Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13
Like Tree2Likes

Thread: Remove oil from bone scales

  1. #1
    Temporary Razor Custodian CrazyCloud's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Southern Indiana
    Posts
    134
    Thanked: 167

    Default Remove oil from bone scales

    Hi guys,

    Anyone have suggestions on how to remove oil from bone scales? I oiled the pivot on my old Wade & Butcher and now the scale material there is more translucent than the rest. Tried soaking in soapy water, but doesn't look like it's going to work... maybe try ethanol? Doing a repin to tighten her up and thought now would be a good time take care of it.

    Also, I have done a few repins and noticed that my blades tend to center towards the back scale a bit, I am spening to much time peening one side?

    Thanks in advance,

    Jason

  2. #2
    The Electrochemist PhatMan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Hastings, UK
    Posts
    1,714
    Thanked: 527

    Default

    CrazyCloud,

    You culd try soaking the afflicted part of the scales in lighter fluid (I use Ronson) ?

    I have also found that 'Swarfega' type hand cleansers are quite good at removing oil from such materials.

    Have fun !

    Best regards

    Russ

  3. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to PhatMan For This Useful Post:

    CrazyCloud (12-02-2010), UrEnki (02-13-2013)

  4. #3
    They call me Mr Bear. Stubear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Alton, UK
    Posts
    5,715
    Thanked: 1683
    Blog Entries
    3

    Default

    Wrap the scales in tissue and put them on a warm radiator for a day or two. The heat will sweat the oil out of the scales and hopefully clear it up!

    This might not get all of it (depends on how much is in there), but it will definately help a lot and wont risk any further staining or marks.

    Give it a try first as its the least aggressive approach and then move onto chemicals and whatnot.

    Hope that helps!

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to Stubear For This Useful Post:

    CrazyCloud (12-02-2010)

  6. #4
    Senior Member decraew's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Duffel, Belgium
    Posts
    678
    Thanked: 101

    Default

    Before you try to get the oil out, are you sure you don't prefer the scales to be translucent ? I'm asking because I've had a couple of old razors with bone/horn scales, and I soaked those (in neatsfoot oil) to get them shiny again.

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to decraew For This Useful Post:

    CrazyCloud (12-02-2010)

  8. #5
    Temporary Razor Custodian CrazyCloud's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Southern Indiana
    Posts
    134
    Thanked: 167

    Default

    Thanks for the replies fellas. I'll give your ideas a try and let you know what works. If the stains don't come out I may go for the translucent look, does anyone have pics of 'translucent' bone scales?

    I'm pretty excited about finally doing a restore on the first razor I bought. It has needed it for a long time, but I wanted to do a couple of others first before tackling one of my favorites. Thanks for your help with the project!
    Last edited by CrazyCloud; 12-02-2010 at 11:30 PM. Reason: spelling

  9. #6
    Senior Member Brando's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Suburb of Chicago
    Posts
    637
    Thanked: 184

    Default

    well if its translucent the scales are horn. Stay away from excessive water and heat as you will probably warp your scales. Treat the entire set or scales with neatsfoot oil or mineral oil and let it soak in a zip lock bag for a day or 2, buff off excess oil with soft cloth and all will be uniform.

    As for your blade not centering, pean the oppisite side that the blade is leaning to, do light taps you do not want to bend the pin
    JBHoren likes this.

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to Brando For This Useful Post:

    CrazyCloud (12-02-2010)

  11. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    184
    Thanked: 20

    Default white corn meal?

    White corn meal will absorb the oil from leather, I know bone is not leather, but both leather and bone are made from natural fiber. I also used baking soda to absorb oil from leather. None of these material are abrassive or chemically to damage the leather, bone or horn. They are safe to use. If you try it let us know. Juan.

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to juannaredo For This Useful Post:

    CrazyCloud (12-02-2010)

  13. #8
    Temporary Razor Custodian CrazyCloud's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Southern Indiana
    Posts
    134
    Thanked: 167

    Default

    Thanks for the tips Brando. The scales are white, with brownish pores. They just turned a little transparent with the oil.... so I think they are bone. Heated them just a little with a hair dryer and the smell was more bone stench than horn stench.

    I attached some pics, someone let me know if you think they're not bone.

    Quote Originally Posted by Brando View Post
    well if its translucent the scales are horn. Stay away from excessive water and heat as you will probably warp your scales. Treat the entire set or scales with neatsfoot oil or mineral oil and let it soak in a zip lock bag for a day or 2, buff off excess oil with soft cloth and all will be uniform.

    As for your blade not centering, pean the oppisite side that the blade is leaning to, do light taps you do not want to bend the pin
    Attached Images Attached Images   

  14. #9
    Scale Maniac BKratchmer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Decorah, IA
    Posts
    2,671
    Thanked: 641

    Default

    Looks like bone to me.

  15. The Following User Says Thank You to BKratchmer For This Useful Post:

    CrazyCloud (12-02-2010)

  16. #10
    Senior Member Brando's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Suburb of Chicago
    Posts
    637
    Thanked: 184

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by CrazyCloud View Post
    Thanks for the tips Brando. The scales are white, with brownish pores. They just turned a little transparent with the oil.... so I think they are bone. Heated them just a little with a hair dryer and the smell was more bone stench than horn stench.

    I attached some pics, someone let me know if you think they're not bone.
    Now seeing the pictures I will have to say they are bone, and definately the nose knows, horn and bone both have their own distintive smells when being worked on.
    Back to your dilemma wit the oil, Im not exactly sure you may be able to remove the oil 100%. Personally I would still treat the scales entirely with neatsfoot oil or mineral oil to get them uniform again
    Hope that helped
    Tony

  17. The Following User Says Thank You to Brando For This Useful Post:

    CrazyCloud (12-03-2010)

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •