Thread: Razor oil and scale to blade staining.

I don't know if this is the right place for this. Anyway I honed a Dovo best for someone and as I usually do, I coat the blade with razor oil and pack it in foam pipe insulation and ship it. the razor arrived with some staining from a reaction from the oil and scales im assuming. Anybody ever have that happen? Its razor oil from SRD. The blade is dried, stropped and oiled. I don't use much oil at all, few drops and that's it. He was able to clean it off with regular alcohol so I know it wasn't rust. And it was shipped a week ago. Temperature maybe? Thank God it didn't have gold wash!

The current oil that SRD is using has been used by me on thousands of straight razors every year for over the past two years and there has not been one single issue. It is an awesome light weight oil that I prefer night and day over WD 40.

I suspect there is more going on here than the oil itself. Normally any oil can have a reaction to another oil or substance put on metal and I have seen some turn into a sticky coating that is hard to get off the razor. Typically, judging by what the OP is stating, there is an indication that water probably got in the scales and not all the way dried out regardless of having been dried so to speak if there was staining on the blade.

Thanks

I'm not in the business, but any chance of off-gassing from the foam? Or strange reaction to the oil?

Originally Posted by CatanUS

I'm not in the business, but any chance of off-gassing from the foam? Or strange reaction to the oil?

Not that I am aware of. I have seen Camellia oil and WD 40 react to whatever oil TI uses on their blades and form a sort of amber shellac which can be buffed out, but this is pretty strange. This particular oil, I have not seen any adverse reaction to yet. I have used it on and off for 15 years, and exclusively for almost the last three years and unless water or some other contamination occurs, it has been superb.

I agree. The SRD oil hasn't given me any issues. If I don't get thru my rotation fast enough, it gets a bit sticky but still wipes off without a trace.

I guess my question was more pertaining to whatever that foam insulation is made of. I know whenever I've seen it new (hardware store, etc) is has a bit of a chemical-ish smell to me. In a confined space and potential heat during shipping...just a thought.

Either way, glad it turned out well for the recipient.

Originally Posted by Lynn

The current oil that SRD is using has been used by me on thousands of straight razors every year for over the past two years and there has not been one single issue. It is an awesome light weight oil that I prefer night and day over WD 40.

I suspect there is more going on here than the oil itself. Normally any oil can have a reaction to another oil or substance put on metal and I have seen some turn into a sticky coating that is hard to get off the razor. Typically, judging by what the OP is stating, there is an indication that water probably got in the scales and not all the way dried out regardless of having been dried so to speak if there was staining on the blade.

Thanks

I have used the oil many times and this is the first time I had any issues. Thank you for bringing it to my attention about water in the scales. That explains why it was only on one side instead of both. As the water collected on the bottom side and that's exactly what happened then.

Yes, I'll often leave a blade out in the open position for a day or so to completely dry before oiling it and sending it back after the test shave. I tend to get a fair bit of water on the razor when I shave, so I dry it as carefully as I can and let the air do the rest. I figure that the person would prefer to wait an extra day than to get it back with a stain or some rust.

I guess an alternative if time was an issue would be to get some of that compressed air in a can people use to clean computers with. Not sure how effective that would be, but it could be a way to get in the scales if there's water there.

James.

I will keep the compressor tank filled and a little shot of air will take care of any moisture pre strop. Thanks for the info gents!