Thread: Rust Prevention w/ Lanolin

Anybody have any thoughts on using a thin coat of lanolin to prevent staining or rusting an your razors? All opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

-Alex Rankin

I take it you've got some on hand? I don't know why it wouldn't work.

Do you have an "oil" in mind or the "grease" type stuff?

Mineral Oil is just so easy, and cheap.

I have Lansinoh on hand. Its 100% lanolin for breast feeding. It's a grease type consistency. Pretty thick at room temperature. I drop the tube in hot water too melt it down when I mix with shaving cream. I highly recommend it. Thought it might be good for rust protection too.

I don't really know about lanolin, but when coating a razor for protection you want to be 100% sure that the thing you coat with won't break down EVER and won't interact with the steel in a negative way EVER. I'd say test out the lanolin on a junk razor you don't care about. Let it sit at least a month and see what happens.

AlexRankin,

Gen Hatcher in 'Hatchers Notebook' mentioned using lanolin as a preservation for use on firearms (e.g. Frankford Arsenal Cleaner No.18, and IIRC one from Japan that was a mix of 30wt motor oil and lanolin).

There are however, much easier to use products for preserving the blades on your straights

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Originally Posted by AlexRankin

Thought it might be good for rust protection too.

Don't think ~ be 100 % sure, as Holli4 said.
I can remember someone here used Soy bean oil because they "thought" it would be good. It was far from it.

Originally Posted by AlexRankin

I have Lansinoh on hand. Its 100% lanolin for breast feeding. It's a grease type consistency. Pretty thick at room temperature. I drop the tube in hot water too melt it down when I mix with shaving cream. I highly recommend it. Thought it might be good for rust protection too.

I'm interested in using it as an after shave balm. I have found some products (most seem to be from New Zealand) but haven't bought any yet. Can I ask how exactly do you use it, and what's the result?

Cheers

Alex,
What I have used the past 45 odd years is nothing more than a cloth saturated in light oil - I now use WD 40 and keep it in an old tobacco tin.

I always make sure my hands are dry when I use the razor, and never use a runny lather. After use I wipe the blade clean with a bit of toilet paper and wipe the blade with the cloth, taking particular care to fold the cloth over and push it between the scales where the hinge pin is.

Only use carbon steel razors - and no rust.

No reason why lanolin would not work.

Regards