Thread: First signs of cell rot?

Picked up a Boker King cutter a couple months ago, no beauty queen with some hone wear, and a bit of corrosion. Cleaned and honed it up as best i could to preserve gold wash, and in return, it shaved like a champ. After a few shaves and with other razors to test, i left it on a window sill in 34 degrees celsius. After a few days i remembered i had left it there and had a look at it. One side of the scales were faded and smelt a bit odd. I cleaned them up with some polish but the smell and fading remained. After a month or so, some rust has formed and now i suspect cell rot. This hasn't happened with any other razor i have, and all are treated the same, cleaned and dried after every shave. I paid next to nothing for it but it shaved so well i think it is worth saving. What do i do, remove scales?

sunlight and moisture is the enemy of celluloid scales. It might simply be condensation caused the rust. Get us some pictures to help determine. Cell rot usually has a distinctive pattern. Though with the smell, odds are against you. Even if they scales are done, the blade can still be salvaged and put back to work. King Kutters are good blades!

When I go through my razors monthly, I often notice a mild haze on the blade in the area where they reside next to the top of the scales. It is easily removed but is a sign that the scales are having an effect on the steel. The scales may be CF, G10 or plastic, but they probably contain minimal amounts of residual moisture which is held in close proximity to the blade when the razor is closed. While I'm not interested in running this experiment, it would be interesting to see what might happen to the steel over an extended period of time.

that experiment has been run on every razor left in a horn scale in the closed position for 40 years. I cant count how many razors I have seen with a clear line that runs along the point of contact where the steel has become blackened, and often pitted into the steel.

If the smell reminds you of camphor, it is most likely cell rot.

Already cleaned the rust off so a photo may not help. Don't think it would be moisture, mid summer here, and i leave my razors out to dry before i put them away. Not on the window sill anymore though. I will keep an eye on it.

I just read a technical paper on this in a thread somewhere in here. H2O being the # 1 cause of advanced break down with Ultraviolet light right behind. As I recall heat was a close 3rd. I'm just guessing but maybe it will stop. I would also keep it open until the stink goes away at least, as it is the gas releasing from the celluloid that affects the steel. But I am no expert on it.

Grazor,

It really does sound like celluloid breakdown. Heat seems to be one of the biggest culprits. I love my Dubl Ducks, but at the same time, I hate them because of the scales. Always have to store them separately and always have to check them for problems. I'd rescale the Boker you have since its questionable and not have to fuss with it anymore. Argh!!...Celluloid!!!

Howard

Well the smell is gone, but i did notice the side that was facing the sun and faded is also the side with the most rust forming. Rather annoyed with myself. Will put it in quarantine, thanks for the advice. If nothing else it's a good reason to attempt my first set of scales. Does anyone know a good source of NOS celluloid?

this thread is gonna make me open all my razors EVERY night now ...lol