Thread: Double Duck and Hess owners, Be Aware

This is cross posted
I was at a friend’s home and we were, what else, looking at razors. When he showed me one special razor, the one next to it had a patch of rust. A Double Duck Golden Edge. He had another DD, and it was starting to rust, scales and wedge trash..
The culprits in both cases were not the scales, but the wedges. They were misshapen and twisted and appeared to have gotten hot enough to cause one side of the scales to be twisted.

I have heard that Hess and some other fancy celluloid razors have the celluloid rot problem. This is the first time I have seen the Wedge distortion. Feather Edge and Golden Edge:
One other DD razor total trash! Twisted scales and trashed blades are very common from some forms of celluloid. And they can take out blades next to them! See Photos.

Look especially at the wedges…Wow, bummer







Both razors need new scales and can be buffed out.
So we will be trying things to make them all nice again.
Respectfully
~Richard

As we pause for a moment of silence for the departed......

Honestly, that looks like Acetone damage... I realize that it is probably Cel Rot but it looks like Acetone or Chemical damage... Is there a possibility that some type of chemical got on them ?????

When I use Acetone to pop loose Inlays for restores... that is what the piece of scale looks like the next day....

I am running the risk of saying that all DD amber celluloid's are at risk! I could be Wrong, but I don't think so! Rescale! Yeah, that wedge is poisonous, whether poisoned or not !

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Honestly, that looks like Acetone damage... I realize that it is probably Cel Rot but it looks like Acetone or Chemical damage... Is there a possibility that some type of chemical got on them ?????

When I use Acetone to pop loose Inlays for restores... that is what the piece of scale looks like the next day....

Glen, you may have a point. I don't know whether the scales /wedge are Cellulose Acetate or Cellulose Nitrate. If Acetate, the reaction is given as the same as acetone.
I shall also ask if he used an acetone type adhesive in the cabinet.
Thanks

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I am running the risk of saying that all DD amber celluloid's are at risk! I could be Wrong, but I don't think so! Rescale! Yeah, that wedge is poisonous, whether poisoned or not !

Some of the scales I have seen go bad are amber, but the pretty pearlescent ones on the DD and Hess are usually the culprit. They often have just a skin of some material formed over the scale. So, If the scales are pearlescent, or amber transparent, or any celluloid, keep a watch on them. Good idea anyway to prevent rust from starting on any blades.
The problem is that the celluloid is made from a process which dissolves cellulose, either wood pulp or cotton in acid… Either: Sulfuric/Nitric or Acetic acids. The acid bath converts the cellulose in to a soft, moldable transparent plastic which is further processed by colorant and, perhaps, a chalk filler additive. It is then molded.

The resultant problem is; as the formed plastic ages, some acidic fumes are generated as the plasticizing acid is released. A similar process happens with most plastics which release plasticizer volatiles as they age and become brittle. Those plastics do not release an acid. Vapor though.
Some of the scales I have seen go bad are amber, but the pretty opaque pearlescent ones on the DD and Hess are often the culprit. They often have just a skin of some material formed over the scale. So, If the scales are pearlescent, or amber transparent, or any celluloid, keep a watch on them. Good idea anyway to prevent rust from starting on any blades.
There are some other suggestions I have read that say to use some certain products and I would ask you as individuals to search for them, I would not recommend any methods I have seen as a permanent solution.
Respectfully
~Richard
PS. I have Camphor blocks in the boxes I keep my "To-Dos" in. I had heard that they coat steel and reduce the chance of rusting. Who knows?