Thread: First signs of cell rot?

Skip the celluloid. As much as its unique and beautiful, if its old stock, it will still have a likelieness of breaking down. I know there were some companies out there producing it today, but I have no clue how stable the new products are.
Gsixgun has way more knowledge on suitable modern materials for scales. Perhaps he will chime in, or send him a pm

The formula for celluloid has changed some over the years. The earliest stuff in the 1800s was terrible. if you looked at it too long it would start to go. The later stuff was more stable but that's a relative term. Most of those scales have endured poor conditions many many years so that's pretty stable to me. I would imagine modern types have some stabilizer in it but to tell you the truth there are so many choices these days I can't think of a reason to go celluloid unless you are looking for custom made really ornate scales like some of the vintage ones and I don't think I have ever seen modern ones like that.

Any razor with celluloid should have at least a monthly inspection as a mandatory precaution and those razors should be kept in a cool dark dry environment. When they do start to go it's not always the typical rust line at scale level. often times the scales will start to gas in one area only and you'll see a spot of rapidly worsening corrosion in one area only. The dead giveaway is after cleaning within a couple weeks it's back.

it's really razor cancer.

The comment about the celluloid was a feeble attempt at a joke. Maybe i will leave it and observe it for a while, to fix it now means losing the gold wash. Lesson learned, don't leave razor on window sill.

Try cleaning your scales and blade thoroughly and then soaking the entire razor in a silicone lubricant like 3M wet type or Liquid Wrench. These products will not stop cell rot but will help to prevent it and condition aging celluloid/plastic scales. I picked up this tip from an ol SRP veteran. It definitely helps rejuvenate dry scales!

Dont start polishing your king cutter quite yet. I also have one from the 20's or so and the black scales on mine are vulcanite (what they use for pipe stems, a kind of hardened rubber) when you get it wet with hot watter or when you leave it in the sun it can fade and it develops a nasty odor when it comes in contact with water.

Before you establish its celuloid, just try to keep it off the window where condensation is most present in a house and keep it dry. You can also lightly oil the scales and it helps to make it black again and also get rid of the smell.

if you confirm your scales are ebonite (vulcanite) read this http://www.seattlepipeclub.org/conte...odule_id=16894

it can help with restoring them.