Keeping frameback dry

I suspect that this topic has been discussed before, but I couldn't find the answer by searching the forum. Please direct me if this new thread is redundant.

This small E A Berg frameback from Eskilstuna is a nice shaver, but I'm not sure how to keep it dry. As seen on the picture, water easily comes in between the blade and the spine. Usually I let it dry and oil it up, but I'm afraid that there's water left in there.

What do you do to keep your framebacks dry and free from rust? Should I try to fill the cavity up, with for example epoxy or wax?

Attachment 194773

Best,

Sedell

Why are you letting it get wet? If yOu are rinsin sing youR blade you may wish to reconsider, to rid the blade of soap residue and stubble simply wipe it on a dry cloth. There is no reason to risk rust from water damage or the inevitable ding on the faucet.

2 words:
Canned Air
Attachment 194783

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Originally Posted by Chevhead

2 words:
Canned Air
Attachment 194783

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Way safer than blowing it out by mouth as I do!:banghead:
~Richard

Wifes hair dryer!

+1 on the canned air, nicked my lip blowing one out with my mouth.

Canned air can stink up the place. The bitterant to keep people from huffing it is nasty.

Bitterant - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hi, thanks for the answers.

I figure that even if I don't rinse under the tap, the lather will inevitably touch the spine/blade joint line, and water/soap will be drawn into the frame by capillary force. How did people do in the old days and the pre-CannedAir era?

Best,

Sedell

Have to wonder if that razor was orig.made like That.

Thought most framebacks like that had a little set screw where the opening is.

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Originally Posted by Wid

Thought most framebacks like that had a little set screw where the opening is.

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FBs with exchangible blades do,have never seen one with an open frame like that.
I think the orig frame was replaced with a pce of metal tubing,The toe end looks like it was hacksawed,JMO

I have to agree, something just doesn't look right.

Ummmm...... Here's an idea..... Spray foam the inside of the frame? In theory....might work? That idea came from way out in left field.....

Spray foam would hold water in. It would be better to silicone it.

Fill the end with,JB weld steelstick,done deal forever.

I have two Swedish framebacks. One Anton Berg like yours and a John engstrom. The frames are original. The frame on the Anton has an etching stating(I'm paraphrasing) 'Best razor for year 1882-1883 from Orebro to Boston, both Swedish towns. I use 90% isopropyl alcohol with mineral oil mixed/dissolved in for corrosion protection after use. I have tried hair dryer on them but like the canned air first then goto warm air from dryer. My regular blade just get dipped then hit the the hair dryer on warm setting. Nice razor, btw.

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Originally Posted by Chevhead

Spray foam would hold water in. It would be better to silicone it.

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Silicon is what I was thinking about...... Something to fill the void areas.

I don't care for my framebacks in any special way at all. I used to wipe all my razors down with a tissue dipped in Eucalyptus oil (in fact I'd almost rave about how good it was) but I haven't even used that for ages, maybe well over a year, with no ramifications noted at all.

I don't rinse my razors, I wipe them on a damp face cloth during the shave and wipe them with a bath towel post shave (between forefinger and thumb) and they're perfectly fine.

I used to obsess a bit about cleaning them and drying them but as long as you put yours away dry and clean I'm sure it'll be fine.

I wouldn't weld, or glue or fill up the front. That frame can be removed, you know (slipped off) but I wouldn't recommend it. IF however you DO ever get a problem in there, you can slip the frame off to clean. I found you need to be pretty careful you don't bend the little lug type things that hold it on near the pivot.

The frame on my Hellberg I used to have was brass, plated (maybe nickel?).

I also think even putting wax in the hole will actually trap any moisture that gets in there.

Just dry it on a towel and don't rinse it at all; even though it's called 'wet shaving' I think a straight should never actually BE wet...

Carl

Hi all,

thanks for your answers. I agree, plugging the hole would surely trap moisture in there.

Also, you may be right that somethings missing on this one, the end of the spine sure looks a bit rough. I guess I'll just keep it well oiled, and stop the habit of rinsing it under the tap.

I do like the idea of being able to remove the frame if problems arise, so I don't think I will fill it up.

Best,

Sedell

I don't think anything's missing on this at all, that's what they're like. Here's an old one of mine, exactly the same...

Attachment 194931

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Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I don't think anything's missing on this at all, that's what they're like.

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What he ^ said. This is how they were made, by the thousands I would guess. Very cost effective. A bit tricky to strop, too.

I have seen quite a few of these Swedish framebacks on which the spine - the part covered by the tang that is - was blued/blackened or otherwise coated to prevent rust. Whenever I used one (I don't have one in use right now) I'd just blow the air out 'orally', as they say and leave it out to dry for a full day, as I do with all my razors.

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Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I don't think anything's missing on this at all, that's what they're like. Here's an old one of mine, exactly the same...

Attachment 194931

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I agree too - they were definitely made like that. My frined Mikael, a member of this forum, hails from Sweden and he used to send me dozens like this.

I don't think it is a good idea to plug the hole - unless you want to encourage rust. When I was doing them up for Mikael I used to remove the sleeve, clear everything up, treat it with tuff-glide or similar and put it back together. Occasionally I would replace the tube with a bit of stainless steel tube, slit down the long side (which is easier said than done).

They were made like that, they survived like that, so why fix what is not broken?

Regards,
Neil

Its clipback framebacks, the original Swedish awarded frameback design. I have many with that design by various eskilstuna makers.

I don't rinse my razors, they never see the sink and water . Just wipe on a nice car wash sponge during shaving.
After shave whipe with alcohol and tissue, strop, apply some Ren wax.