Thread: Discolored Blades

I believe that to be from lather left on the blade. I have an old 8/8 Joseph Rodgers with a similar hue. I may be wrong but that is what I think.

I've had several razors with the exact same rainbow discoloration and it all disappeared after a trip on my buffers. I've also always wondered what caused it. Overheating should have blue and darker streaks. It has to be some kind of reaction from being in contact with something.

I think it has to be from a superficial residue, probably left over lather or some type of oil from the solution your barbers mentioned that has become embedded into the steel over time with frequent exposure. The rainbow discoloration is caused by wave interference of light as it passes through a transparent curvature, such as oil molecules. It's the same exact effect as the rainbow you see in a pool of motor oil in the parking lot. Glad to know a light sanding takes care of it. I wonder if a chemical solution would aid in that, such as a degreaser.

It does remind me of an overheated blade. it has the tell tale blue, and dark blue area, but you have a rainbow thing going on....I do as Max suggests, and hit the buffer...
I'd start with coarse compound, and work my way to fine....

Jim I'm certainly no steel expert but that immediately reminded me of some old coins I have. For whatever reason certain coins get a rainbow effect like that from finger oils. I have one coin that has that same thing near the edge in a half moon shape. The only contact it ever had with anything except a plastic shield was when someone at the mint picked it up to examine it. I'd always assumed it was some combination of body oil and the metal - along with time and maybe light. That doesn't necessarily explain this but as Max and others say, it seems to be a surface phenomenon and easily removed. I think I have one or two blades with that and if I find time later I may try to see if simple MAAS and a felt wheel can remove it. I hate the idea of W/D paper if there are no pits to remove.

Maybe it is because I don't mind some patina on a vintage blade and even prefer it to a vintage blade shined up like a new dime but I would just leave it as is. If it is as a result of whatever the barber did or didn't do so much the better for the authenticity factor. Just IMHO.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Maybe it is because I don't mind some patina on a vintage blade and even prefer it to a vintage blade shined up like a new dime but I would just leave it as is. If it is as a result of whatever the barber did or didn't do so much the better for the authenticity factor. Just IMHO.

Jimmy, I generally agree but I'm not really pleased with the top one there. The very toe looks rough, almost abused. I wanted to even it out, even at the cost of the patina...the others are staying as they are, though.

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm thinking you guys are right, it's probably finger oil residue oxidizing over the years.

Originally Posted by AirColorado

Jim I'm certainly no steel expert but that immediately reminded me of some old coins I have. For whatever reason certain coins get a rainbow effect like that from finger oils. I have one coin that has that same thing near the edge in a half moon shape. The only contact it ever had with anything except a plastic shield was when someone at the mint picked it up to examine it. I'd always assumed it was some combination of body oil and the metal - along with time and maybe light. That doesn't necessarily explain this but as Max and others say, it seems to be a surface phenomenon and easily removed. I think I have one or two blades with that and if I find time later I may try to see if simple MAAS and a felt wheel can remove it. I hate the idea of W/D paper if there are no pits to remove.

Now that you mention it, I was looking up some info on coins a while back, and that hue effect makes a coin more valuable-- if its natural. So, there are people out there that chemically treat coins to artificially get that effect (and more money). They're all over ebay. I don't know what chemicals they use or anything like that, but I guess some could be in your avg barber shop.

As far as the patina on the razor, I like it, I wouldn't change it.