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Thread: Oil experiment

  1. #1
    Special Agent Gibbs's Avatar
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    Default Oil experiment

    I saw this before doing a google search. Obie had started the thread a couple years back asking about oil on a razor blade. But, I might ask for some experimentation....

    Let's do an experiment. Choose a new blade, shave with it as normal, and then take it out, gently wipe it dry and using a Q-Tip cotton Swab (or other) that has 3 in 1 oil, or WD-40 or a good firearm or machine oil, swab along the edges on both side top/bottom of the blade an put a Sharpie (magic marker) | on it and set it aside. The next time you shave, use this blade and simply shave. When you get done, do the above procedure and set it aside for next time. I'd like to participate in this little trial. I've read about this on a few other forums and tonight I was in Meijers store and saw this "blade oil" that extends razor life. Here is a link to about the same product I saw: Pacific Shaving Company | Blade Oil
    And I found this link doing a quick search about blade corrosion: How To Keep Razor Blades Sharp
    Razor blade manufacturing includes a step in dipping the blades in oil, even though they are stainless, as a prevention to oxidation. This video shows the process: -> ‪How Its Made - Double Edge Razor Blades‬‏ - YouTube

    So, I will pick one blade, my Personna Med Prep blade and start out fresh with it and oil it ever time I am done shaving and store it until the next shave and keep doing that and see how many shaves I really get from a corrosion inhibitor blade. I might choose WD-40 since it is so common and the name means Water Dispersal formula 40. Although any motor oil you get in a plastic bottle will give you more than enough oil for dozens of applications. Baby oil (aka mineral oil) is petroleum oil that has been highly refined. It is oil but actually has no additives for friction or corrosion inhibitors added to it. That (baby oil) is also highly available. I'll pass on the oil mentioned with all those "natural" ingredients as I am only interested in keeping oxygen away from the very edge of the razor blade.
    ~~ Vern ~~
    I was born with nothing and managed to keep most of it.
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    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
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    I'm not sure about the 3 in 1 oil. It contains chemicals that are very bad for your skin if you get any on.
    No matter how many men you kill you can't kill your successor-Emperor Nero

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    Special Agent Gibbs's Avatar
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    Default

    Probaby quite right. Baby oil that should be fairly wide spread, same as mineral oil, and safe for skin might work a whole lot better. Mineral oil (Petroleum oil without the additives) might also be a lot better since we can drink it as a lazative.

    I noticed in the above video as one of the process was to drench in oil. When one shaves, the soap probably takes some of that off. re-appling oil should be useful. I know they are SS blades, but if they are dipping them at the factory then there may be very small micro corrosioin at the blade edge that is undetectable to the naked eye, but would be felt, eventually, in the shave.
    ~~ Vern ~~
    I was born with nothing and managed to keep most of it.
    Former Nebraskan. Go Big Red

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    This is not my actual head. HNSB's Avatar
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    I am going to try JB 80, because the name means Justice Brothers formula 80.

    Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.

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    They call me Mr Bear. Stubear's Avatar
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    I think you're probably setting yourself up for some major skin irritation if you shave with an oily blade.

    Whatever the oil the act of shaving is going to drive it into your skin and that can't be a good thing. Certainly not something I'd chance just to get another couple of shaves out of a blade. They're only about £3 for 10 after all!

    Just don't use hoppes, That'll sting.

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    Special Agent Gibbs's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stubear View Post

    Just don't use hoppes, That'll sting.
    Ha ha.. 10-4 on that one!! Smells nice when I'm cleaning my pistols and such, but probably not good in a cut.

    As far as oil and skin irriation, isn't there a product that uses oil in place of shaving cream for shaving? I've seen it in Walmart before. Supposedly you use a few drops and you get a more irritation free shave. Personna LAB medical blades come oiled, as opposed to the Prep blades that are "For Hospital Use" on the blade. So, it might not be so much the oil, but maybe the type of oil that would have more of an irritation. I agree that blades are pretty cheap. Just curious if the theory at the web site on what makes the blade dull (oxidation) was true or not. (From Pacific Shaving Company)
    ~~ Vern ~~
    I was born with nothing and managed to keep most of it.
    Former Nebraskan. Go Big Red

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