Thread: Daily storage

Is there an ideal way to store straights for daily use?

I'd say the first thing to remember is to keep it away from any sources of moisture. Being that most SR's are made of carbon steel, they're prone to rust. I rinse whichever straight I've used with very hot water, then gently wipe it dry w/ a tissue. I'll then take a can of compressed air (like you use to clean your keyboard) and blast out any water that may be trapped around the pivot. Finally, I dip the blade in a tall narrow jar containing a mixture of alcohol and mineral oil. The alcohol will dry out any remaining moisture and, leaving a light film of oil to protect your blade.

Besides drying and oiling the blade you may want to wipe off any finger prints. SOme people have acetic skin oils that will cause rust more quickly that other people's skin oils. In time all skin oil will cause rust. If you are using your razor daily you may get away with just drying the blade and scales and removing skin oils. Also be sure to get all of the shave cream/soap off the blade and scales. Some times the lather gets between the scales and then onto the blade. Lather will cause the blade rust/staining on the blade.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by LAsoxfan

I'd say the first thing to remember is to keep it away from any sources of moisture. Being that most SR's are made of carbon steel, they're prone to rust. I rinse whichever straight I've used with very hot water, then gently wipe it dry w/ a tissue. I'll then take a can of compressed air (like you use to clean your keyboard) and blast out any water that may be trapped around the pivot. Finally, I dip the blade in a tall narrow jar containing a mixture of alcohol and mineral oil. The alcohol will dry out any remaining moisture and, leaving a light film of oil to protect your blade.

Do you use 70% isopropyl alcohol? And how much of the oil and alcohol do yu mix? I'm trying to figure out a good way to store the blade after shaving and this sounds like its easy and works well.

Originally Posted by teemus

Do you use 70% isopropyl alcohol? And how much of the oil and alcohol do yu mix? I'm trying to figure out a good way to store the blade after shaving and this sounds like its easy and works well.

How much oil? "Some".

Utopian explains the .5% solution here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...tml#post660088

Now, Utopian's an actual smart science kind of guy and I'm an idiot in marketing, so I have no idea how to make a .5% solution. I just use a tall narrow jar that the Spanish "martini" olives come in. Throw the olives away because they're nasty if you're sober, and wash and dry the jar. Put "some"- (maybe 1/2 teaspoon?)- of mineral oil in, fill the rest with 70% IA, and shake it up. Yes, this is as precise and scientifical as it sounds. But it works.

Close the razor, dip the toe end in, remove, invert, dip the tang end in. Open and close the razor a few times to work the solution down into the pivot area. Let it dry while you get dressed, then store as usual. Done.

Originally Posted by mbaglio100

How much oil? "Some".

Utopian explains the .5% solution here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...tml#post660088

Now, Utopian's an actual smart science kind of guy and I'm an idiot in marketing, so I have no idea how to make a .5% solution. I just use a tall narrow jar that the Spanish "martini" olives come in. Throw the olives away because they're nasty if you're sober, and wash and dry the jar. Put "some"- (maybe 1/2 teaspoon?)- of mineral oil in, fill the rest with 70% IA, and shake it up. Yes, this is as precise and scientifical as it sounds. But it works.

Close the razor, dip the toe end in, remove, invert, dip the tang end in. Open and close the razor a few times to work the solution down into the pivot area. Let it dry while you get dressed, then store as usual. Done.

This is precisely what I'm doing. BTW, I agree that the standard martini olive, filled with a pimento-like substance is pretty hideous, which is why I avoid them in my martinis. Currently I go with a pepper jack cheese stuffed olive or a garlic/jalapeno stuffed olive.

Originally Posted by mbaglio100

<snip>
...so I have no idea how to make a .5% solution.
<snip>

Well, that's easy! You'll need a large container. Gather 200 gallons of alcohol and 1 Gallon of oil. Mix them thoroughly in the large container. Now you can gather your olive glass container and fill it from the large container.

Note: you have got to keep the large container sealed tight, otherwise the alcohol will evaporate and the percentage of oil will rise accordingly.

To the OP:

Further note on dipping into IA/Oil mixture:

Utopian, in the thread referenced earlier, said that he does not dip the scales into the solution, but rather relies on keeping the pivot dry during shaving.

I've been dunking the entire closed razor into the IA/Oil mixture, after shaving, since I first read his post, (about 5 months), with no ill effects to any of the various scale materials and no rust at the pivot point. Ymmv, of course, but it works for me.

Really love this method, makes clean up and maintenance a lot easier.

Originally Posted by mbaglio100

How much oil? "Some".

Utopian explains the .5% solution here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...tml#post660088

Now, Utopian's an actual smart science kind of guy and I'm an idiot in marketing, so I have no idea how to make a .5% solution. I just use a tall narrow jar that the Spanish "martini" olives come in. Throw the olives away because they're nasty if you're sober, and wash and dry the jar. Put "some"- (maybe 1/2 teaspoon?)- of mineral oil in, fill the rest with 70% IA, and shake it up. Yes, this is as precise and scientifical as it sounds. But it works.

Close the razor, dip the toe end in, remove, invert, dip the tang end in. Open and close the razor a few times to work the solution down into the pivot area. Let it dry while you get dressed, then store as usual. Done.

This post made me lol regarding the olives. Can't make a good martini without them.

Seriously, for me, unless they are going our of the rotation I just make sure they are good and dry and I have not had a problem. If they are going into the storage box, they oiled and I put some of those silica things that pull moisture out of the air into the storage box as well.

As has been pointed out, a 0.5% solution of mineral oil in alcohol is 1 part oil in 200 parts alcohol. If you don't have a way to measure it, "some" really will work just fine. Just put a small amount in and shake it well. It can take a couple days for the oil to fully dissolve You can always add more oil if you want more coverage on the blade, but very little is needed.