Thread: Rusty Iwasaki Razor

I'm new to this whole straight razor business so hope this is the right place to ask this question!?

I just bought myself an Iwasaki razor off eBay in the UK. The seller claimed to have only used it around five times, didn't get on with it, had it honed at Invisible Edge and put it up for sale along with a Dovo strop. I have no reason to believe that this isn't the case; it looks perfectly new to me and the edge took the hairs off my arm with the greatest of ease!

I was even more delighted when my mother unexpectedly offered to pay for it as a Christmas gift. This is probably the best gift I'll have received since the Millenium Falcon I was given aged 4!

Anyway, I was looking at it longingly today before re-boxing it to be wrapped for Christmas when I noticed what looked to be a small line of rust along the handle / spine of the razor where it is forge black. (Sorry, not sure if my terminology is quite correct)

I have attached two images, taken with my iphone so the definition isn't great, but will try to find a better camera and take more detailed shots later. (Have also just seen the photographing razors section in Wiki)

What I wondered was if this is rust, and I expect it is, what I could do about it? How may this affect the razor and could this be removed without removing the rather neat forge black? As it stands I coated the razor with a little mineral oil though know this isn't going to help the matter though I'm hoping may not make it worse?

Any help or suggestions would be greatly received.

Jamie

Jamie;

Welcome to SRP, The Iwasaki kamisori you have was made by Mizuochi-san a master Japanese blade smith. I have one myself and they are special razors that may take some time learning how to use and hone properly. What little bit of rust I see will not affect the blade. That was smart putting the mineral oil on the steel it will help protect it. That will halt any future rust from occurring. I use camellia oil on mine. ALWAYS keep her oiled. Try rubbing the rust off with a shop towel or cotton cloth with some mineral oil on it. If that does not work you may have to get a little more aggressive, see if you can post some better pics once Santa makes his delivery. I think I'll use mine in the am now.
MIke

You can always use some metal polish, if it's surface stuff it should come off really easily.

Thanks guys for responding so quickly.

Am reassured to know that it's nothing too serious and am delighted now to have an excuse as to why I should keep it another day before handing it over to be wrapped for Christmas!

Jamie

+1 on the metal polish, MAAS metal polish works very well. The rust appears to be minimal and metal polish should clean it right up

You're going to love this blade. Congrats . I think, as other have eluded to, take a little MAAS to it and should take care of the rust and keep her oiled when not in use (Mineral oil, etc..)

Enjoy

These razors have a sort of black oxide finish. Metal polish might not be the best product for this. You might try some ClenzOil which is an oil with some solvent in it. It works pretty well on minor rust spots on firearms without damaging the finish. Rub it on with a coarse rag.

yeah I'm with bill, the rust is on the black part so polishing it out will change the finish. if it were my razor i'd rather live with the rust spot than destroy the cool japanese look.
what you really want is to convert it into the black iron oxide.
the tricky part is to do it while not damaging the rest of the razor and especiall the edge.
try to research the topic of bluing, if nobody has a real practical suggestion, may be check with mike blue, i'm sure if it can be done he'll know how to do it.

for now keep the oil on it for sure.

Originally Posted by Bill S

These razors have a sort of black oxide finish. Metal polish might not be the best product for this. You might try some CleanzOil (sp?) which is an oil with some solvent in it. It works pretty well on minor rust spots on firearms without damaging the finish. Rub it on with a coarse rag.

Originally Posted by gugi

yeah I'm with bill, the rust is on the black part so polishing it out will change the finish. if it were my razor i'd rather live with the rust spot than destroy the cool japanese look.
what you really want is to convert it into the black iron oxide.
the tricky part is to do it while not damaging the rest of the razor and especiall the edge.
try to research the topic of bluing, if nobody has a real practical suggestion, may be check with mike blue, i'm sure if it can be done he'll know how to do it.

for now keep the oil on it for sure.

Thanks for chiming in guys ...This is good information to know. I've got my Iwasaki on the way from JimR and I would have hated to, at one point, using MAAS on it and ruining it.

I have one also and I have used Maas on it. I wouldn't recommend it either maybe a wax of some sort but I used the paste Maas on mine to take out some spotting and wiped the whole razor gently and i do believe that although water beads on it I have thinned the carbon ever so slightly just by a light and mild wipe down as a protectant.