Best oil to preserve/protect blade?

[Tralfaz]

I'm getting ready to go down the "straight" road and am trying to make sure I have all the materials I will need.

What's the best oil to apply to the blade after it's been used and ready to be put away?

I really want to make sure I keep the blade in great condition.

Thanks!

 

[azmark]

Camelia oil. You can buy it online but if you have a Woodcraft store or any other wood supply hobby companies you can find it there in a nice pump spray bottle.

 

[AdrianR]

I use a quick shot of WD-40 - good for lubrication, diesel engine starting, degreaser etc

 

[Legion]

The Japanese have been using plain old mineral oil (with the scent of cloves added, apparently to prevent their wives accidentally using it in the cooking) for centuries. If it aint broke, don't fix it.

 

[Tralfaz]

I have WD-40 in the house and can get mineral oil at the local pharmacy (though I think it's in the laxatives section).

Is this the same mineral oil I can use on my razor?

 

[Bay Rum]

I have WD-40 in the house and can get mineral oil at the local pharmacy (though I think it's in the laxatives section).

Is this the same mineral oil I can use on my razor?

That's the one

 

[Leche]

The Japanese have been using plain old mineral oil (with the scent of cloves added, apparently to prevent their wives accidentally using it in the cooking) for centuries. If it aint broke, don't fix it.

What I use minus the cloves.

 

[honed]

What I use minus the cloves.

+1
Cheap, safe & efficient.

 

[Walker]

Camelia oil. You can buy it online but if you have a Woodcraft store or any other wood supply hobby companies you can find it there in a nice pump spray bottle.

+1 one drop can do both sides. A small bottle goes a long way

 

[Tralfaz]

Thanks everyone for the replies!

For now I'll use what's in the house (I also have some other oils around here) but I plan to track down something solely for my razors.

You guys rock!

 

[Uncle Erik]

I also use camellia oil. I have a bottle for my planes and also apply it to my (sadly) dormant straights. Works great.

 

[CraigJ]

A very very light light coating of vaseline does the trick for me. You don't need anything fancy.

 

[sproosemoose]

You may not need any oil at all. If you are using the straight regularly you don't need to oil it. Only if you are putting it away for some months or longer.

 

[OiRogers]

Been using 1 drop of Camellia oil daily for the past (almost) two months.. haven't even made a visible dent into the bottle of oil I purchased for well under 10usd.

I've read that this oil can cause darkening of the steel over time, but mine go a max of 1 week between usage in my current rotation. I may look for a more "long term" safe solution in the future... but for now, I'm sated.

 

[Legion]

What I use minus the cloves.

You don't need the clove oil in it, it just give choji (Japanese sword oil) a nice smell. Apparently there were instances of Japanese house wives accidentally using their husbands sword oil in the cooking, with disastrous... laxative effects. The clove oil smell helps to differentiate it from cooking oil.

 

[Tralfaz]

+1 one drop can do both sides. A small bottle goes a long way

I ordered Carmelia oil today. Thanks for the guidance!