Thread: Cell Rot Project

A neighbor gave me this Razor awhile back, was already attacked by cell rot.

But I wanted to know how fast it would eat the blade, so I put it in a sealed container to watch. Upon opening, a strong oder of camphor (like when sanding it) arose from the bottle.

This is a little over a year from the last time I looked at it. There's now bits of rust in the bottom of the bottle, and the rust is blooming from the blade.

Back into the bottle for another year, but I'm putting a fishing hook in it for science.

Wow.
That is extreme. This provides good photo proof of the hazards of cell rot.

I have tossed a couple that were eaten up but nothing this dramatic.

Good job!

Dude, that's gross. But interesting experiment

What are your expectations with the fish hook?
is the hook touching the blade?

Originally Posted by cmsessa

What are your expectations with the fish hook?
is the hook touching the blade?

No its not touching the blade, its in there to see how fast, fresh steel reacts to the gas being given off by the scales. It too is a hardened steel. It's a project that may help folks understand the effects of cell rot, and how it will effect other items/ razors around them, and how fast it can do it. Also how to identify it in its earlier stages.

Here's one caught early.
I keep it separate from all my others, even a different room. I check it weekly, and keep the scales slathered in pure silicone, and the blade coated in mineral oil. You can see the discoloration in the scales at the wedge pin, and near the heel of the blade. By doing these things I've kept the gasses from attacking the blade, but eventually they'll have to be discarded and new scales installed.
But for now, its all original.

A little silicone on a Q-Tips or pipe cleaner, and rub off the haze, but it won't remove the discoloration.

Might have to do that every two months, good thing you made me look.

Thanks
Mike

Originally Posted by outback

It's a project that may help folks understand the effects of cell rot, and how it will effect other items/ razors around them, and how fast it can do it.

Interesting, I thought it was the environment which caused the rust. I will be googling for the next hour

Originally Posted by cmsessa

Interesting, I thought it was the environment which caused the rust. I will be googling for the next hour

Environment does make a difference.
Cell rot is about the type of material used to make scales at one time, and found on countless vintage razors.

Its not a "IF" they break down and start gassing, because they all will "EVENTUALLY".

Originally Posted by outback

No its not touching the blade, its in there to see how fast, fresh steel reacts to the gas being given off by the scales. It too is a hardened steel. It's a project that may help folks understand the effects of cell rot, and how it will effect other items/ razors around them, and how fast it can do it. Also how to identify it in its earlier stages.

Here's one caught early.
I keep it separate from all my others, even a different room. I check it weekly, and keep the scales slathered in pure silicone, and the blade coated in mineral oil. You can see the discoloration in the scales at the wedge pin, and near the heel of the blade. By doing these things I've kept the gasses from attacking the blade, but eventually they'll have to be discarded and new scales installed.
But for now, its all original.

A little silicone on a Q-Tips or pipe cleaner, and rub off the haze, but it won't remove the discoloration.

Might have to do that every two months, good thing you made me look.

Thanks
Mike

Keep an eye on that wedge! Those scales like that often have a wedge that blows up quickly.
~Richard

Originally Posted by Geezer

Keep an eye on that wedge! Those scales like that often have a wedge that blows up quickly.
~Richard

Thanks for the Intel Richard.
I just restored it a bit over a year ago, and had B52 replate it. (Genco Gold Seal). At that time, the wedge felt good.
But I'll keep an eye in it. [emoji6]

Please update this post in a year, interesting project.