Thread: Restoring Razor with Mold

Long story short... I purchased this vintage razor some time ago and it turns out there was some humidity in the box I stored it with.
Mold was everywhere, especially inside the scales. I cleaned it up using disinfecting wipes, but obviously I want to clean it really well before I start the restoration.

The scales look plasticy, so I'm hesitating to dip the whole thing in alcohol. Suggestions?
Please note that the blade has some rust on it, so it is NOT stainless.

Post a Picture.

No Alcohol, it can melt some scales.

I use WD40 and Simple Green. Squirt it down with WD40 let sit for a few minutes then scrub with a paper towel wrapped around a wooden coffee stir stick, it will get between the scales well.

Wash off the WD40 with Simple Green and rinse in warm to hot water, dry well.

This is cleaning, for me a restoration means the razor comes apart.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

No Alcohol, it can melt some scales.

I've never had alcohol damage scales. OTOH, I recently touched-up the blade of a Cattaraugus Cutlery B52T "Indian Chief", with its spine protected by electrical tape and, when cleaning-off the tape residue with acetone, discovered (to my horror!) that it had "melted" part of the celluloid scales near the pivot pin.

I like thus stuff.


Lay um in the sink, hose um down, let soak for a few, scrub with an ol toothbrush.

When it comes to killing mood spores, peroxide it great. It will oxidize steel and bleach bone scales.

WD40 for tape residue, spray on a paper towel and wipe. Also great for removing stuck on labels and Scotch tape and gum from your shoe.

I too have been using Awsome, it is a great grease remover, I have an old Lilly White Ark I picked up this weekend, soaking in it now. Also cleaned up the black, old finger jointed wooden box the stone came in with it, sprayed it down 50/50 water, let set a bit and scrubbed with 000 steel wool, came out nice. The stone will take some time to get white.

And you can’t beat the price.

Thanks for the suggestions.
I'm not familiar with Awesome... Where can you get that in Canada? I don't remember seeing that in any store. Is it just a cleaner or it is also a disinfectant?

As for peroxide, is the resulting oxidation likely to be hard to get rid of?

Out of curiosity, how much stronger are those compared to bleach? It's been my go to household disinfectant.

Originally Posted by JBHoren

I've never had alcohol damage scales. OTOH, I recently touched-up the blade of a Cattaraugus Cutlery B52T "Indian Chief", with its spine protected by electrical tape and, when cleaning-off the tape residue with acetone, discovered (to my horror!) that it had "melted" part of the celluloid scales near the pivot pin.

Yup acetone dissolves celluloid & can actually be used to repair broken cell scales.

Peroxide is way more people friendly than bleach, but neither is particularly metal friendly. Peroxide kills mild spores and degrades any residue. Just be carefully with it around metal, especially the high potency stuff.

Here are the pics of the patient. You'll notice that the scales are bent inwards, and they're really tight.