Thread: new razor rust

Hello all,

I bought this razor, Rasoir 275 "Le Grelot" 5/8, chasse os de buffle, from the Thiers Issard store in Thiers a few months ago and only now have gotten around to using it.

I only used it once on a ballon to practice my technique but after I used it, I put Ethyl alcohol on it and stored it in the little rectangular box it came in. Yes, I don't know why I did that. I just wasn't thinking, stupid!

I took it back out a few days later and tried to test it on my face, but I was too scared since it was so sharp. I gave up for the day and started to put it away and noticed this:


Please don't tell me that I've already managed to ruin this over 300 euro razor already and I haven't even had the opportunity to use it on my face yet.

It’s not ruined. Try a single edge or de razor to lightly scratch the rust off. Be careful when you’re doing the spot on the gold wash. You can follow up with a pencil eraser and a little bit of tooth paste and gently rub the areas after using the razor to scrape the rust off. Don’t use any polish on the gold wash, it will come off.

It may have been the alcohol. Alcohol absorbs moisture, by trait. I also have seen this quite often with razors that have been etched, the way yours has been done. At least with the newer production razors.

I believe the chemical etching that's done today, eats away at the surface of the metal, exposing any imperfections in the steel that can't be seen by the naked eye.

Take a look at the blade with high magnification, you'll see what I'm saying.

@jfk742 - I don't know what a "single edge" or "de razor", so I will research a bit and report back.

@outback - I guess no more alcohol then. I always thought that was recommended, this is so complicated. I think I'm just going to contact the store I bought it from in Thiers and see what their specific care recommendations are.

I also forgot to mention that after I noticed the rust, I immediately put some olive oil on the entire blade since here mentioned that I can use that in a pinch:
https://www.portlandrazorco.com/blog...o-prevent-rust

I'm thinking of picking up some Camilla oil if I can get back to Japan before March. The flowers are in bloom everywhere at this time of year, so I should be able to get some fresh pressed oil or even do a tour and fresh press it myself.

Oil can trap moisture.
Don't oil a blade until it has air dried for several hours

I’m a big fan of anticorrosion emitters. You can get them from many places including Lee Valley. They are in my safe, gun cabinet, display cases and tool boxes. They last for five years, and you can also get VCI paper to wrap stored metal objects in. They work like a charm. After using and rinsing a blade I carefully make sure it is actually dry with toilet paper and them strop it and off it goes. Many people also use renwax. Oils can trap moisture.

Cleaning the blade with alcohol shouldn't hurt anything if you completely clean/dry the blade before storing. If you are near the beach, sea air isn't helping.
I use any rust inhibiting oil I have in the house. A $1 bottle of mineral oil will work. You probably have something on hand you can use.
Personally, I avoid using any oil that can go rancid. If you are regularly using the blade that shouldn't be a problem though.

You didn't ruin the blade, just gave it some character. Some of my favorite razors have a lot of character.


Remember, it could be worse.

Just a plain old pencil can be handy in removing small spots like that. The graphite works well to take off the rust, and because it's a pencil, it's really easy to control.

I always let mine sit open in a flower frog, till the next day. Then I can put them away without any worries.



I never oil my blades.

There Are some razors that just seem to have a proclivity to rust very easily. I've had a few. The important thing is to make sure the razor is dry, totally dry before putting it up. Some sterol or other protectant will keep the rust away.

I've had some razor's that I used one day and the next day there were traces of rust already. After those incidents I always put some sterol even if I'm gonna use it the next day.