Thread: Protecting Your Straight Razor?

I have 34 razors and use them all in rotation. They are stored in a mahogany cutlery box and I carefully wash and dry each blade after each use. The box is kept in a low humidity area. With the exception of a Wade & Butcher razor, I have not experienced rust or spotting issues.

At first, I put a light coat of SRD Camellia Oil on the blade after each use. Then I read about Renaissance Wax. I cleaned several of my razors with Maas and then applied three light coats of Renaissance wax. At this point, I like both products. It seems to me that the main advantage of the Renaissance Wax is the spot free appearance. I have searched SRD and Google and know that both can be effective. There seems to be a consensus that Camellia Oil is best for everyday use and Renaissance Wax is best for long term storage. Some concern was given about using Renaissance Wax on "food" knives but straight razors was not part of that discussion. I want to give my razors the best protection and would like your advice.

My basic reactions

Camellia Oil:
Pro: easy to apply, protects against rust, food-safe product
Con: leaves a light greasy film on the razor, oil can disintegrate over time

Renaissance Wax:
Pro: protects against rust, longer lasting than Camellia Oil, prevents finger prints, water beads up during razor use
Con: a little more time to apply, health safety issues of ingredients (application to razor & use of razor on skin), does it hold up to everyday razor use?

Questions

1. Does anyone use Renaissance wax as an everyday application to their razor?
2. Does use of a razor remove the Renaissance Wax and thereby require an application after each use?
3. Are their any health issues from using either product?
4. Should you only use one or the other?
5. How do the two products interact with each other?
6. Is it possible or advisable to use Camellia Oil daily on a razor that has been coated with Renaissance wax? (i.e. Renaissance wax once a month & daily application of Camellia Oil?)
7. When used on daily use razors, is one better at protecting the razor?
8. If you have used both products, which one do you prefer and why?

Thanks for your help on this issue!

As a general rule I use the wax after each trip on the hones. In between shaves during a rotation I use oil. I'm not sure on specifics of interaction and I'm not concerned about or know of any health issues form the wax as most is rubbed off in buffing it out. It seems I'm as OCD as you on razor care. I try to be as fastidious as I can with them. No problems as of yet so as it goes, If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

I like this thread. Some good info here on storing razors.

I tried various oils, but found them too messy and have moved on to Renaissance Wax. I use it daily and for long term storage. I like the way it beads water and think it vastly decreases staining. I buff it with a micro fibre cloth and find that they get "loaded up" with the wax after two or three weeks of use.

Originally Posted by ace

I tried various oils, but found them too messy and have moved on to Renaissance Wax. I use it daily and for long term storage. I like the way it beads water and think it vastly decreases staining. I buff it with a micro fibre cloth and find that they get "loaded up" with the wax after two or three weeks of use.

So do you mean you reapply daily?

I reapply oil after every shave.

Silly me, I have been using 3in 1 and havent had any problems...go figure

I use 3in1 also. I wipe it off prior to shaving so if I cut myself I don't get it in my bloodstream. It seams to work fine, am I missing something?
Samurai warriors used grapeseed oil on their katanas, should we be using this?
How about baby oil? If it's safe enough for your kid's butt it's safe enough for your razor...right?
How about mineral oil? A guy I work with uses that.
Now I'm realy confused.....what is best????

I have multiple blades that have sat for a year with nothing on them in a well ventilated bathroom with no adverse effects to the blade. I have also used a light coat of machine oil that I use for my pneumatic tools with out any issues as well but normally only use that if I am getting ready to store the razor in a case for a while.

Basically it is to protect the metal from oxidation so as long as the process you use works with no adverse reaction to you or the blade you should be good.

I put nothing on my regular user razor, but I put it in a dry cabinet when I'm done (it's not exposed to bathroom steam).

If I were going to put anything on my razors, I would use a turner's (i.e., wood turning) wax recipe that I have floating around - it is just 1 part beeswax to 1 part food grade mineral oil (and cheap to make). Costs about $8-$10 to make a quart of the stuff with pesticide free beeswax (can be bought on ebay for about $15 for two pounds delivered) .

Have various solvent-based furniture waxes, and tool oils floating around, but I don't want them on my razor. Rather just make sure it's dry when I put it away and that it's in an environment that stays dry.