Thread: SRD Straight Razor Oil

I just received my new DOVO Palisander, shaving soap, brush, etc...the only thing I need is a strop, which I am going to purchase today through SRD.

A few days ago I watched one of Lynn's YouTube videos. He was explaining how to care for your razor, and maintain it. I know $160 might not be a whole lot of money to spend on a straight, but I want to take good care of this razor, I want it to last me years, if not my lifetime. With it having a carbon steel blade I know it will rust quicker than a SS blade. With all that being said, I was going to add some SRD blade protectant oil to my strop purchase, maybe even the oil applicator.

Does anyone have any experience with the blade protectant oil? The applicator? Would anyone recommend getting this?

What are the best ways to maintain a carbon steel razor to prevent rust?

Thanks!

If you plan on picking up some natural hones that like to be used with oil then you can use your sewing machine oil that you would use on the hones.

Others like to use mineral oil from a pharmacy. Baby oil is the same thing.

Some like aerosol oils like WD40 or gun oils.

All do the same thing.

For me WD40 and other aerosol oils are a bit smelly. Mineral oils is the cheapest and it works just apply it with a bit of toilet paper. Sewing machine oils are just a variant of mineral oil, It's a bit thinner and if you have it to hand great, If your not using it to hone with as well then I wouldn't go out of my way to get some.

The best way to prevent rust is to remove all of the moisture from the razor prior to storing it. If you keep the scales dry, and let the razor air dry from hot you should be fine. You can drop a Silica sachet in the dovo box to help wick up the moisture.

Don't let anything other than shaving soap, and water near your blade. Most household cleaning chemicals will discolour the steel. Some will do it in front of your eyes, Bleach, bathroom cleaner, delimer ect.

Get some microfiber cleaning cloths. I get a pack of 3 for dirt cheap from the supermarket.

I always have 1 wet for blade wiping mid shave, and 1 dry for the cleanup. After a couple of weeks I'll open a new pack and the old cloths go to the hones. The microfiber cloths clean the blade without fear of scratching or leaving lint, and they suck up water very well.

Keep your razor somewhere warm and dry. Mine sit on my computer table away from all windows, and moisture. While the sock drawer might seem like a good place clothes are often slightly damp when they come in from outside. And drawers have limited ventilation.

Don't take the Razor box into the bathroom, Keep it in it's dry place and just take the razor in. That way your not introducing moisture into the container.

I use only PARKER-HALE RANGOON OIL.

If it's good enough for $60K side lock double rifle in the humidity of India, it's good enough for me.

Any kind of oil-based substance will be okay, but you have to make sure that the surface is absolutely as dry as possible, otherwise you'd just be sealing in the water, not protecting against it.

But to answer your question, some people have just used vaseline, mineral oil, or olive oil.

Alright, cool. Didn't know there were so many options to protecting the blade. I know Jarod from TSS uses Ballistol. I was just debating buying some of the blade oil from SRD because it was cheap, and I need to purchase the strop anyways. I guess I'll just buy some, it's only $5 or so.

I don't know why, maybe because it's new and I'm trying to baby the razor, but I have this gut feelings I'm going to get rust on the blade. Like, I'll wipe the blade off after I'm done shaving, but maybe miss a small amount of water somehow or another, which I will be careful not to do. I also live in Michigan, where the humidity is not horrible, but we definitely got some. I keep my razor on my TV stand right now, in the DOVO box it came in, and one of those silicone treated cloth pouches that TSS sells to protect carbon steel blades.

I just hope I don't get any rust problems. I don't want to dwell on it, or worry about it. However, I don't want my new razor to get rusted, and would like for it to last me years, or my lifetime.

I guess I'll just be verrrry careful.

Also, what is the best / preferred way to wipe off the cream on the blade? I seen some people uses a damp sponge, some use a damp towel, some rinse the blade under water....some use a dry towel. What is a good way to do this? or is it all just preference?

First about the oil - food grade mineral oil will work as well as any other, and costs maybe 1/100 of the specialty stuff. As somebody already said though, it needs to be dry first - a minute with a hair dryer after wiping it down well should do. I haven't had a problem in SE Michigan but spring has sprung, so it will get a bit more humid. A good drying and the silicone sleeve should work just fine without any oil I think.

I've tried at least three ways to wipe the blade, water (from my DE habits), washcloth that starts dry and gets wet, and the sponge. Not sure it matters really, presently I'm rinsing with hot water and giving a quick wipe with the shave towel on the counter. The sponge was to me a pita, but it worked as well.

YMMV

I live in SE Michigan as well, hopefully the humidity isn't an issue. I don't think it will be..

I've also had people tell me to dry off the razor, and then set it on the counter (opened up) and let it air dry. The hair dryer seems like a great idea as well! Maybe I'll just get some mineral oil or something, rather than buying the oil from SRD. I just want to protect the blade!

I don't mind taking the extra time, and the extra care to prevent the razor from rusting. I just want to make sure I'm doing the right steps, and not have a razor that'll rust because I did something wrong.

All your input helps! Keep it coming!

Just my take - SRD sells their razors oiled, and they say just wipe off the oil & shave. Makes some sense when they are sending them all over the world, various climates, etc. I'm a neophyte compared to them, but it seems to me that wiping oil on, then off gives my clumsy paws an extra opportunity to screw the edge up. If your Palisander is going to be a daily shaver, that's a lot of oiling only to un-oil ..

Keeping it dry though is important, nothing breaks your heart like rust on a blade that yesterday was perfect.

I was taught that bare steel will eventually rust. Firearms are commonly wiped after handling with a silicone treated cloth or an oily cloth kept for this purpose. Only a thin oily film is needed. This practice is also good insurance for carbon steel razors.

Do not use cooking oils or other possibly acidic oils. Gun oil. Mineral oil, etc. Should be OK. Why risk marring a fine razor?

Rinse and wipe off the oil before stropping or shaving.

Never get water into the pivot and between the scales. If you do, be sure to dry it out after the shave. A hair dryer or a can of compressed air can help dry this area. Any water left in the carbon steel razor can stain and rust it overnight.

HTH

I use the SRD oil and applicator. You can use many, many things but it makes it real easy.