Thread: Storing razors -- to oil or not to oil? That is the question.

I dont typically oil my blades.
But if I do, its a very light coat of baby oil. And that's if I'm putting it up for some time.(more than a month)

Like Bob H, my house stays pretty much the same temp. year round. And when I'm finished shaving, I store my razor(s) in the open position, in a flower frog, for at least 24hrs. then its stroped, and inspected before I close it, and store it till the next shave.

Along with having holes in it, it's sitting on a wicker shelf, no more than three feet from a furnace register so there's lots of moving air around them

I only oil the ones that don't see much use. The humidity is low here so I don't worry too much as long as they are properly dried and stored. However I have had blades develope rust over long storage so most of what I don't use often gets coated with oil. I use Whal clipper oil.

Any opinions on Tuf Glide?

Tuff glide is good also, just about anything will work though, I use Balistrol, RemOil, renwax, or alot of times just good old WD 40. It's pretty much up to you,,as most if the time you will clean the blade prior to use. Tc

Yea it works, pretty much, any oil will work.

Depending on the application and the term of storage, make sure it is easy to come off, water soluble is nice for short term.

For long, long time storage, can’t beat RIG. A dab will do a lot of razors.

Like Hirlau I am in South Florida and humidity. I do oil but not because I have had a problem, but more because it is what I read when I began using straights. It seems to be doing a good job. I use Hilco wipes sometimes and the oil from SRD other times. The SRD oil will bead on polished blades at times, but the Hilco lube does not. Not an authority, just relaying my experiences.

I don't cost my razors in oil, however they are the only part of my gear I don't store in the bathroom because of the humidity. I made the mistake once of keeping a razor in the bathroom when I moved and the humidity caused some rust to form. I just run mine down with running alcohol and put away in a fabric pouch/razor roll.

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I am lazy by nature and I don't routinely lube my razors. OTOH, I do rinse, dry with tissue, check inside the scales and dry if necessary. I always strop 20 round trips on leather and then put it away. On occasions where I've left the razor on the counter I may end up with a water spot, but no rust.

When I do lube my blades I use a Silicone gun cloth impregnated with Birchwood Casey R.I.G. (rust inhibiting grease) that I've applied with a q-tip. The stuff is magic, and I've been using it on guns/knives for 40 years.

There is one thing to consider. The blades that have a mirror type finish sometimes oil will bead up and leave some of the blade not treated. over a long period of time this could lead to rust spots. on these blades i use R. I. G. . this is a type of grease gunsmiths use to prevent rust and it's not that hard to remove when you get ready to put the blade in rotation.

Yup, a lot depends on conditions.

Here in So. Cal, I do not oil my rotation. Razors that are in long term storage, I oil with Ballistol, a drop on a Qtip and wipe the entire blade and edge. I keep a small plastic squirt bottle filled with Ballistol on the bench.

For razor being shipped, I oil the edge with Ballistol, on a QTip, wrap in paper, pack in a Zip Lock bag for protection and in a cardboard box stuffed with shredded paper. With instructions to wipe the edge with tissue and shave, no stropping for the first shave.