Thread: Dirty. gunky blades

Why is it when i find a razor that has nice scales and I want to keep it that way, the blade and inside of the scales are gunked up.

Why is it that when I clean up a dirty, gunky razor with scales I want to keep, the worst side is always the one with the brand name on it.

Why is it when I think I can clean up a dirty, gunky razor with scales I want to keep, I always try to clean it with the scales on and ennd up taking it apart to clean then reassemble.

Is it just me?

I had 8 razors that I have kept back in the pile that all had nice scales that I wanted to keep the blades in instead of rescaling. Of course the blades seemed in great shape except the last user put them away wet and full of soap. At least that's what it seemed like. Of course a full cleaning, disassembly, polish both scales and blades and then reassemble was the order of the day.

Are we as a whole more particular in our blades than those in the past? Or is it that the original owner was like we are, but someone else down the line tried it out, said no way, and put it up as is?

I've seen many blades with rust about from humidity and age, but the nice blades put away with soap and such still on them baffles me. Even more baffling is the amount of gunk found on the inside of the scales.

This is kind of a hapless rant caused by a day long cleaning of razors, but I am also looking for similar stories and maybe a reason as to why this happens.

What have you guys seen as to good blades gone bad?

Jerry

Why? Because it would just be too easy otherwise

I believe those razors were quite common in those days, and people tend to treat common everyday objects with callousness (even if the object is considered valuable). Ironically, those common everyday objects are now of historical value today.

How many times have we used a common object like a flashlight... drop in water, stained, spill paint, scratch, ding or other such... and we clean it just enough to get the thing working again...

100 years from now someone will say...
"I've seen many "flashlights" with rust about from humidity and age, but the nice "flashlights" put away with soap and such still on them baffles me. Even more baffling is the amount of gunk found on the inside of the flashlights".

People’s attitude to common everyday objects have not changed.

Good analogy. Still it is frustrating to see something so nice on the outside and evil on the inside. Sounds like an ex I knew, but that is another story.

I just recieved the Ultrasonic Cleaner from "that auction site" and ran some razors through it to see the how clean it would get them. Using hot tap water and a little liquid Dawn dish dertergent I set it to 480 seconds (the longest time setting available). I have a couple with bone scales that were stained and discolored into the pores. Man, did that ever clean up those razors. And you wouldn''t believe the crude in the bottom of the tank. It was a great investment IMHO.

Originally Posted by kilowattkid

Why is it when i find a razor that has nice scales and I want to keep it that way, the blade and inside of the scales are gunked up.

Why is it that when I clean up a dirty, gunky razor with scales I want to keep, the worst side is always the one with the brand name on it.

Why is it when I think I can clean up a dirty, gunky razor with scales I want to keep, I always try to clean it with the scales on and ennd up taking it apart to clean then reassemble.

Jerry

Sounds like the start of "Murphy's Laws of Razor Restoration"

I came across a Craftsman razor one day with an excellent box, very nice scales and a blade that was so rusted there was no steel showing and left a powdery red residue on your fingers. I dont think there was enough steel left to stick to a magnet.
I agree with Smythe about them being common objects

Bob

I have to agree with Lucky. I have an ultrasonic cleaner that does wonders. What it doesn't get out it softens and I can get it out with a doubled up pipe cleaner. I now clean all my newly aquired razors this way and it does a fantastic job