Thread: Neatsfoot oil usage

Do I need to remove the scales before soaking in neatsfoot oil for a week or can I just soak the whole razor intact? I'd rather not unpin if I can avoid it.

Assuming there's nothing weird in the construction (i.e. some unusual material other than horn, steel, brass, etc.) you'll be fine. Have done this many times, and one of my favourites is getting just this treatment to pruce up the scales a bit as I type this.

Your first post in new thread is somewhat incomplete. Neetsfoot oil is a leather oil. Why are you soaking a razor, with or without scales, in Neetsfoot? Please provide greater context and intended purpose for such action.

Originally Posted by Longhaultanker

Your first post in new thread is somewhat incomplete. Neetsfoot oil is a leather oil. Why are you soaking a razor, with or without scales, in Neetsfoot? Please provide greater context and intended purpose for such action.

The assumption I made in my reply (admittedly rarely a good thing to assume...) was that it was for horn scales.

Why the duration of a week?

I was using neatsfoot to bring dried out horn scales back to life. A week is what I'd read elsewhere in some past threads. As always ant advice to the contrary is appreciated.

I like to clean them up a bit, razor blade, 000 steel wool and WD40 to remove soap scum from between the scales and rust from the blade.

Then put the whole razor in a Ziploc bag and pour in enough Neetsfoot to cover the razor, an ounce or two.

Let soak, for as long as needed, at least a day and up to a week or two. I have left them in for month, on accident, with no issue. You can always re-soak if needed. You will not hurt the razor steel, if that is what you are worried about.

Post some photos, it can help in advising you.

Welcome to the forum.

Neatsfoot oil works on bone scales too.

It re-hydrates horn scales. I've let them soak for a few days and I might try up to a week next time

Originally Posted by Longhaultanker

Your first post in new thread is somewhat incomplete. Neetsfoot oil is a leather oil. Why are you soaking a razor, with or without scales, in Neetsfoot? Please provide greater context and intended purpose for such action.

Make sure you get pure neatsfoot oil not neatsfoot oil compund. The compound has petroleum in it. I know from working with leather the compound tends to do nasty things other than leather like stitching.