Thread: Sterilized

Autoclaves..?

Originally Posted by Airportcopper

Autoclaves..?

Yes, of course!
I still know I saw them setting things on fire...

In the research lab, we used to dip our tools in ethanol and flame them when harvesting lab animal biological material that we wanted to keep as sterile as possible. In my opinion, fire is not needed for sanitizing used razors. A person flaming an old vintage straight razor having certain cellulose based plastic scales could be in for a very exciting trial by fire!

Cleaning and a 10 minute dip in Barbicide or alcohol should work OK. Most blood borne pathogens die after being exposed to air and sunlight for a prolonged period of time, but sanitization is a reasonable precaution to take for a newly acquired used razor. Most reusable medical devices and beauty salon tools must be cleaned and sanitized by law before their reuse on another patient/client. Autoclaving (pressure cooking) is the "Gold Standard", but most razors will not tolerate the heat and moisture of the autoclave. Medical instruments that cannot tolerate autoclaving are cleaned and disinfected before reuse.

Originally Posted by Pyrateknight

Quick dunk in alcohol... Whether isopropyl or just high proof grain depends on what I have in stock. That and general edge maintenance.

Yeah, I've used either alcohol and Barbacide and felt comfortable with using it. I might use Barbacide if I give it to someone else.

I have been told that if you leave something in Barbacide more than, say, 5-10 minutes you might hurt the finish on what you're sterilizing.

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

Yeah, I've used either alcohol and Barbacide and felt comfortable with using it. I might use Barbacide if I give it to someone else.

I have been told that if you leave something in Barbacide more than, say, 5-10 minutes you might hurt the finish on what you're sterilizing.

My father was a barber for 50 years. He used barbacide on all his scissors, brushes, clippers, straight razors... Everything. He kept his tools clean by soaking them all overnight every night. I have his gear now and his razors are in great shape, never had a stain or damage on any of the finishes. The oldest razor of his collection is an old Torrey that belonged to his grandfather. Original scales and the nicest mirror finish on the blade. If barbacide has a reputation for damaging razors, I've never seen it.

Like others, I picked up some barbacide once I started passing razors on to others. And now that I have some, I figure I might as well disinfect any blades that I pick up. I'm sure that's overkill, but if nothing else it allows me to feel reassured that I'm not passing on something to someone else. And once it's done it's something I just don't have to think about.

When I worked at the hospital we used to use 99% ethyl alchohol on anything that couldn't go in the autoclave-- but we never lit it on fire.

As far as barbacide is concerned, it is highly corrosive, and any fine edged tools should not be left in it for more than 10 mins. That being said, most barbers don't actually take the time to mix it in the correct proportions-- so, YMMV.

Just spoke to my father about his sterilizing practices at the shop and he mentioned two other techniques in the pre-barbacide days.

1. Kerosene cut 50/50 with water, dipped and dried then washed off. He never lit them up.
2. after dipping in rubbing alcohol he would place all of his gear under ultraviolet lamps. This was done in the early 60's and quite possibly a response more to the upcoming world of "scientific progress" other than effectiveness.

He did mention that some brands of combs became brittle if he left them in Barbacide too long but that the scissors and blades were fine. He attributes the protection of the blades to the fact that he regularily honed them daily but could not explain why the scales were not damaged. On inferior scissors he noted that he sometimes saw some pitting, however these were cheap scissors and never once did he notice pitting rusting or otherwise any damage to his blades. He swears that anything made with Old Sheffield Steel and the older Solingen blades were the best in terms of use and ease of care.

He misses shaving people alot but his hands are not so steady anymore. He can't use a straight on himself anymore and stuck with his old DE but even that is touch and go. I assume that will happen to all of us at one point...sigh, time will take it all away one day. Better hold on to your DE's as much as you can and enjoy every shave before you can't do it anymore

Actually your dad was right on the money with UV sterilization. It is quite common & Extremely Effective, today; more likely than not, the water you are drinking right now, went through UV sterilization. Most cities use it in conjunction with other methods in sterilizing the public water system.

It was used & probably still is being used, when the item being sterilized can not have "cleaning residue" left on it, like surgical instruments.

Originally Posted by Jmveness

Just spoke to my father about his sterilizing practices at the shop and he mentioned two other techniques in the pre-barbacide days.

1. Kerosene cut 50/50 with water, dipped and dried then washed off. He never lit them up.
2. after dipping in rubbing alcohol he would place all of his gear under ultraviolet lamps. This was done in the early 60's and quite possibly a response more to the upcoming world of "scientific progress" other than effectiveness.

He did mention that some brands of combs became brittle if he left them in Barbacide too long but that the scissors and blades were fine. He attributes the protection of the blades to the fact that he regularily honed them daily but could not explain why the scales were not damaged. On inferior scissors he noted that he sometimes saw some pitting, however these were cheap scissors and never once did he notice pitting rusting or otherwise any damage to his blades. He swears that anything made with Old Sheffield Steel and the older Solingen blades were the best in terms of use and ease of care.

He misses shaving people alot but his hands are not so steady anymore. He can't use a straight on himself anymore and stuck with his old DE but even that is touch and go. I assume that will happen to all of us at one point...sigh, time will take it all away one day. Better hold on to your DE's as much as you can and enjoy every shave before you can't do it anymore

Thank your father for the information and treat him to a real straight razor shave with everything!