Thread: Is this cell rot or just pitting?

I have a Red Dot (without the red dot). The blade is showing some pitting and vein-ey kind of black deterioration of the blade. Is this from cell rot? Old rust? The scales show no visible signs of deterioration, except one area that is showing some slight discolouration. I hope the photo is good enough to facilitate a diagnosis. I am not the best photographer...sorry. I have the razor in quarantine until I can be sure it will not spread to my other razors. Opinions are welcome.

I think just pitting. If it was cell rot the lower port of the blade would be rusted and in bad shape.

Hard to say, Cell rot can take many different forms, because there were many different formulations, depending on the look they were trying to achieve.

I have a razor that has a black spider web design, that will not easily buff or sand off, but I am pretty sure it is cell rot. It does look pretty cool though.

Whatever the cause, that black oxidation is a bear to remove.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Hard to say, Cell rot can take many different forms, because there were many different formulations, depending on the look they were trying to achieve.

I have a razor that has a black spider web design, that will not easily buff or sand off, but I am pretty sure it is cell rot. It does look pretty cool though.

Whatever the cause, that black oxidation is a bear to remove.

This tiny vein like black something-or-other (you call it oxidation) and pitting IS very difficult to remove. And it is into the edge which make honing difficult. I don't mind so much the visual appearance....more concerned with it affecting the edge and possible cell rot. Pity...it is a nice razor.

I can't be sure either, but if it is cell-rot it ain't done. So keep it away from other razors, and check on it from time to time. Look up inside the scales and if you see any discoloration, or even wet spots from the gassing, you'll know. In any case, if it is cell rot the blade will show fresh corrosion, probably red speckled rust. So keep an eye on it.

All the cell rot I've encountered so far was on the part of the blade inside the scales. You never know, but I don't think it cell rot.
But Jimmy's test is a good idea!

The cell rot on the scales should match up with the damage on the blade.

Not always, and it could be cell rot from another razor stored with it.

This past weekend, I saw a razor, with cracked ice scales, in a glass case that was in full cell rot bloom, the blade completely rusted. It had infected 2 other razors on either side of it, but not razors in the shelves above and below it, yet…

The two neighbors, were finely rusted on the blades, where they were exposed and not between the scales.

If it were me, I'd unpin it, put the scales in a zip lock bag, and seal them up for a week or two.

Then open the bag, and see if you have a pharmaceutical smell. If you do, throw them away. At the least you'll stop the cell rot, if its what it is.