Thread: Vaseline/Baby Oil/WD40

Originally Posted by bruseth

One tip maybe not everyone knows? Buy some camphor blocks from your pharmacy. Slice an ‘X’ into the wrapper they are contained within and store them in a closed container with your razors. The camphor emits a gas (or something) that surrounds the razors and protects them from rust. It used to work great, once again, with my wood working tools.

I've heard of this but find it odd that this would work considering that camphor wood chests are advised against for storing of Japanese swords which are of course simple carbon steel.
Camphor is also a plasticiser for celluloid.

Originally Posted by Phrank

I just found these, got one with a new razor, they seem designed for exactly for razor storage, hope this helps:

Seen plenty of rusty razors in those socks. They are not a substitute for proper care.

Protecting steel & scales can be a juggling act.

BTW WD40 does contain oil just a small amount compared to other sprays that work for longer. It seems ok for short term use tho according to the FAQ's it is harmful to some plastics e.g. Polycarbonate. I use it all the time on bare blades that I work on but I have no idea if it harms celluloid. I have sent a query to the makers & will update this post with their reply.

Baby oil.mineral oil,vasline,Is all basically the same stuff.WD works,any oil will work as you are just creating a barrier between steel and water.
I use mineral oil,If I cannot drink it I will not use it on my daily drivers.
At my age I do sometimes drink a little mineral oil,helps to keep things moving along

Anything carbon based, like any oil is carbon based and blades i.e carbon steel, as some chemist here said is, "like dissolves like", therefore not good.

edited to add: that's what I've read here...am not a chemist so have no idea of it's validity.

What about Tuf-Glide (which is mineral based, not carbon based)?

Originally Posted by Phrank

Anything carbon based, like any oil is carbon based and blades i.e carbon steel, as some chemist here said is, "like dissolves like", therefore not good.

edited to add: that's what I've read here...am not a chemist so have no idea of it's validity.

I really think that was referring to oil based plastics. I can't see WD40 dissolving steel.

Originally Posted by Phrank

I just found these, got one with a new razor, they seem designed for exactly for razor storage, hope this helps:

Attachment 146239

THE SUPERIOR SHAVE SILICONE-TREATED COTTON STRAIGHT RAZOR SLEEVE

This is an effective anti-rust solution for a lifetime; it is not merely a barrier prohibiting entry of moisture, but rather a tool which continually draws moisture from the inside to the outside; think of it as creating a reduced-humidity 'fog' within and beyond the razor, and the more arid the environment in which the razor's stored the bigger the foggy area. Simply store the straight razor inside and leave in the open so that the moisture wicked away from the interior to the exterior can evaporate.

Made for decades by hand in the USA by various American firms for the firearms industry (known as "gun sleeves", "silicone cloths", etc. etc.), these particular oil-and-silicone-treated-cotton sleeves are from 100% USA materials/labor and make oiling steel within potentially irrelevant. The makers say to not oil the steel for any razor stored inside the sleeve, for this can seal moisture under a film of oil (they've also decreed that if one insists on using both sleeve and oil, use a product which allows evaporation-by name they recommended Ballistol).

I have one of these and while time will tell, I can say that I have stored firearms in this type of material with great success...so I have confidence in the treated razor sleeve!!

Razors are like our automobiles, they require maintenance. Take care of them, they will take care of you no matter if you use Castrol or Valvoline. Use a good product & keep check on your razors, they will be fine. Mineral oil, gun oil, anything that is proven at metal protection. I have no doubt that synthetics will, if they haven't already, surpass natural products like mineral oil. Just keep a check on your kids...

What surfaces or materials are OK to use WD-40 Multi-Use Product on?

WD-40 Multi-Use Product can be used on just about everything. It is safe to use on metal, rubber, wood and plastic. It can also be applied to painted metal surfaces without harming the paint. Polycarbonate and clear polystyrene plastic are among the few surfaces on which to avoid using a petroleum-based product like WD-40 Multi-Use Product




A mineral oil is any of various colorless, odorless, light mixtures of alkanes in the C15 to C40 range from a non-vegetable (mineral) source, particularly a distillate of petroleum.[1]

The name mineral oil by itself is imprecise, having been used to label many specific oils over the past few centuries. Other names, similarly imprecise, include white oil, liquid paraffin, and liquid petroleum. Baby oil refers to a perfumed mineral oil.

Most often, mineral oil is a liquid by-product of the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline and other petroleum-based products from crude oil. A mineral oil in this sense is a transparent, colorless oil composed mainly of alkanes [2] and cyclic paraffins, related to petroleum jelly (also known as "white petrolatum"). It has a density of around 0.8 g/cm3.[3] Mineral oil is a substance of relatively low value, and it is produced in very large quantities. Mineral oil is available in light and heavy grades, and can often be found in drug stores.




Vaseline aka Petroleum Jelly was actually a unwanted byproduct found at the base of oil wells..

Reply below to my query from WD40 about safety of WD40 re Bakelite & Celluloid.
"Not recommended" is not as strict a warning as "avoid its use" so I wonder if they've actually done any testing.


This is not a recommended use for WD-40 for older plastics.

Best regards,

Gilda Smith
Administrative Specialist
WD-40 Company
1061 Cudahy Place
San Diego, CA 92110
619/275-1400 x3552
WD-40 Corporate Site: WD-40 Company and Investor Relations

Simple factoids:

NO petroleum based product is recommended for use around plastics....


Natural/Plant based oils are not recommended for extended storage


Hint, For extended storage look into VCI paper


For non extended use, pick your favorite poison and swear it is the best

I use baby oil (not the one with perfume)