipe the insides if your scales though I too NEVER let my scales or pivot get wet.. For that matter I don't let the tang get wet either! Water is for blade and face only! I also let my blade dry over night open, and in the morning I store it with the rest in my cedar lined p en case with silicon anti moisture things..... No rust.

I keep my razors in a box on a top shelf in my closet far from the reach of my little ones. After shaving, I wipe the blade in a towel, strop it a few times, and then dab some mineral oil with my index finger on the blade surface, I do not touch the edge as the oil moves down on to the fine edge anyway.

I do as Ace and Joe do, keep water away from tang and scales while shaving. When finished wipe the blade and between the scales with toilet paper. Then let it air dry for a few hours before storing it away. The blades get a light coat of mineral oil if I go on holidays. This works for me but we are not in an area of high humidity and the few days of high humidity are taken care of by the air conditioning. Touch wood, no problems with rust.

If I lived in an area of constant high humidity I would consider making a "dry box", as photographers do for their camera gear, to store my razors in.

Bob

Use some Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish (found in automotive section of Wal-Mart) to get rid of the rust spots you have already. Then be sure to use Mineral Oil (also found at Wal-Mart for cheap) on the blade when you put it away after shaving. This will prevent future rust. I keep all 6 of my razors oiled no matter what.

Tell you how quick hi carbon will rust, I've been honing a razor and took a 20 minute break. Come back to it and there was the beginning of red rust in the bevel. After a shave I rinse the blade under the tap and then wipe it thoroughly with a keenex tissue. Strop it 20 round trips on leather, and wipe with a silicone gun cloth impregnated with Birchwood Casey R.I.G. rust preventative. That stuff is great for guns too.

I agree with Jimmy as a Marine in Okinawa I used gun oil on my straight razor, anything that will keep an M-16 free of rust in a place with over 300 days of rain a year will work well on a straight. But don't laugh baby oil which is just good grade mineral oil will work in a pinch. and one bottle will last for yrs. Leave a thin coat on and don't soak the scales. Just the blade.

Marines I see as two breeds, Rottweilers or Dobermans, because Marines come in two varieties, big and mean, or skinny and mean. They're aggressive on the attack and tenacious on defense. They've got really short hair and they always go for the throat.
RAdm. "Jay" R. Stark, USN; 10 November 1995