Thread: Question re: Ren wax and cell rot

I believe Renaissance Wax is an excellent product. And for those of us who store our straight razors for long periods of time Ren wax has always been recommended. My question is: if you had a razor and treated the blade with Ren wax and the scales or wedge started to deteriorate (cell rot) would your blade be protected? And a related question -- if you treated the scales with Ren wax would this slow down or stop cell rot?

I have never heard of anyone experimenting with that. Tom has a product he put on his cell scales in the hope of keeping them from deteriorating. His is a spray on product like silicone lube. PM him.

Aka sharptonn

Ren wax might, big might, slow down the acid gas attacking the metal but I doubt if it is a cure.

I don't store Celluloid scales in coffins or in a closed container.

Originally Posted by rolodave

Ren wax might, big might, slow down the acid gas attacking the metal but I doubt if it is a cure.

I don't store Celluloid scales in coffins or in a closed container.

How do you store your celluloid scales? I have often wondered what is the best method to store these razors.

Cell-rotted scales need to be binned ASAP.

Originally Posted by Whizbang

How do you store your celluloid scales? I have often wondered what is the best method to store these razors.

Not in a coffin
Not on a box

You don't stop cell rot. You try to minimize the damage to the blade and surrounding blades.
As Kees said, trash the scales immediately.
There are several threads on cell rot.
Do a search and enjoy the reading.
On the homepage is a link to cell rot

I use it to prevent rust too but i doubt it would have any effect on cell rot. I say this because it doesn't seem to stop silver or brass from tarnishing so some air must get through.(or i'm not using it correctly?)

Years ago, I experimented with Renwax and cell rot, it will slow it down, but not stop it because you cannot coat the blade and the scales completely without disassembling the entire razor and a coat of wax does not last forever.

So, if you completely disassemble the razor, blade, pins, collars, washers wedge, seal the blade and scales with Renwax you can slow the reaction, (off gassing), but the wax does not last forever, and if a pinhole is not sealed…

Just make new scales. If you do not have time to rescale, at least un-pin the razor, make a tracing of the scales and throw them away, far away and save the blade.

Make sure to cut off all the rust from the blade with a razor blade and polish off the blade clean, remove the edge and re hone or at least remove the rust from the bevel and completely from the blade. Seal with Renwax including the pin hole.

Once cell rot starts you cannot stop it, Renwax can slow it down, but it is still a timebomb. Once it starts to eat a blade the steel will always be week. Cell rot eats the thinnest steel, (the Edge) first.

If you store a Cell Rot razor near any other steel, it will eat that steel, any steel too. Especially if the case is sealed and in direct sun light, an antique store display case.

I once went into one of my favorite Antique stores and saw a razor, in a 6ft case, with early stages of cell rot. I told the manager about cell rot and he said he would pass on the info to the owner. A couple months later that summer I returned, and the razor was still in the case. Every piece of metal in the case, several razors, straight and double edge were all eaten by cell rot.

There are also different degrees and aggression of cell rot. Many razor scales were made with a variety of recipes, for color and designs, so the reaction can vary in aggression. Some brands are notorious like Double Duck and the Bresduck line, most cracked Ice designs, but there are many other time bombs.

Un-pinning is the only solution, and still there is no guarantee that the damage has not already been done. The steel may look good but will not hold an edge and pit or crumble with use.

Post some pic and we may be able to tell you if possibly the blade, can be saved.

If you suspect Cell Rot time is not on your side.

Originally Posted by rolodave

Not in a coffin
Not on a box

If not in a coffin and not in a box, then where?

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Years ago, I experimented with Renwax and cell rot, it will slow it down, but not stop it because you cannot coat the blade and the scales completely without disassembling the entire razor and a coat of wax does not last forever.

So, if you completely disassemble the razor, blade, pins, collars, washers wedge, seal the blade and scales with Renwax you can slow the reaction, (off gassing), but the wax does not last forever, and if a pinhole is not sealed…

Just make new scales. If you do not have time to rescale, at least un-pin the razor, make a tracing of the scales and throw them away, far away and save the blade.

Make sure to cut off all the rust from the blade with a razor blade and polish off the blade clean, remove the edge and re hone or at least remove the rust from the bevel and completely from the blade. Seal with Renwax including the pin hole.

Once cell rot starts you cannot stop it, Renwax can slow it down, but it is still a timebomb. Once it starts to eat a blade the steel will always be week. Cell rot eats the thinnest steel, (the Edge) first.

If you store a Cell Rot razor near any other steel, it will eat that steel, any steel too. Especially if the case is sealed and in direct sun light, an antique store display case.

I once went into one of my favorite Antique stores and saw a razor, in a 6ft case, with early stages of cell rot. I told the manager about cell rot and he said he would pass on the info to the owner. A couple months later that summer I returned, and the razor was still in the case. Every piece of metal in the case, several razors, straight and double edge were all eaten by cell rot.

There are also different degrees and aggression of cell rot. Many razor scales were made with a variety of recipes, for color and designs, so the reaction can vary in aggression. Some brands are notorious like Double Duck and the Bresduck line, most cracked Ice designs, but there are many other time bombs.

Un-pinning is the only solution, and still there is no guarantee that the damage has not already been done. The steel may look good but will not hold an edge and pit or crumble with use.

Post some pic and we may be able to tell you if possibly the blade, can be saved.

If you suspect Cell Rot time is not on your side.

This is helpful...thanks. I think maybe I wasn't clear that this was a hypothetical question. I am very careful to segregate any scales that look suspicious and if I think they have cell rot I bin the scales and save the blade. I do have some very old SRs in storage and I have often wondered what would happen if one developed cell rot without me knowing. I know it would ruin that blade and likely others around it. Hence my question if Ren Wax would offer any protection. Maybe I just need to check them more often.
I haven't found suitable storage for my collection. I worry about humidity so I store them in tote boxes with dehumidifier packs. And then I worry about cell rot. Anyone have any ideas for longer term storage of a collection?