Thread: HELP! Should my razor be rusting this fast?

Hi! My name is Zach, I've been a long time reader, but never posted. After reading about all of the posts about starting to shave with a straight, I started a few months ago. A friend of mine is a barber, and he told me to use a real cheap one with disposable blades in it. I actually, did NOT enjoy using that!
ANYWAYS, my girlfriend bought me this for my birthday.
American Made 2" Strop & Dovo 6/8 "Bismarck" Engravable Bone Razor Heirloom Set

It's the Dovo 6/8 Bismarck straight razor. Obviously I was really excited!
After my first shave, I made sure to dry the razor off, let it sit. About an hour later, I put it in the case it came in. I didn't actually open it for about a week after that. It already had rust on both sides of the blade.

So I have a couple of questions.
I talked to a guy I know, and he said that doesn't sound right, and it could of been imperfections in the steel, before I ever got it.

Or, did I just mess up somewhere?

Is that guy right? Should I talk to Classic Shaving and see? Or, did I just mess up!?
If so, how do I get that rust off? it's not TOO bad, but I hate it!

Thanks!! Just let me know anything you guys can!

The guy is wrong. I'm sorry to say that you messed up. Dovos are high carbon steel and they can rust if not properly protected. No matter how dry you thought it was, there is always a thin coating of water left on the blade. Then you trapped it in the case the razor came in. That thing is close enough to air tight that you created a moisture chamber.

It is much better to leave the razor out in the air to make sure it is completely dry. If you bathroom has high humidity, store the razor outside of it. If you are worried about corrosion, there are lots of oiling/protection options that you can find with a quick search of this site. I do something unusual and dip my blades in isopropyl alcohol containing 0.5% mineral oil. The alcohol dries the blade completely as it evaporates and the oil residue protects the blade.

As far as cleaning up your blade, photos will help you get the best advice. Unfortunately that razor has gold wash so that complicates rust removal. you can use a Q-tip with Maas, Flitz, or a similar metal polish to try to spot remove the rust.

WARNING: Be careful with the metal polish. It will remove the gold wash very quickly.

If you let the razor sit open for an hour i would exspect it to be dry(did you dry between the scales?)

Pick up some metal polish(Maas) and see if you can rub off the rust with a tissue

the razor you linked is not shave ready so you should have it honed professionally

Originally Posted by Utopian

I do something unusual and dip my blades in isopropyl alcohol containing 0.5% mineral oil. The alcohol dries the blade completely as it evaporates and the oil residue protects the blade.

I'm intrigued, is that something you mix up yourself? Do you dip then wipe, or just let it air dry? Any effects of the alchohol on etching or scale materials? Thanks.

Originally Posted by chay2K

I'm intrigued, is that something you mix up yourself? Do you dip then wipe, or just let it air dry? Any effects of the alchohol on etching or scale materials? Thanks.

Yes, I've been making/using this myself for about 8 years. It's approximately one part mineral oil to two hundred parts alcohol. It takes several days for the oil to dissolve and if you put too much in it won't all dissolve, but that's not a problem--you just shake it like oil and vinegar dressing.

I dip and wipe to remove soap residue, then I dip again and let it air dry with the razor open. Evaporation only takes a couple minutes. I have never seen any ill effect on any etching or metallic part. I don't dip the scales so this does not protect the pivot area. I rely upon not getting that area wet in the first place. I suspect most scale materials would be unaffected but I've never been in the mood to experiment with finding out which they are.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Yes, I've been making/using this myself for about 8 years. It's approximately one part mineral oil to two hundred parts alcohol. It takes several days for the oil to dissolve and if you put too much in it won't all dissolve, but that's not a problem--you just shake it like oil and vinegar dressing.

I dip and wipe to remove soap residue, then I dip again and let it air dry with the razor open. Evaporation only takes a couple minutes. I have never seen any ill effect on any etching or metallic part. I don't dip the scales so this does not protect the pivot area. I rely upon not getting that area wet in the first place. I suspect most scale materials would be unaffected but I've never been in the mood to experiment with finding out which they are.

Cool, I'm gonna give this a whirl. Much thanks for the info.

Kenny, do you have a photo of your razor? My first thought is that you had water and/or lather in the scales, which, when you closed the razor, then got on the blade.

Also, the question about where you store your razor is an important one - if you left it in a humid place, like the bathroom, that could do it too.

Extra protection, like Utopian's method, is never a bad idea, but if you are careful in caring for your razors, it's shouldn't be necessary.

Originally Posted by janivar123

If you let the razor sit open for an hour i would exspect it to be dry(did you dry between the scales?)

Pick up some metal polish(Maas) and see if you can rub off the rust with a tissue

the razor you linked is not shave ready so you should have it honed professionally

CAUTION!! If this is the Dovo Bismark I am thinking of metal polish will remove the gold wash, including the use of MAAS!

Another thing to consider as a cause for the rust may be the oils from your hands. After rinsing the blade and wiping it down avoid touching the metal as best you can. The other comments besides the Maas were good to consider also.

Thanks everyone!

Yeah, I figured it was my fault, but I was just HOPING everyone would be like , Yeah send it back! it's their problem! But like most things in life, thats not true. Haha!

So what do you think I should use instead of the MAAS to remove the rust? Or should i just use that, but with a toothpick and be careful?

I stored the razor in it's case, but not a humid area. It was outside of the bathroom, on my desk.

I tried going to a Menards store for a rust remover, but had no luck finding anything really for steel.

Pretty scary stuff, because I don't want to mess up anything on the razor!

I always get flamed for this but I type this for the good of all mankind.
I never wash or rinse my razors off in running water. My blades never touch running water. I shave and wipe the lather off the blade on the back of my hand as I seen the barber do with no problem.
Use a small towel if using the back of you hand makes you nervous. Razors should not be placed in running water or rinsed in basins. Most of us shave half asleep and razors can get their edges dinged on basin surfaces and banged up. Not to mention that water causes blades to rust!
When I finish shaving, I wipe the blade with a couple of squares of tissue paper. No water or lather ever gets in between my scales.
Since the soaps I use have some type of oil as one of it's ingredients, any tiny(I mean tiny) traces of lather still on the blade will protect the surface until the next day. Do make sure you wipe the blade good as leaving lather on will cause rust.
Store you razor in an open space away from the bathroom. I store mine on the top shelf of my hallway closet.
Ernest