Thread: Disinfecting / Sanitizing

I think the funniest one is in my business people refer to high security auto keys as laser keys. In most other cases I think people really know that it's a brand name but in this case people believe that the keys are cut with a laser. I have jokingly said to someone before, "Don't look at the laser while I cut the key." and before I could chuckle or indicate that I was kidding the guy actually turned and covered his eyes. Laser is a company that makes key cutting machines and other security hardware. I guess they took the name because the implication is it uses accuracy like a laser. Since they were one of the first to make that type of machine the generic name of the key itself became colloquially known by the brand name of the key cutting machine. By the way they are not cut with a laser. They are cut with a key cutting machine that uses an end mill rather than a side cutting wheel.

Interesting thread. Seems like if you're really concerned you would need to re scale any razor that you didn't know the history of since most scale materials couldn't survive boiling. My understanding is that this is what was behind the stainless scales on Wapis, so that they could be autoclave d.

Originally Posted by bluesman7

Interesting thread. Seems like if you're really concerned you would need to re scale any razor that you didn't know the history of since most scale materials couldn't survive boiling. My understanding is that this is what was behind the stainless scales on Wapis, so that they could be autoclave d.

Hi, your right I am a bit concerned that if I get a razor other than from the guys here I would feel more comfortable if I knew for a fact is was clean. Plus if I sold / gave/ paid it forward to someone else I would like to be able to know that when I say sanitized I meant it.

I don't think I would have to disassemble every razor I get from outside the forum if for instance I knew that Barbacide would allow me to soak the entire blade including pin and tang without any damage to the top of the scales that would obviously have to also be submerged to soak the pin etc.

On the other hand, I am into different and pretty. Most of my razors are either black plastic or white / cream plastic. I have been looking around and although I can't seem to remember where I saw it. Pins, wire and all sorts of scale material seemed pretty cheap so because none of my razors are special I could rescale them and make them all look different. I would also like to buy different quite thick but interesting acrylic to use but I have to find some.

Making scales might be a bit of an art but actually attaching them seems pretty straightforward.

Steve

Originally Posted by bluesman7

Interesting thread. Seems like if you're really concerned you would need to re scale any razor that you didn't know the history of since most scale materials couldn't survive boiling. My understanding is that this is what was behind the stainless scales on Wapis, so that they could be autoclave d.

My thoughts exactly. Unless it were bone I don't think you could boil just about any scale material that wasn't stainless or possibly silver. At least it seems that way to me.

Well Steve, now you have officially fallen head first down the rabbit hole. Welcome to the other side.

Originally Posted by STF

I would like to be able to know that when I say sanitized I meant it.

Not meant as a reprimand, but just to align terms.

In hospitals the following examples would be valid; sanitize = washing, disinfect=Barbicide, bleach etc., sterilize = autoclave.

I think that most of us are interested at the disinfect level.

There is a barber on another forum that has pointed out that professionally disinfecting has to be done AFTER stropping as there is no way to disinfect strops.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

Well Steve, now you have officially fallen head first down the rabbit hole. Welcome to the other side.

Curiouser and Curiouser. I wonder how for it goes?

I do a three step process to sanitize and sterilize (if possible) a razor:
-brushing the blade with toothbrush and Dettol med (easily available in any drugstore in Europe)
-purring multiple times hot -almost 100 degrees C- water on the blade
-brushing the scales with water and soap.

If I am really worried about the razor (even if it is shave ready) I hone it, removing the part of the steel that touches the face.

Originally Posted by bluesman7

There is a barber on another forum that has pointed out that professionally disinfecting has to be done AFTER stropping as there is no way to disinfect strops.

Hi, you make a very good point about disinfecting after stropping.

Obviously my primary concern is to get rid of other peoples nasties for my peace of mind but if I pass a razor on I will bear it in mind to strop before disinfecting.

Back to my earlier question. If I soak the whole blade in Barbacide, including the tip of the scales and pin.

Will Barbacide hurt scales?

Steve

Originally Posted by STF

Hi, you make a very good point about disinfecting after stropping.

Obviously my primary concern is to get rid of other peoples nasties for my peace of mind but if I pass a razor on I will bear it in mind to strop before disinfecting.

Back to my earlier question. If I soak the whole blade in Barbacide, including the tip of the scales and pin.

Will Barbacide hurt scales?

Steve

My takeaway from not being able to disinfect the strop is to disinfect any incoming razors before they see my strops and stones. This is smart anyway as I'm more likely to cut myself honing than shaving.

I've never put my scales or pivots into Barbicide, but I just did an experiment putting half of a piece of bone into Barbicide and I could not see where it did anything bad to it. I suspect that it depends a lot on what the scale material is. My guess is that most plastics would be safe, but my mycarta would almost surely not be.