Thread: Blade oiling... ?

I use a mixture of Ballistol and Corrosion X and I apply it using the following applicator that I got at Japan woodworkers. I originally had a problem with one of my razors but none since I started oiling the blades every time I finish a shave. The process has served me well for a long while now.







Later,
Richard

I use a drop of baby oil (basically scented mineral oil) on a cotton pad or square of toilet paper and wipe a thin film over the exposed steel (blade, shank, tang or monkey tail). Baby oil also comes in handy for other things, like pre-shave prep or adding to your lather, so it's an all-around useful staple to keep in the shave den.

Cheers!

Something I found elsewhere on the forums was the following which I use daily for my rotation of 18. Get a bottle of mineral spirits and a bottle of mineral oil from the drug store. In a bottle at least 6" to 7" tall and with a mouth 1" to 1 1/2" wide, pour enough mineral spirits to fill 3/4 of the bottle. Add a 1/2" of mineral oil. The oil floats on top of the mineral spirits.

The idea is that water on the blade causes the damage. By dipping the blade into the bottle, first the mineral oil will remove the water, the mineral spirits sterilizes the blade and further displaces the water. As the blade passes back thru the mineral oil, it coats the blade again. If the bottle is deep enough, the pivot will stay lubricated and clean itself.

Wipe off the excess and store.

Very useful, thread, I'm using vaseline, but when I run out I'll go buy some mineral oil. I also have kept dessicants in the drawer, like nightblade. I keep my blades in a box made of bamboo strips, it's ventilated. I dry my blade with a small hand towel and wait a few hours then apply the vaseline.

I use mineral oil from the laxative section at the grocery store, (the result of advice I got here at SRP). I just wipe it on the blade with a small square of toilet paper or a Q-Tip after I have cleaned & dried the razor. I've had no problems with rust while following this routine.

After shaving, I rinse the blade in hot water, wipe on the towel, spray alcohol on exposed metal (mindful of the scales as most of them don't like it, especially celluloid) and wipe off with a paper tissue. Great for short-term storage. For long term, as I said, good ol' mineral oil.

A while back, while at wally's world, I saw 99% alcohol that came in a pint-sized spray bottle. Great for this purpose. Been loading it with the 70% stuff as it's significantly cheaper (even when you factor in the 30% water content) ever since.

I don't think it is necessary and I don't use it. If I did, I would use food grade white oil (mineral oil) or something similar.

I found some stains after a week of daily use on the spine of my first razor, an entry level 5/8 TI, despite methodically washing the blade with the hottest water from the tap, drying with ultra absorbent kitchen paper towel and leaving it out to air in the bedroom. I was also doing 10 strokes on linen and 20 on leather after each shave. I then decided to use some oil. First tried Camelia oil but soon found that if I left it for a wee bit longer than usual, it would start to congeal and was a pain to wipe off. I've since been using Ballistol spray with excellent results and it even has a nice nozzle to target the pivot pin. Stinks like nobody's business though. Richard (riooso), I would be interested on your review of your oil applicator (ease of use, and how do you get the oil to the razor's edge without risking snagging the applicator on it). Saw it at Rasurpur and questioned whether, at €17, it was a worthwhile investment

Originally Posted by riooso

I use a mixture of Ballistol and Corrosion X and I apply it using the following applicator that I got at Japan woodworkers. I originally had a problem with one of my razors but none since I started oiling the blades every time I finish a shave. The process has served me well for a long while now.







Later,
Richard

Man, this site is great. I asked one question and got a barrel full of great information. So glad I signed up.

Originally Posted by turando72

I found some stains after a week of daily use on the spine of my first razor, an entry level 5/8 TI, despite methodically washing the blade with the hottest water from the tap, drying with ultra absorbent kitchen paper towel and leaving it out to air in the bedroom.

Those stains could be caused by soap residue or by minerals in the water. Alcohol helps mitigate both (the first better than the second). You may wanna try it as an experiment.