Thread: How did my blade rust?

Hi all I have a small cotton rag with a light socking of gun oil and keep it in a small plastic bag to keep it from drying out, after I have finish with my razor ie rinsed and dried I put it in the airing cupboard then later give the razor a wipe over with the oiled rag.

Originally Posted by Westminster

Hi all I have a small cotton rag with a light socking of gun oil and keep it in a small plastic bag to keep it from drying out, after I have finish with my razor ie rinsed and dried I put it in the airing cupboard then later give the razor a wipe over with the oiled rag.

I also use an oiled cloth after I dry my razor. But after the oil I run a dry piece over the blade to remove excess.

As for your rust spot, there is no need to get a new razor if you do not want to. My first razor was a Dovo as well, and after about a month of use I noticed some discoloration where I place my fingers (I wasn't drying the razor properly nor wiping off my finger prints). I treated it by applying a thin layer of oil and using super fine 0000 steel wool. The discoloration has not returned because I now keep better care of my blades. If you are like myself and are bothered by the tiny scratches that steel wool leaves, then you can always polish down the blade.

If you are afraid you may damage the blade there is always the option of sending it off to be treated by a professional. Just don't box it up and hide it away. Rust will take over the blade if you don't keep an eye on it.

Originally Posted by EucrisBoy

So I had a new Dovo that I was using for a few months. After every shave, I would dry it off with a towel, and cover with mineral oil. Eventually, I would apply alcohol before then dry off, then apply the mineral oil. I found that when I did that once, a few days later I saw a huge brown streak on the razor like someone had smeared chocolate/rust colored stuff, but I couldn't get it to come off so I got rid of the razor and am now getting a new one. What happened and how can I prevent it from happening again?

"got rid of the razor"? What the ...

I live in foggy damp salt laden San Francisco, and all I do is wipe off with
mineral oil, including the inside of the scales, and have never had any rust,
even on my TI's which are known to be rust prone. I think your not wiping
the inside of the scales good enough.

Originally Posted by EucrisBoy

So I had a new Dovo that I was using for a few months. After every shave, I would dry it off with a towel, and cover with mineral oil. Eventually, I would apply alcohol before then dry off, then apply the mineral oil. I found that when I did that once, a few days later I saw a huge brown streak on the razor like someone had smeared chocolate/rust colored stuff, but I couldn't get it to come off so I got rid of the razor and am now getting a new one. What happened and how can I prevent it from happening again?

i bought my first razor over a year ago now and its only within the last two months and with a bit of neglect from me not cleaning between the scales its started to rust, but im now looking at it as a restoration project that will give me some insight into how you repin a razor.

When I rinse my razor while shaving I always make sure the tip is pointed in the sink so I don't get water running towards the scales. After, I dry the blade carefully with a towel and give it about twenty laps on the strop. Then I close it up and put it on the stand in my linen closet. Have yet to have a rust problem.

Even fairly "pure" Alcohol often has a decent amount of water in solution to start with and can pick up water readily; just a guess, after evaporation there could be some water left on the blade surface.

The bottom line is,rinse them off,dry them off,than let them airdry before closing them,make some drying stands of sorts,mine set around for days (no Kids),no issues at all.

Originally Posted by ScienceGuy

Even fairly "pure" Alcohol often has a decent amount of water in solution to start with and can pick up water readily; just a guess, after evaporation there could be some water left on the blade surface.

You can't just dip in alcohol and call it a day. The sequence should be: alcohol dip, dry, air dry and then oil. I skip the daily alcohol dip, and I don't have a spot of rust on any of my razors. Although here in the prairies the air is so dry it could suck the moisture out of sand....

Originally Posted by EucrisBoy

So never rinse off the blade with water?

Nope, not ever.

Simply wipe the soap and whiskers off on a dry cloth.