Thread: A candle and a razor

Well the (intriguing) title is more to bring people in this topic

I know there has already been a lot of posts on cleaning (disinfecting) an edge/a blade so that it is considered safe to shave with it health-wise, especially with ebay/flea market finds.

Some people just clean it with soap, 70% alcohol, 90% alcohol, Flitz/Maas, or barbicide... etc...

While giving blood, I asked a (french) nurse and she told me that the main risk of using a blade of unknown source would be hepatitis C (or was it B...?, I don't remember). This is because the "only" thing that really kills this hepatitis (B or C...?) is heat (about 140°C if my memory is good, i.e. 284°F).

So I have two questions:
1) Do you use heat to "clean" your (restore) blades? If yes, how? (candle, oven, lighter...?)
2) Would a quick (1 to 5 seconds) heating of the edge with a lighter damage the metal/steel properties? (I don't know anything about heat treatment and blade temper...)


Thanks all
Christophe

I think the nurse was mistaken.
Bleach, certain alcohol mixtures, and Barbicide will all kill hepatitis.

In answer to the specific questions:
1. No.
2. No.

I'd be careful of any heat around a razor too. I was talking to someone (sorry, cannot remember who) who said that there are some nifty chemicals that tattooists use? Does that sound right? Personally, I just go with the alcohol, but if you are really concerned maybe contact a tattoo shop and ask them what they use (besides heat).

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

I'd be careful of any heat around a razor too.

It doesn't take much to burn down a set of celluloid scales...

Originally Posted by HNSB

It doesn't take much to burn down a set of celluloid scales...

All too true

James.

All I do is a quick dip in alcohol and hone the blade.

The edge of your blade is in the range of one thousandth of an inch thick. Direct flame for even a second would take that edge to red hot, and I'm sure lose it's temper.

Regards,

Howard

heating the blade is not a good idea.

what most people here use is this: Barbicide - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

kills hep-C and the other stuff just fine

Another thing to consider, especially with "in the wild" finds, is the lifespan of these viruses "outside of the body". Hep b according to the research I have done, will last about a week outside the body, and hep c only about 4 days.

When you consider how long it has been since many of these blades have been used, I would suggest that the risk would be almost non existant!

Originally Posted by HNSB

It doesn't take much to burn down a set of celluloid scales...

Been there!