Thread: razor oil questions

So i just got my first razor had my first shave yesterday and now want to take good care of it. I've read the wiki but can't find some good information about oiling my razor. My questions are the following.

1. Do i really need to oil my razor?

2. If I do how often and the consequences of not oiling ?

3. Which oil to get and the differences between the variations.

If you live in humid environment then you should oil the razor IMHO.
I personally oil my razors no matter the humidity.
If the razor is not oiled and left in humid environment it will develop micro corrosion which will degrade the edge fast. If the razor is left for longer periods of time it can develop rust spots.
For oiling you can use mineral oil, baby oil, ballistol, camelia oil.

Thanks for the quick reply, i live in NY, when summer comes its humidity central so i'll start oiling.

I live in Los Angeles, so I don't have a huge humidity problem. Even so, I apply a light coat of mineral oil w/ a Q-tip to all exposed steel after I give the blade a good post shave rinse and stropping

im from pa and the humidity is close to ny but i hardly ever oil it, i usuly just strop it afterwards and wipe it dry then put it in its case untill the next time my few whiskers and peachfuzz need cut.

Personally I don't oil any of my razors...I just make sure they're good and dry before I put them away. I haven't had a problem yet...but that just me

Originally Posted by LAsoxfan

I live in Los Angeles, so I don't have a huge humidity problem. Even so, I apply a light coat of mineral oil w/ a Q-tip to all exposed steel after I give the blade a good post shave rinse and stropping

+1 on the above. Maybe not after every shave, but often. I just use the pre-shave oil (it's handy!), also applied with a Q-Tip.

Originally Posted by mainaman

If you live in humid environment then you should oil the razor IMHO.
I personally oil my razors no matter the humidity.
If the razor is not oiled and left in humid environment it will develop micro corrosion which will degrade the edge fast. If the razor is left for longer periods of time it can develop rust spots.
For oiling you can use mineral oil, baby oil, ballistol, camelia oil.

I've been using 3 in 1 household oil. My blades haven't rusted, but is this oil a bad choice? Honestly, I can't find any other oil locally, and I don't wanna' use 15w/40!

FWIW --

I've had stuff coated with 3-in-1, that rusted. 3-in-1 is a _penetrating_ oil -- lots of solvents, not much "oiliness", or protective power. I also don't like its smell.

I think that 15W-40 might actually be better. Put a drop on a tissue, and rub it over the blade.

"Mineral oil" and 'baby oil' -- both available cheaply in any drugstore -- are well-proven.

Charles

Thanks Charles. You're definitely right about the smell. I never thought of baby oil neither.