Thread: Little bit 'o rust

I have a Dovo special 6/8 swedish steel. I have a few things about prevention of rust on the blade, and I just want to make sure that I am tracking...

I have only used the razor four times, and already it is showing some minor rust spots. What is the best way to get rid of these? Is it 1000 grit sandpaper or some other method? What is the best method for using this?

Is mineral oil the best way to prevent this from happening, even though it won't be in long-term storage? I dry off the razor thoroughly after use, and set it out to let it dry even more. Should I be using another method to dry it off, perhaps toilet paper instead of a towel? I am over in Kuwait, so different kinds of oils are hard to come by.

Any help or comments are always appreciated.

Don't use 1K grit sandpaper -- you'll scratch up the finish it has. The best would be to use a polishing compound of some sorts (Brasso, Maas, Nevr-Dull, etc.) That should clear off the surface rust without damaging the existing polished finish too much. As for oiling the blade -- mineral oil should be sufficient. I've also used Ballistol, Tuf-Glide or Tuf-Cloth. Camilia oil is also recommended. Heck, Militec-1 would probably be fine to use as well.

I'm surprised it's rusting in Kuwait though. Are you near the coast/sea? Marine Tuf-Cloth might be something to get your hands on in this case. If you've got a hair dryer handy, some guys use a hot air setting to make sure the razor is getting dried off completely (just make sure to keep the razor moving within the airflow). A towel should be alright if it's not already wet, and I've used tissue before without problems -- you cen also poke it into the scales' opening to make sure that is dry too.

Originally Posted by xChris

Don't use 1K grit sandpaper -- you'll scratch up the finish it has. The best would be to use a polishing compound of some sorts (Brasso, Maas, Nevr-Dull, etc.) That should clear off the surface rust without damaging the existing polished finish too much. As for oiling the blade -- mineral oil should be sufficient. I've also used Ballistol, Tuf-Glide or Tuf-Cloth. Camilia oil is also recommended. Heck, Militec-1 would probably be fine to use as well.

I'm surprised it's rusting in Kuwait though. Are you near the coast/sea? Marine Tuf-Cloth might be something to get your hands on in this case. If you've got a hair dryer handy, some guys use a hot air setting to make sure the razor is getting dried off completely (just make sure to keep the razor moving within the airflow). A towel should be alright if it's not already wet, and I've used tissue before without problems -- you cen also poke it into the scales' opening to make sure that is dry too.

Yeah, I'm surprised it's rusting too. not exactly a humid environment here. Thanks for the info, I should be able to get my hands on some mineral oil, and some Maas.

Hey James,

When you leave it out to dry off, do you leave it open? Probably a stupid question, I know, but my first razor (a Dovo) got a bit of rust the first time I used it because I closed it into the handle and there was a couple of drops of water in there. Mine just cleaned off with a couple of wipes of a non-scratch scouring pad and some WD40. Nowadays I dry thoroughly with a towel, blow between the scales, and leave it out for half a day open on top of my shaving mug - haven't had a rust issue since...

James.

I use a hot pot to heat my water for lathering. After I finish shaving, I rinse the razor in the sink, and then slowly pour the remaining water from the hotpot over the blade and tang - this heats the blade up and after that, a couple shakes and by time I get over to my strop for the final passes, all of the remaining water drops have evaporated.

-whatever

-Lou

I had the same problem with my Dovo as well. I noticed a little bit of rust down where the pivot pin goes through the shank. It was a little hard to get at, but a q-tip seemed to do the trick. That was an area I was neglecting when I dried my blade.

Matt

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Hey James,

When you leave it out to dry off, do you leave it open? Probably a stupid question, I know, but my first razor (a Dovo) got a bit of rust the first time I used it because I closed it into the handle and there was a couple of drops of water in there. Mine just cleaned off with a couple of wipes of a non-scratch scouring pad and some WD40. Nowadays I dry thoroughly with a towel, blow between the scales, and leave it out for half a day open on top of my shaving mug - haven't had a rust issue since...

James.

I do leave it open on the b-room shelf for about half an hour. I was thinking that maybe I should try to leave it longer, but I am worried something might happen to it. I know that sounds silly, but if you met my roommates, you wouldn't say that. What particular brand or scouring pad did you use?

Originally Posted by jimmyman

I do leave it open on the b-room shelf for about half an hour. I was thinking that maybe I should try to leave it longer, but I am worried something might happen to it. I know that sounds silly, but if you met my roommates, you wouldn't say that. What particular brand or scouring pad did you use?

Fair enough. If you do something to get rid of the major droplets of water inside the handles, half an hour might be ok.

I just used generic (home brand) dishwashing pads - sponge on one side, non-scratch pad on the other. The ones they reckon you should use on teflon pots and pans.

James.

Do you strop before you put it away?
I find the heat from the friction and the movement removes any water remaining and I've had no problems even in 100% humidity conditions

Also check your water has no salt in it (not sure what your water situation would be over there - bore? tank?)
Using boiled water for washing/shaving may also help

I have a "window" air conditioning/heater unit --after I finish cleaning my razor, I blow a few good times to get rid water between the scales and then I turn the heater on and dry it with the heater for a few minutes.


Justin