Thread: how do you clean scales

I've been lucky lately. found some older razors in antique shop. on these I taped the blade and mixed bleach water and dish washing liquid and cleaned the scales with a stiff tooth brush. then rinsed with warm water and used alcohol to disperse the water. oiled the blade and pins put on a shelf to dry. is there any pray cleaner that would work better. thanks

Bleach = Not a good Idea for razors

Nor any phosphate cleaners.

Scrubbing Bubbles, toothbrush, pipe cleaner (for between scales) and hot water works for me........cleans and disinfects in one step.

I use very little and mix it with 2 gallons water in the sink. I know that straight bleach on plastic will ruin the plastic. thanks

I'll try the scrubbing bubbles next time. sounds neat.

Spray down the razor liberally with WD40 especially at the pivot pin and in between the scales, Wait a few minutes and take a thin coffee stir stick and clip off one end with a pair of side cutters so you have a square tip.

Wrap the end of the stir stick with a couple wraps of a paper towel, I like the blue shop towels they don’t tear as easily. Spray the wrapped end with another shot of WD40 and work it in between the scales. The WD40 will soften up the gunk and the paper towel stir stick will remove it completely.

Change the towel section as needed. Once you have the scales clean wipe dry with a clean dry paper towel.

Take 1X1 inch piece of 000 or 0000 steel wool and scrub the blade flat on a 4mm craft foam pad, Steel wool will remove the rust and most of the oxidation from the steel. A small piece wrapped around the stick end will get the tang at the pivot.

Polish the scales with a good metal polish, Maas, Semi Chrome, Mother Etc. Polish the pins twisting between the thumb and forefinger over a paper towel with metal polish. Polish between the scales with a clean paper towel stir stick and metal polish.

Buff with a clean paper towel and micro fiber cloth.

If the scales are really bad you may need to sand lightly with a high grit wet & dry sand paper 4-600, then polish with metal polish.

WD40 cleaning and metal polish will make black horn gleam.

Wont wd-40 make celluloid bloorp?

Soap, water followed by metal polish... an make sure the thing is dry dry dry dry dry before putting it away!

Use a pair of pliers to squeeze/flatten your Q-Tips, then they will slip easily between most scales.