Cleaning Vintage Safety Razors: DO's and DON'T's

[KeenDogg]

I'll get to it, thank you! I'm guessing I should avoid proraso since it'll make it look get all white?

I use a toothbrush to get rid of build up. Just 20 sec of brushing will keep it residue free.

 

[Nomad116]

I use a toothbrush to get rid of build up. Just 20 sec of brushing will keep it residue free.

But I gotta remove the yellow looking (water) stains I think it is? Well the soap remove it?

 

[Njguy1977]

I'll get to it, thank you! I'm guessing I should avoid proraso since it'll make it look get all white?

I see it as a razor is meant to be used....no matter what gets left behind on the razor it can be cleaned/washed and it will be as good as new. Proraso is a great product and shouldn't be ignored because of the white residue it leaves behind. Just enjoy your shaves any way you see fit .

Also the water stains can polish out with some "flitz" or any other metal polish after you do a cleaning soak. Products I use and get good results from (Wenol, the blue tube found on amazon) (White Diamond, in auto parts store) (Mothers Chrome Polish, auto parts store)

I primarily use the Wenol, they sell red and blue tubes....the red gets off the heavy stuff...the blue tube is a finer polish that gets a nice shine.


Larry

 

[ks6c]

NEVER use Dawn on a Super 84 (I used to make Dawn for a living, btw, love the stuff!), it'll ruin it! Just hot water for the anodized aluminum (the black coating). And 30 minutes is OK, I do 2 or 3 10-minute blasts.

 

[carluchi]

NEVER use Dawn on a Super 84 (I used to make Dawn for a living, btw, love the stuff!), it'll ruin it! Just hot water for the anodized aluminum (the black coating). And 30 minutes is OK, I do 2 or 3 10-minute blasts.

Hrmmm .. I cleaned 4 Super Adjustables (two 84's and two 109's) with Dawn and had no problems. What areas should we be concerned with?

 

[ks6c]

If you soak it in Dawn and hot water for 20-30 minutes, or so...

 

[carluchi]

Ahh .. ok got it.

 

[Nomad116]

If you soak it in Dawn and hot water for 20-30 minutes, or so...

So...don't clean the head with Dawn? I'm really confused now. Can i just soak it with such for 10 minute intervals? And polish with Brasso?

 

[Mouette]

I recently bought an English Gillette Rocket HD500 TTO and tried boiling it in a saucepan of water on the stove top for 10 minutes as a cheap form of sterilisation. Can't see how it would do any harm but when I used it, I got the worst shave ever. The English Gillette Rockets usually give a superior shave to their American cousins. It may have been out of alignment before, but I am wondering if the boiling damaged it somewhat. They are brass after all.

Just bought another one and not going to boil this one - not sure how to clean it but might try the alcohol option.

cheers
Andrew

 

[romsitsa]

Water boils at 100 C, brass aneals/softens above 300 C (being thick and nickel plated it would be even higher), so water would evaporate way before anything happens to the brass.

Adam

 

[Wolfdagon]

I use a heavier-duty ultrasonic cleaner at 50C, not the jewelry cleaning kind because I find they don't really do much.

Can you share what ultrasonic cleaner you use? I have thought about buying one. I was looking at the jewelry cleaning ones. But if they aren't any good, I would prefer to get one that actually works

Nickel, rhodium, stainless, cobalt, and later gold (think gen2, and later, Aristocrats) get a short squirt of Dawn.

Gold wash (1930s and earlier Gillettes), silver plate, and brass/bronze (like Karve) will lose the patina with Dawn, so don't! Aluminum and especially anodized aluminum will dissolve in Dawn, so really, really don't! Just run the u/s without Dawn...

Are you just using water in the ultrasonic cleaner (sometimes with Dawn)?

 

[ks6c]

I use this kind from ebay, never a jewelry kind - too lightweight.

Ultrasonic Cleaner Industry Heated Heater w/Timer Jewelry Glasses 650ml-15L | eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ultrasonic-Cleaner-Industry-Heated-Heater-w-Timer-Jewelry-Glasses-650ml-15L/393140144374?hash=item5b88fa88f6:g:EIYAAOSwXxNgLynq

Water, or water and a little squirt of Dawn, that's it!

 

[BradWorld]

I use this kind from ebay, never a jewelry kind - too lightweight.

Ultrasonic Cleaner Industry Heated Heater w/Timer Jewelry Glasses 650ml-15L | eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ultrasonic-Cleaner-Industry-Heated-Heater-w-Timer-Jewelry-Glasses-650ml-15L/393140144374?hash=item5b88fa88f6:g:EIYAAOSwXxNgLynq

Water, or water and a little squirt of Dawn, that's it!

I have what appears to be that same ultrasonic cleaner. I can’t really tell if it does anything to my razors.

 

[Wolfdagon]

I use this kind from ebay, never a jewelry kind - too lightweight.

Ultrasonic Cleaner Industry Heated Heater w/Timer Jewelry Glasses 650ml-15L | eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ultrasonic-Cleaner-Industry-Heated-Heater-w-Timer-Jewelry-Glasses-650ml-15L/393140144374?hash=item5b88fa88f6:g:EIYAAOSwXxNgLynq

Water, or water and a little squirt of Dawn, that's it!

Thanks for the link. I have added it my wish list.

 

[Shredder84]

This is my system.

Cleaning & Restoring Vintage Double Edge Razors:

Soak in hot, not boiling water with Dawn dish detergent until water cools. Scrub with tooth brush and rinse.
Spray with non-bleach Scrubbing Bubbles. Let sit until bubbles start to disappear. Scrub with toothbrush and rinse.
Repeat if needed.
Apply Flitz or MAAS if additional polishing is needed. Buff with micro-fiber cloth.
Repeat Scrubbing Bubbles, rinse, dry with towel.
Load blade and enjoy.

Works for me.........

Is it safe to completely submerge TTO razors under hot soapy water?

 

[romsitsa]

Yes, except your hand is in the water or the razor has plastic parts.