Ultra Lube for razor protectant
I know that many of you are using some type of oil on your blades after shaving to protect the steel from rust. That can range from mineral oil, vaseline, camelia oil, gun oils, etc. One oil I have used as a lubricant, penetrant and protectant is Ultra-Lube 4X. It is available in the States from many hardware stores. I do not know if it is available elsewhere.
Ultra Lube has properties that I believe make it ideal for protecting straight razors. First of all, it is derived from vegetable oils and is non-toxic. I would not want to use any toxic chemicals whose residue might get on my skin. Secondly, it is a great penetrant which allows it to gets into the pores of the steel to clean and protect.
Although you could spray the lubricant on the blade after shaving, I spray the lube into a small cup, dilute it 50/50 with 91% isopropyl alcohol and then put the mixture into small squeeze bottle. After shaving, I wipe the blade with a dry towel, place a couple of drops on each side of the blade and wipe the blade with tissue paper. I also put a drop into the pivot area. The alcohol quickly evaporates removing any moisture. This leaves behind a thin film of Ultra-Lube to lubricate the pivot and protect the blade.
Avoid getting any of the mixture on scales that might have a shellac finish as the alcohol might affect the finish. Since Ultra Lube contains a red dye (similar color as transmission fluid), you might want to be careful of discoloration with white or blonde scales such as bone or horn as well.
If any others use Ultra Lube, please chime in on your experience.
