Thread: Evapo-Rust

I submerged a rusty blade in Kleen Strip Rust Remover, which I purchased at an auto parts store. I left it in there overnight. When I cleaned the gel off it the next day, it appeared that it had begun to work, and suddenly, the blade about shattered in my hand. What I mean is, like a large crack in glass. I don't know why, though I speculate that the material seeped into the lattice structure of the steel in the very thin blade, weakening it. Anyway, that's my only experience with chemical rust remover on blades, and it wasn't good. - John

PM on the way. I'm amazed to see that it could be that old. Aside from the rust on mine the rest of the blade was a mirror finish and absolutely gorgeous. You're spot on with the modern look to it. I have not shaved with this one yet, but I had the impression that it would give a "#1" shave.

There's also this one from Eastwood:

http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/p...roductID=11122

Looks even better, and more for the buck.

I didn;t think they were that old either, but given the clue that I got on the Xylonite - the fact that all of the rest of the scales in my set were black (as Vulcanite could only be black - unless painted) - while celluloid is transparent in its natural state (hence the tortoise and cool colors that later came with celluloid) - and the rotten smell when I sanded the scales (given that Vulcanite is made with natural rubber and -sulphur-) AND there was no evidence of celluloid rot on -any- of the blades at all (telling me it might/must be something else) - and the seller told me 140-160 years old (of which I was skeptical) - AND the fact that "Xylonite" was specifically identified in the razor labels of the box I received with the razors and was invented by an Englishman named Parkes (ala Parkesine aka Xylonite) and unveiled in London in 1862 - all of this points to post-1862 and pre-1872 when celluloid began to be manufactured - but I could be absolutely wrong. A guy named Spill made Xylonite later, but then I would have expected the other blades to have some celluloid handles which I don't think is the case.

http://www.thecarrotbox.com/plastic/...e_xylonite.asp

Pretty cool thinking about it though.

K