Acetone (nail polish remover) -- Learn from my mistake!

So I just did something dumb :(

I've only owned my straight (a 6/8" Dovo full-hollow) for about a week, but I noticed a bit of staining on the blade. This could be due to me not cleaning up properly post-shave, but may also be because I've been storing it in the moist air of my bathroom. Both easy enough to change.

Anyway, being the 24 karat genius that I am, I decided that acetone (aka, nail polish remover) would be the best thing to deal with it. And, to be honest, it did a pretty good job on the blade, but I totally forgot that the acetone would eat into the plastic of the handle :(

So now I have a beautiful blade, held in slightly scarred scales. The damage isn't too extensive, but it is clearly noticeable.

Learn from my mistake! No acetone near plastic!

Keep it for a "learning" souvenir. Put it in a sealed box and don't open it for ten years, then say "OH Yeah, I remember that!!" Hope the shave was good. LOL

Can you post a pic?

Sanding sponges will do wonders on abused scales.

Certainly. Here's a couple of pics showing the scarring near where the scales connect to the blade. I've taken pics from both sides, and one showing inside the scales where the acetone flowed.

None of this will change how it shaves, but it's kind of a shame to have scarred such a new razor. Feeling kinda dumb now :D

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Yes, pictures please. You may be able to repair with thin layers of super glue, sand and polish.

For the blade, when needed, use something like Flitz or Mothers Aluminum and mag. You may be able to buff the scales by hand wit some metal polish as well

I think sanding sponges will take out a lot, if not all of the blemished areas.

I would start at 4k and if that is not abrasive enough drop down in stages. Once you get out as much as you feel safely in doing, then go up in grit by stages until you finish with the 12k.

After the sponges you can use a mild metal polish like Mothers or Metal 300 from One Grand in California.

Thanks folks.

I think I need to do a bit of reading on how to properly take care of my kit. I'm doing *OK* with the shaving part, but I'm kinda lost with the part where I have to take care of the blade and strop. Gotta keep reading :)

Hope you are able to clean that up. If not, it will remind you of when you were learning how to care for a razor, right?

Totally fixable. Good share. I have made worse mistakes, and I stare at them everyday as a reminder of how close I came to really getting hurt. Buffed the name completely off a Lowson and Hayden razor starting out. You can get new scales worst case scenario.

Fine steel wool. Smooth it all out, polish with Maas or similar. Back in business.
Acetone is no joke!

And don't forget to replace some oil on this pivot! Acetone removed it all! Apply a coat of rennaissance wax or car wax on the blade to avoid discolorations.;)

Tom aka sharptonn might be right. Just some 0000 steel wool & polish 'er up. No disassembling!

The same for the good brake cleaner… spray brake cleaner on a towel and wipe the blade, when buffing.

Make some sanding sticks, glue some 1 & 2K Wet & Dry to a couple of coffee stir stick & sand between the scales, sand the outside or use the steel wool as suggested. Polish with a good metal polish.

In the future, WD40 and fine steel wool, or some Crocus Cloth from Ace hardware for a satin finish, one sheet lasts a long time.

Leave your razor open, to dry. I use an old thrift store, glass tray from a butter dish and set it open across the dish, so the blade is out of the scales, for good air circulation, after drying on a micro fiber.