Keep rust from razor?

I would appreciate advice on keeping rust off a razor. I have been using a half hollow razor and I usually rinse the blade under water when shaving. When done I rinse it under hot water and dry with a tissue, strop a few times, and leave the blade open laying on the side.

I started using a full hollow and I noticed today it had some small marks that look like rust, some on the bevel, but not right up to the tip. I honed it on the Norton 4 and 8K, but didn't remove it.

I would appreciate advice on what to do about this. Can I use it as is or will it get worse, or do I need to hone it more?
How to prevent this? Maybe I didn't wipe the blade close enough to the edge. I wasn't sure if I should wipe the blade close to the edge when drying, or if that would dull it. Also if I need to wipe the blade during shaving.

Thanks

I always dry the whole blade starting at the spine going to the edge.Then wipe a new coat of oil on it.If you don't want to get your fingers in on the drying do a few lite stropping passes on a folded terry cloth hand towel.I've been doing this 7 months on the 2 full hollows I have with no rust or other deposits.:gl:

Stropping it should have removed any water still on the bevel. If you have a loupe you could try checking it to see what it is. If it is a a vintage razor might be cell rot that caused some tiny pitting. As for getting rid of it honing would eventually take it out, but that is up to you. Rust has a tendency to grow until taken care of. Keeping oil on it might slow it down some. It could take many years for it to advance or it could take days. I would keep an eye on it if you aren't going to hone it out. Make sure it is dry after shaving cause any water that gets in there will make it advance faster. I always give my razor a few passes on a bench strop after shaving. That is after I rinse, wipe off and let my razor air dry while I finish cleaning up.

After using a razor I rinse the whole straight under warm water and make the whole straight dry with a tissue. Then I leave the straight with an open blade resting on an old clean and dry T-shirt.

A few hours later the straight goes back in its stand. I have never spotted any signs of rust or other marks. The air condition in which I keep my razors are good, dry and no humidity.

Is the place in which you keep the razors dry? Moisture can be devastating.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Edwardd

I always dry the whole blade starting at the spine going to the edge.Then wipe a new coat of oil on it.If you don't want to get your fingers in on the drying do a few lite stropping passes on a folded terry cloth hand towel.I've been doing this 7 months on the 2 full hollows I have with no rust or other deposits.:gl:

---

Do the same. Except with tissue paper. A light machine oil. The one I use is a gun oil.

For the life of me I do not understand people having rust issues on razors.
All my blades in rotation are Carbon steel,I have never seen one speck of rust on any of them ever.
Just pay attn to never get the scales wet,not even the tang,is no reason to do so.Never shave with wet hands.
Rinse in hot water,dry the blade with a tissue,give it a few strops on leather,make a stand to set the razor on overnight in an open postion.Next day oil the blade with a potion of your choosing.
I use mineral oil,a roll of cotton gauze saturated with oil in a closeable plastic container has served me well for yrs.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...lecone/oil.jpg

I also find that a quick blast of an air duster will help blast any water you may gotten between the pivot and the scales out.

Razor stands are simple to make,no need to get fancy,a block of wood with a peg in it will serve you well.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...e/mostands.jpg

That Powell is a beast!! Love it. :)

Thanks for the stand ideas - something like that may be my next project.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cangooner

That Powell is a beast!! Love it. :)

Thanks for the stand ideas - something like that may be my next project.

---

And a great shaver to boot,another type stand idea,Damascus on a base,it rotates on a rare earth magnet.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...8Damastand.jpg

Now you're just showing off ;) Nice razors Pixel!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Razor stands are simple to make,no need to get fancy,a block of wood with a peg in it will serve you well.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...e/mostands.jpg

---

I suggest using hot water to rinse the razor, dry it with a soft towel, then strop it on linen and then leather. When finished coat it with a mineral oil (some use a tall olive jar mixing mineral oil with alcohol) others use a similar oil, I suggest ballistol - also used by TI for its razors. TO get rid of early rust marks, dip a Q-tip in a metal polish, and work the Q-tip over the spot that needs to be worked and repaired. Take your time doing this and be gentle. Good luck, we all learn from our mistakes. Have fun.

For the most part, everyone follows the same basic steps.

Rinse off the blade in hot water and wipe it with a dry towel, then wipe between the scales with tissue paper.
I take an extra step and give it a blast of air using a hair blower\dryer and in this way you know any residual moisture is gone.

I finish up by applying a light coat of mineral oil using a Q-tip.

The lower the humidity level for storage purposes the better.

I keep a cotton dust rag saturated with TuffGlide in a small jar to wipe down razors before longterm storage. Then I apply Camelia oil or mineral oil on top of that.

TuffGlide is used by the Navy Seals to preserve their combat equipment etc. Rust/corrosion is never an issue in this neck of the woods.

Jerry
____

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fender57

For the most part, everyone follows the same basic steps.

Rinse off the blade in hot water and wipe it with a dry towel, then wipe between the scales with tissue paper.
I take an extra step and give it a blast of air using a hair blower\dryer and in this way you know any residual moisture is gone.

I finish up by applying a light coat of mineral oil using a Q-tip.

The lower the humidity level for storage purposes the better.

---

+1 ....on the hair dryer. Use it on low heat-max air setting and works GREAT. Follow the rest of advice posted here and you should never have a problem. As a personal aside...I store my razors in a tightly sealed mahogany cigar box lined with cedar with a few desiccant packages to absorb any atmospheric moisture. Works for me!

If you get the tang/ pivot wet (which you should not) turn the blade around, cup your lips over the pivot area and BLOW,worked for my grandad just fine.
Rinse the blade in the hottest water that will come out of the tap(no worrys about hurting the temper of the blade as it will be 140degs max)
Do not like using a towel to wipe the blade.I use a tissue to wipe in such a way as the edge has the water wicked into the tissue,never wiped,10 strokes on leather, let dry overnight,oil and store it away.

Thanks for the replies.

I managed to sand the razor and things are looking better.

I had a further question. There are small pits in the razor with black specks. They were there before this problem, but I was wondering if I need to remove them or seal them somehow to prevent a potential problem.

Thanks

The spots/Pits/Rust are like cancer,you cannot seal them in as they will continue doing there dastley deeds.
The rust needs to be neutralized,some mild acids will work,try lemon juice or viniger. Than again you still will have pits so you really have to keep such blades well oiled as the pits will again become a breeding ground for rust.
Such are the pitfalls of restoration.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

And a great shaver to boot,another type stand idea,Damascus on a base,it rotates on a rare earth magnet.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...8Damastand.jpg

---

Does the razor rotate between the loop? and where do you get something like that
?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chris93cl

Does the razor rotate between the loop? and where do you get something like that
?

---

Yes,I make them

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Yes,I make them

---

Nice stand

Moderator note: All sales talk needs to stay off the open forums, use PMs.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Joed

Nice stand

Moderator note: All sales talk needs to stay off the open forums, use PMs.

---

No Sales talk on my end.That is not/was not my intent.