Discolored Blades

OK, so I need some help from the "Steel Masters".

I have A few blades now that have some things in common.

1.) they were all used for years...decades...in barbershops.

2.) they are all Japanese made

3.) they all have a strange, rainbow hued darkening around the toe.

I've asked the barbers why that might be, and they had no idea. ONe of them said "All of my razors have that same discoloration. Maybe it's after honing, wiping, stropping and shaving however many thousands of people it's shaved...". Which is fair enough.

So my questions are:

What might cause this?

Is it indicative of any serious problems with the steel (I doubt it, they're all fantastic shavers...but what do I know?)

And

Might it be possible to clean this without major sanding?

Thanks,
Jim

It looks like the blades have seen some overheating, but the fact they all shave well conflicts with that.
Once they're shave ready, do they hold their edge?

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Originally Posted by ben.mid

It looks like the blades have seen some overheating, but the fact they all shave well conflicts with that.
Once they're shave ready, do they hold their edge?

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They all shave magnificently, and there have been no signs of edge deterioration since I got them.

I suspected that from your first post really.

I can only suggest some polish first, & if that doesn't shift it, try going to the finest grade wet & dry you can lay your hands on. You obviously don't want to leave scratches, so keep everything very light. Then it's back to the polish.

I think I might know. I am not sure but my barber told me they used to keep razors in a pan with a solution and an ultraviolet light over it. He said all of his discolered because of it. Mack

It could be that, mackie, but it's only the tips of the blades, the heels, tangs etc. are fine...

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Originally Posted by ben.mid

I suspected that from your first post really.

I can only suggest some polish first, & if that doesn't shift it, try going to the finest grade wet & dry you can lay your hands on. You obviously don't want to leave scratches, so keep everything very light. Then it's back to the polish.

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Thanks Ben. I tried polish, but it just sort of altered the color. So I tried some 2000 W&D and it took it right off. I guess I was too heavy handed, though, because it's pretty scratchy looking. I guess I just need to keep polishing. But I'm happy that I could do something that wasn't too drastic!

Hmmm...could it be something like oxidized oils from the barber's fingers? It wasn't deep at all, and under it the steel looks fine.

Actually mine was that same way and he said they would lean the handles over the edge of the pan and the stuff would evaporate so it was on the tip more often than otherwise. I don't know, just a suggestion. I'm glad it came off. mine didn't. Took a lot of sanding.

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. :)

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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.

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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.

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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. :)

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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.

i have an old W&B that was near perfect except for a small rainbow hue, in the centre. I sent it to the Invisible Edge for honing and polishing and it returned to me perfect.