Thread: Shank turning dark

New to shaving and after a few shaves now I'm noticing the shank is turning a blackish. Is this normal, am I not caring for it properly?

I would not say that is normal. Just wondering if you get lather on the "tang" while shaving? If you do and don't wipe it off well when finished it is about the only thing that might do that that I can think of.

Bob

I'm no expert, but this could possibly be the result of rubbing on the shank with oil of your hands reacting to the steel. A kind of oxidization process. Try polishing it out with metal polish. When you're done shaving, rinse it with hot water, dry it, and put a light coat of mineral oil on it. Hope this helps, if this is the cause.

I am with Firefighter on this one. My father never let my Uncle touch his firearms. The acid in his skin would leave finger prints that ate right through bluing. But it could be your just not keeping it clean enough. Should come off with polish easy.

Do you put mineral oil on after every use?

Originally Posted by Lumberjack55

Do you put mineral oil on after every use?

Yes, it will protect the blade from rust.

Do you use alum? I don't use it but it's my understanding that it can stain carbon steel. If you use it after shaving it's still on your fingers when you put the razor away. That's what I've heard, could be wrong.

I think firefighter is on track.
Ive restored some razors for a barber I know, his hands are very acidic, and leave the same thing. He now polishes them at the end of everyday .
No more problems
Here's a pic of a razor he gave me, and how he holds them.

You can tell right where his index finger sets

Not uncommon especially if you use the same razor daily. That's why a lot of makers used to blue or blacken the tang back in the day. Just rub the tang with an oily rag after use

May be a combination of oils from the skin and if you oil the razor heavily or even if moisture after use even after wiping down occurs and you oil the razor and pivots heavy the water is under the oil and starts the rust process of the pins and seeps into the oil and spreads across the shank.

Make sure after you shave you totally wipe the H2O off the razor and use a piece of tissue or toilet paper to get as far into the pin area you can to absorb H2O then oil after stropping and use.

But then again I cannot say this is the answer or cause. I have noticed similar incidence with tools of mine when they get wet and I don't fully get them dried off and oil them around their pivot points.