Thread: Keeping ahead of tarnish

I normally touch of my razors every two to three months but am finding that they are tarnishing pretty quickly. I can get the tarnish off with metal polish but that dulls the edge and I have to hone from the beginning, resetting the bevel, etc. I am putting mineral oil on each razor once it is dry after each use. Is there something else I could be doing? Thanks.

You could stop using mineral oil. I put nothing on mine, keep some stored for over a year and never see any tarnish.

The little silicone knit sleeves (available from SRD or TSS) do a good job of keeping things nice. Used with a light coat of Ballistol on the blade (in really severe environments..like where I live) I think you shall have no problems at all.

I'm a user of renwax and vci (anti corrosion) paper. I have not had any tarnish issues and live in an environment that is pretty brutal on metals.

I'm sure it's just slipping my mind, but what is TSS?

Originally Posted by Phoenix51

The little silicone knit sleeves (available from SRD or TSS) do a good job of keeping things nice. Used with a light coat of Ballistol on the blade (in really severe environments..like where I live) I think you shall have no problems at all.

The Superior Shave...vendor from Jacksonville, FL.

I have had very good luck with this guy.

Aha, thanks!

Originally Posted by Phoenix51

The Superior Shave...vendor from Jacksonville, FL.

I have had very good luck with this guy.

Plus One (great customer service)

I don't use anything on 20+ razors. I clean them , and store them with some humidity bags. Work great.

I have a large squeeze bottle like a catsup one from the drive in. Not used as a sprayer, but It is filled to the top with 190 Proof Vodka and two teaspoons of mineral oil. The oil disperses through the alcohol and the alcohol absorbs water. I keep it capped except when dipping a razor into it.
Only grain alcohol will hold almost its own mol weight in water and starting with, effectively, no moisture at all in the mix means that the razor dipped into will be dry and have a rally thin coat of oil applied.
A friend did this for years. He then experienced a problem with another type of alcohol. I only use the mix during really humid conditions and when a razor is going to be out of the rotation for a while.
YMMV
~Richard