Thread: sterilization

I used to let the blade soak in hot water for a few minutes until I almost irrecoverably marked the Finish on a razor I bought, now no matter where I get the blade from I use the hand sanitising spray which is a mix of alcohols in a gel form, and a quick rinse under warm water with a soapy sponge, then onto an air dry and light coat of mineral oil (baby oil)

Here's a link to what I did using hot water to sterilise, turns out that the acid in the fingerprints on the blade etched it slightly with the hot water when I soaked it

http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=77218

Soap and water,nothing more needed.people need to get over this unwarranted germophobia B.S.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Soap and water,nothing more needed.people need to get over this unwarranted germophobia B.S.

Gentlemen,
I'm afraid I'm with my friend pixelfixed. Folks tend to go overboard with cleaning.

Agree with Pixelfixed. A complete waste of time and energy.

I'm not sure how a half second dip in alcohol can qualify as a waste of time. Especially when, on more than one occasion, I've seen the person I was buying the razor from open it up and cut themselves with it.

Gentlemen,

Before restoring a razor, I give it a good scrubbing with a soft toothbrush dish soap and hot water. The hair dryer on cold dries the razor thoroughly, especially the pivot area. After fixing the edge, if it needs it, setting the bevel and honing, I then rinse the blade thoroughly, dry it, strop it, and then submerge it (blade only, of course) in Barbicide for about 10 minutes. The blade then is dried, oiled and put away.

Theseus, in the past, I also have submerged the blade in alcohol for about a minute or so. I no longer do that, but I don't see a problem with it.

Folks, I've been a professional tattooer in street shops for more than 20 years. Been using a steam autoclave as a tool of the trade for all of that time and still do. I've taken state mandated blood borne pathogen courses requiring a test with a passing grade to be licensed. I have never yet sterilized a straight razor in the years I've been using them. I have hit grungy used blades with metal polish, scrubbing bubbles and the like. By the time the razor is cleaned in the fore mentioned manner, honed and stropped , it is good to go AFAIC.

Now, if you have a razor that someone else has used, and they may have gotten a nick or even weepers .... it is a different story. It is unlikely but bugs such as hepatitis can live for a long time on surfaces outside of the body. In that case, an ounce of prevention is in order, and I might resort to the barbacide and certainly throughly clean the blade before I used it. By and large, with vintage blades, what we do with them to get them in shaving condition eliminates any bad stuff. IMHO.

Ya know guys,,,,

The crap that lives inside the scales is way way more dangerous then what lives on a steel blade... If you want pics I have them

Every time I see one of these threads I giggle a bit, because unless you do a complete break down of the razor you are NOT even cleaning it, even soaking it, or the toothbrush and soaps/cleaners, doesn't get the buildup of greasy grimy skin/soap/blood etc: from inside the scales "Where the razor rests"

Anybody that restores razors know this, why do you think I started restoring razors to begin with

But you guys can believe what you want, and do what ya want, I have seen what is in there that goes unseen