Thread: best way to store a razor...for 15 or so years

Just mail a razor order to SRD and post-date the check.

In addition to the above suggestions what about vacuum packaging?

Seal A Meal ?

Whats the deal with the celluloid scales?

markevens,

When celluloid (cellulose nitrate or cellulose acetate) starts to decompose, it releases either nitric acid or acetic acid respectively. In closed spaces this will badly corrode the metal parts of the razor. Storage in airy places will allow the decomposition products to disperse better.

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Originally Posted by randydance062449

In addition to the above suggestions what about vacuum packaging?

Seal A Meal ?

The pump on a Seal A Meal will not be able to draw all the air from between the scales out because the bag cannot squeeze into that space. You would need to purge the bag with pure nitrogen first (I don't know where one could obtain that inexpensively) in order to have an oxygen free environment to prevent corrosion.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

True, but since not many have access to Nitrogen, an alternative would be to grind up some charcoal to fill in the space.

Problem with Cosmoline and many of the other oils is leaching. You may have a yellow, grease hunk of wood/bone/ivory when you finally get them out. Super for metel preservation, not so good for the scales.

I would clean them very, very good. wipe them with some acetone to remove any trace of oil or acid left by fingers then give them 2 or 3 coats of Renaissance wax. It is a crystalline wax made just for long term storage and preservation. Ever been to the museum and seen the 400 year old armor/swords/etc? They are preserved in Renaissance wax.

It is not like a paste car wax, it will not rub off or dissipate over time. I use it to preserve the cast iron tables on my wood working equipment where a paste type wax would rub off on the wood and an oil would ruin the wood I am working on. Key with the wax is the item being preserved must be free from any and all residue. If you wax over a fingerprint, when you get them out in another 15 years you will have a shiny blade with a rusted fingerprint sealed under the crystalline wax.

Cigar box may sound good, but they are designed to breath and Spanish ceder has the unique ability to stabilize at 70% humidity. Not the best for long term storage.

Wax the blade down, wipe it with a thin, looks like nothing there at all coat of preserving oil, wrap it in a rust inhibiting wrapper, get a small Otter Box (air and water tight). Put several packs of descant in it along with your razors and forget about them for another 10 years. You should be good.

I think I'd probably include some silica gel as Holli4pirating has already suggested. Another thought is to contact an historical museum if there is one near by and ask the curator for advice. They must have metal ojects they've stored for centuries.

I agree with randydance that vacuum sealing should be incorporated in your storage. The food saver or seal a meal would be a good choice. You should first treat your blade with a mineral oil or other oil of your choice then wrap with an inert type of cloth then use the vacuum to purge the air from your container. I would seal each item separately. I have several items stored this way such as DE blades that I probably will never open but if I do they will be as good as new.

bj

Try Renaissance Wax. The British Museum uses it to preserve armor, swords, ceramics, stones, and a lot of other stuff.

I'm not sure if you can get it in the U.S., but it's worth looking for. A 100ml bottle is only a few pounds.