Thread: Cleaning the inside of the handle of a Straight Razor

For my daily shave I use a Kleenex tissue. I just stick the pointed corner through the scales if it is necessary. I take a look and see if I inadvertently got any droplets in there. I am careful to keep the scales dry when I shave. For cleaning gunked up scales on vintage acquisitions I've got a rubbermaid tub with a lid. I filled it with the contents of the pump spray version of Scrubbing Bubbles. I drop the razor in there for a few minutes and let it soak. When it is ready I go to work with toothbrush, Q-tips and dental floss for up around the pivot. Gibbs, be careful with your new found method of inserting the TP. Seems to me you could slice your fingers if you weren't careful.

I've used dental floss in the plast to clean the inside of the scales and pins on the razors I kept intact. I caught the suggestion from someone here. It works well though.

Sorry if someone already mentioned it hear...i just skimmed the thread.

I generally use a Q-tip for cleaning on the inside and sometimes use a bit of mothers polish on it. You can also vary the thickness of the Q-tip by just pulling off a little of the cotton as appropriate. For cleaning around the pivot though, dental floss and MAAS work great as well.

Are we talking about Restoration or after shaving here????

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Are we talking about Restoration or after shaving here????

No. Not restoration, but after shaving... GOOD catch!
I should have titled it a bit different (which I just did from cleaning to drying). When you get done shaving it is a good practice to make sure that BEFORE you put your razor away, or actually close up the razor, that there is no water on the inside of the handle. Lynn showed it in a video, and often times I had a bit of difficulty getting the small piece of toliet paper to co-operate. By using the "monkey tail" end of the tang, I am able to put a small piece of TP on the handle and let the end of the hook pull it though the handle. THEN, I take it off the hook and now can run the TP up and down the handle to maker sure it is dry before closing the blade on it.

TY Vern for the clarification

Make the Victory Sign with your fingers, fold the razor to the full open shaving postion... Put the razor inside the V of your fingers
The tail is on top of one finger the spine on top of the other...(sorta like your going to shave but the edge is up) Hold firmly with your thumb locking the razor into the V.. Holding the razor edge up to your side snap your arm fast downward with a flick of the wrist at the end, once maybe twice, and then wipe down the razor and put it away in the open position until the next day... Fold razor and choose the next razor to shave with,, Repeat often...

This from a guy who is a razor dunker, I don't give a hoot if the scales, tang, pivot, in fact the whole dang razor gets wet, they better be made to shave with.....

PS: If you are an uncoordinated klutz please don't attempt this maneuver no seriously...
PPS: want to test this??? wipe down your razor then do the Snap and see what comes out

Originally Posted by Harvitz81

I generally use a Q-tip for cleaning on the inside and sometimes use a bit of mothers polish on it. You can also vary the thickness of the Q-tip by just pulling off a little of the cotton as appropriate. For cleaning around the pivot though, dental floss and MAAS work great as well.

I put the Q-tip on a little anvil I have and flatten the end some with a ball pein hammer. Works well to get into tighter scales.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I put the Q-tip on a little anvil I have and flatten the end some with a ball pein hammer. Works well to get into tighter scales.

I hadn't thought of that - great idea! Will have to give this a try on those delicate ivory scales with narrow wedges. Thanks!

I use compressed air to dry inside the scales and the pivot. They have cans of it at the local Big Lots for $1.50 a can.

Q-tips for me too. If the gap is smaller than the Q-tip, I slice off a small amount of the cotton with scissors. Very easy.