Tarnish?

When I finish shaving, the sink is still full of hot water, so I imerse the blade (not the tang) into the water for a short while to let it heat up, then dry it off and leave to air for at least a couple of hours. Then I give it 20 or so laps on the strop - this makes sure the bevel is dry and gets some air flowing past the razor.

You have camellia oil now, which is good, but I prefer Ballistol - it is thinner so it 'creeps' more and leaves a thinner film. It is also skin friendly so if you have only smeared it on thinly you don't have to wipe it off. Any light oil - such as sewing machine oil - will do.

Regards,
Neil

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Originally Posted by Durhampiper

Hey Byron--

Were you able to get the spots off your razors?

BTW, great avatar. Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes--very cool!

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Sorry for not getting back to anyone recentley, its been manic at work! yes I have managed to remove the tarnish with Autosol and I am oiling the blade with camellia, I am using camellia on 4 straight razors that I am using depending on my mood hehehe.

But heres a question: I am thinking of picking up a straight razor that has some gold wash on the blade ie branding on the blade, I wondered how I could clean the razor up without spoiling the gold wash, I hear that Autosol will take it clean off.

As to Jeremy Brett: He is the one and only Sherlock Holmes, as a boy reading the stories I imagined Sherlock just the way Brett plays him, sadly I do not look quite so dashing in a top hat and frock suit as Brett does but I guess it still looks the part for work.

All my best!

B

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Originally Posted by Firefighter2

I use Maas on my gold wash Dovo's, it hasn't damaged them yet. Maas is good for all metals, including gold.

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Wow - they must use ultra thick gold plate in Alberta! Most gold plating on razors is around 0.5 to 0.175 microns thick - a micron is 1 millionth of a meter, Heavy gold plate, unusual on razors, is around 2.5 microns. To put that in perspective a coat of varnish is around 10 microns thick, so we are talking about an ultra-thin gold plating.

In my experience even rubbing gold plate lightly with MAAS will lighten it - more vigorous rubbing will make it patchy.

MAAS is mild, but it still has an abrasive quality, ie it brightens by removing the tarnished top layer. Even MAAS on their website point out "...Manufacturers of plated metals do not recommend using polishes..." so I would err on the side of caution and not use it if I was you.

Regards,
Neil

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Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Wow - they must use ultra thick gold plate in Alberta! Most gold plating on razors is around 0.5 to 0.175 microns thick - a micron is 1 millionth of a meter, Heavy gold plate, unusual on razors, is around 2.5 microns. To put that in perspective a coat of varnish is around 10 microns thick, so we are talking about an ultra-thin gold plating.

In my experience even rubbing gold plate lightly with MAAS will lighten it - more vigorous rubbing will make it patchy.

MAAS is mild, but it still has an abrasive quality, ie it brightens by removing the tarnished top layer. Even MAAS on their website point out "...Manufacturers of plated metals do not recommend using polishes..." so I would err on the side of caution and not use it if I was you.

Regards,
Neil

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Thanks, I'll stop using it before my razors' plating starts to dull. I guess I can't suggest anything, I'll have to find an alternative myself. I'm just not clear on what you mean by ''they must use ultra thick gold plate in Alberta'', as Dovo razors are not manufactured in Alberta.

All the best!

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Originally Posted by Firefighter2

I'm just not clear on what you mean by ''they must use ultra thick gold plate in Alberta'', as Dovo razors are not manufactured in Alberta.

All the best!

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Sorry - it was meant to be a joke - a lame one though, I admit...:gaah:

Seriously, though, MAAS will take the plating right off over time if you continue to use it. If you rub hard enough you can remove it in no time at all.

Regards,
Neil

The biggest culprit to the black staining on the blades which eventually will lead to rust if not removed it getting water in the scales. Yes it is important to dry off the blade and air drying after that is always good. But, it is really hard to get all the water from inside the scales and when you close the razor up, those stains start appearing virtually every time in short order.

I continue to reinforce that all you need to do with your razor when shaving and after is to either rinse only the blade or towel off only the blade and then dry and put the razor up. DO NOT rinse the scales or get water in them!

Have fun.

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Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Sorry - it was meant to be a joke - a lame one though, I admit...:gaah:

Seriously, though, MAAS will take the plating right off over time if you continue to use it. If you rub hard enough you can remove it in no time at all.

Regards,
Neil

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And that's the thing, I probably didn't rub it hard enough to damage it. But I now agree with you, as I looked it up, & even on Badger & Blade, I ran into tons of posts saying the same thing. I even deleted my original post. That's why I'm here, to learn from experienced guys like you, and also, I take no offence to the "Alberta" thing, I would like to think I'm a decent guy, and that's why I'm on this forum, and that's why I'm a Firefighter.