Thread: Care and feeding of your tortoise?

OK, #1: how do you determine if your tortoise shell scales actually are tortoise shell scales? The hot pin test as per ivory?

#2- If they are indeed tortiose shell scales, any tips on care and feeding of them?

See if the tortoise is still in there.

If he is, a bowl of water and a few leaves of lettuce daily should be enough. Make sure you keep him away from your kids as he has a sharp blade attached to him.

If he is no longer there, I don't have a clue how to help you. sorry, friend

Well, Hoglaloo, I know you're partial to heavy, scorned, stainless scales, but thanks anyhow!

Hey Seraphim!

I don't have much for you, but after seeing what neatsfoot oil does for horn, I'd think it would work just as well on tortoise shell. Horn and shell products and scales seem so similar to me that I'd think what works for one would work for the other.

A quick online search (2nd paragraph in the "remarks" section) tells me that overheated tortoise shell smells like burnt hair (again, like horn), but I have no authoritative sources on that.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Poncho,

Yes, I know that horn really soaks up the oil, which really helps restore it. However, the "tortoise shell" scales on my latest are quite glossy, and don't seem to soak up anything.

C'est la vie....if they are real tortoise, then that's super-cool. If they are cheap plastic, that's cool too, 'cause I like the way they look on this razor!

I have some blade cleaning to do, and then I'll post some pics.

Try using Baby Oil .My brother put me on to this when My favorite horn handled spike started to show signs of distress .I just rubbed a lot of baby oil on the scales (it wont harm the blade) & within 24 hours everything was back to normal .
This also works well with stag handled knives.Paul

I dont have any litteral advice on how to care for it, but from what i've seen with an antique tortoise shell jewelery box (100+ years) that my mom owns, if it was done right little care is needed, as it hasnt had any thing done to it since it was made and looks amazing still, but i could be wrong as scales tend to be around more heat then a jewelery box.