Celleuloid rot

Hello all.

What are the first signs of rot?

I have a razor that I am worried about. See pictures. Notice the slight line of "corrosion" or darkness where the blade sits in the scales.

Thanks

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Looks more like a bit of moisture was trapped on th blade to me, but you cant be too careful.

Keep it away from other razors. Put it in a tight fitting box for day, then sniff the box with the razor in it - if you can smell viegar expect the worst, get it out of the scales, disose of the scales. You can dissolve them in acdtone to keep the bolsters.

If you smell a menthol/camphor/vick thats Ok.

A long term way of testihg (weeks or months) is to store the razor blade open. Oil the blade and put a polythene bag on it (thick) and secure with tape or elastic band at the tang. Get a shim of mild steel, dry, and place between the scales. Bag the scales like the blade and leave for weeks. If the shim is OK after this the scales are OK.

A simpler way - if you can repin, is to do this with the blade unpinned and safely stored away.

Of course, if its your only razor you have a bit of a problem.

Regards,
Neil

I let a friend use a razor for a week. He brought it back looking like that and swore he dried it off. I asked him if he dried the scales too. ummmm nope.

There are some scale colors and patterns that seem more prone to the razor-killing out-gassing than others. It's probably just that it hasn't happened to me yet, but scales like the ones you have ordinarily are not trouble-makers. That looks like everyday dampness damage.