Thread: Maintain your blade.

Don't know if this is the right place for this or not. Here goes. Do what ever it takes from oil to grease to keep rust from your blade. I am currently working on an extra hollow ground 6/8 razor that had rust on both sides of the blade. The rust had been there long enough to go about half way through the blade on both sides. so the more I clean and sand the thinner and narrower the blade gets. I should have canned the blade when I saw where it was going but hard headed me will shave with this razor even it gets down to 3/8. It was a good razor and a good brand and it's just awful this happened so keep a close eye on your blades . They can turn belly up in no time at all.

Ok, I don't mean to hijack the thread but what do you do when you have a little rust on the blade then. My brand new RA has a little rust spot on it and I'm not very happy about it. I swear I have carefully wiped down the blade after each shave but apparently not.

Greg

Originally Posted by quidditchfan073

Ok, I don't mean to hijack the thread but what do you do when you have a little rust on the blade then. My brand new RA has a little rust spot on it and I'm not very happy about it. I swear I have carefully wiped down the blade after each shave but apparently not.

Greg

A little metal polish rubbed on the rust spot and buffed out with a clean cloth should do the trick.

Bob

Originally Posted by quidditchfan073

Ok, I don't mean to hijack the thread but what do you do when you have a little rust on the blade then. My brand new RA has a little rust spot on it and I'm not very happy about it. I swear I have carefully wiped down the blade after each shave but apparently not.

Greg

Each person maintains a razor different. as for my self after shaving I clean with a tissue and then strop. after that I put a drop of SRD oil on each side of the blade and smooth it out making sure that not only the blade has a light coating but also where the hinge pin is. then I store in a dry place. On razors I know it's going to be a while before I us again I then put a coating of R.I.G. on the blade. I get this from my local gun smith. It's similar to the rust inhibitor that the military use to use. so far it's worked. I've been doing this for 40 years.
Also as stated metal polish will help the spot that's already there.

Originally Posted by rhensley

Each person maintains a razor different. as for my self after shaving I clean with a tissue and then strop. after that I put a drop of SRD oil on each side of the blade and smooth it out making sure that not only the blade has a light coating but also where the hinge pin is. then I store in a dry place. On razors I know it's going to be a while before I us again I then put a coating of R.I.G. on the blade. I get this from my local gun smith. It's similar to the rust inhibitor that the military use to use. so far it's worked. I've been doing this for 40 years.
Also as stated metal polish will help the spot that's already there.

Putting oil on the hinge pin is a terrible idea. Oil will trap any water or condensation in there and will trap any dust/dirt going forward. You cannot wipe the oil away or clean at the hinge pin like you do on the blade. There are many examples of damage that occurred in the hinge pin area for those that place oil there. Don't do it, it's not necessary.

Personally, I don't even oil my blades after use. I have never had any issues. Just make sure to wipe dry with a tissue and then strop on a fabric (I use linen) as well as leather after use and above all, store in an environment that gets plenty of ventilation. My bathroom is well ventilated so I store them in a custom built shelf that I have for all my shave implements.

I don't store my razors in the bathroom because of all the moisture, and carefully and completely dry my razors after using them. I have never kept oil on the blades and have not had trouble as long as they are dry when I put them on their rack.

Tuf-Glide - it's made for guns and works beautifully for razors - I put a drop in the pivot pin area when the razor is dry, it seals and protects against rust.

Of course making sure the razor is properly dried and stored in a good place is essential, but that's always worked for me.

It's mineral based, rather than carbon based I believe, whereas any carbon based oil is not suitable, as in the old, "like dissolves like", that's what I've read anyhow....