Thread: Scale Sweat?!?

Ok, now THIS is new to me...

I was working on this nice J. Engstrom, and after pulling the blade, left this downstairs in the workshop overnight. Basement is about 20 deg cooler than upstairs, so one might expect a little condensation to form on the chilled steel. But I have never seen this much moisture form on the scales. And no, there was NO moisture on the steel.

Has anybody else ever seen this phenomena? Should I be worried about these scales being detrimental to the health of the razor?
As far as I can tell, the scales are NOT bone or ivory.

Eew. They look sick to me, I would toss them just as a precaution. A good sand and neatsfooting might help stabilize whatever's going on though.

Oil or grease might have gotten onto or embedded in the scales at one point in time and could be forcing the water to the surface. I would try giving them a good cleaning and see what happens.

They look like bone scales to me, and that discolouration looks like oil that has seeped into them from over-enthusiastic oiling of the pivot over the years. I expect condensation formed on the other part of the scale and sunk in, but could not do so where the oil is present. I don't think that the scales will detrimental to the rest of the razor unless you keep it in the basement! I don't think I would leave anything metal down there, or get some form of heating...

Regards,
Neil

Don't you ever watch the old cowboy movies man? It's sweating dynomite, NITRO!!

It looks to me like something is exuding from the scale material. I would isolate the scales for a week or so after cleaning and see if it continues.

Interesting, can't say I've seen too many chipped frameback blades replaced before! Good observation about the folded frames too, I've often noticed the 'cracks' on some framebacks of mine but never made the connection.

Originally Posted by EisenFaust

Interesting, can't say I've seen too many chipped frameback blades replaced before!

Probably because its a huge frackin PITA!