91% isopropyl alcohol and DE razors and a few other questions.

[Gary H]

Question 1: Would keeping my razors in a 91% isopropyl alcohol bath harm them? None of my razors are plated in precious metals.

Question 2: I see the term flea bites used often to describe the condition of razors. What is a flea bite?

Question 3: I have some old or new not sure which gillette razors but these are the common type and on all 3 both the ball end and the threaded end come off of the tube is this supposed to happen. Part 2 to this question on all three of these razors there is 1 hairline crack on the smooth part of the brass tube is this common?

Question 4: I was reading about using an old razor blade as a shim with the sharp edges cut off. Would the shim go on top of or underneath of the cutting blade?

 

[BBrad]

1. Alcohol is corrosive and does harm metals (precious and otherwise) when left in constant contact, even more so at high concentrations. There is nothing to be gained from soaking anything in alcohol, from razors to livers to cooties. An alcohol dip is OK, since a quick dip will displace moisture (preventing blade rust and razor corrosion) and dry out cooties (causing their demise.)

2. "Flea bites" as applied to razors or other vintage items are small surface imperfections caused by deterioration. Specifically, they could be tiny spots where the plating is compromised and corrosion is beginning to take place under the plating. Eventually, these will lead to further failure of the plating. The good news - if your razors are kept dry when not in use, cleaned regularly, and polished with a soft cloth the flea bites will take a long time to get worse.

3. Old Type ball-end handles, used on both Old Type and early NEW razors, are subject to stress cracking from the ends being pressed into brass tubing to assemble the handle. Virtually all handles have at least a visible stress crack, while some are split from stem to stern. If the crack is deep enough, the ball end, neck, or both will come apart from the handle tube. They can be soldered to repair, but that will destroy any plating left on the handles. Clear marine-grade epoxy and a hose clamp to keep the assembly tight while the epoxy cures will fix these broken handles. (Be sure to wrap the handle in plastic wrap to prevent the clamp from being cemented to the handle during cure.)

4. Those who shim razors place the shim under the blade to lift it off the base plate and increase the blade gap. The resulting increase in gap almost always results in a much more aggressive razor, which does not always guarantee a better, closer, or smoother shave.

Hope this helps, Gary!

 

[Gary H]

Thank you very much you answered all of my questions.

 

[bemiller]

I was just wondering this the other day as I was in the pharmacy debating between 91% and 70% alcohol to clean my razors/blades. I chose 70% as I figured there was no advantage to a stronger concentration (and I hear it smells awful at 91%)

 

[LMAN007]

Unless you are drinking it , buy the 70%.

 

[cb91710]

70% is actually better.

Alcohol works by dehydrating the cells of the bacteria.
70% lasts long enough before evaporating to do it's job.
90% may evaporate too quickly.

Now, if you are dipping it and it is remaining in contact with the alcohol for a half a minute or so, then it is a moot point.