De-Gunking Vintage Razors - Non-Silver

[jeffsf]

Any suggestions on how to handle de-gunking vintage razors? I've got one that was politely described as "from a smoker's estate" and "needs some cleaning" and it came with not only the expected soap scum, but also a film of deposited smoke.

So far I've been only moderately successful with a headed ultrasonic cleaner using water and dish soap, as well as white vinegar. A toothbrush helped a bit in some places and Nevr-Dull has done its typical job where it can reach.

I'm not excited to try anything stronger in terms of acidic solutions. having seen how hot, 10% citric acid can strip chrome from the espresso machines.

With most of the crud removed, it looks like I've got a good daily driver with mainly just plating wear on the handle, as well as a few spots on the TTO head where the doors work against the safety bars, as well as the top-to-side bends of the doors themselves.

Am I missing any great techniques that might help to clean up the remaining goo from it?

 

[bakerbarber]

The ShaveWiki provides.

http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Razor_cleaning_and_restoration

Many resources in a search as well.

Good luck.

 

[bakerbarber]

http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Safety_razor_maintenance

The other link may be a bit broad of a read.

There's some tables on the page linked above.

 

[jeffsf]

Thank you! Just the kind of information I was looking for.

 

[Galhatz]

My procedure is a day soak in lysol. A fellow b&b'er who happened to be an e.r. doctor mentioned that hospital procedure calls for 1-hour soak in lysol.
I am talking about that awefull un-diluted lysol, brown color with nasty fumes. Wear gloves and do it outside.
It would nuke everything on it, incl the green gunk.
I used it on gold plated gillettes with no issues. Another chap on the SE forum gave up almost on defunking a Damaskeene and lysol did the trick.
The only issue is the lysol smell. Hot water and soap would rid most of it then a soak in alcohol (which can damage the lacquor used by gillette). The reminder would go away with use.
I am a bit ocd on these things and this was the only way I was able to feel comfortable using a vintage razor and the only way my wife would consider having one in our bathroom.

 

[Galhatz]

This is the product i am talking about. 5% concentrated.

 

[rajagra]

I wonder if laundry powder would help with the deposited smoke film.
I've used it for cleaning keycaps off keyboards; it gives the water a remarkably slippery feel. I have a hunch it might be just right for this task.
Check the ingredients though. Some might contain bleach or other nasties.

 

[Puerco]

WD40 will remove that nasty stuff.

 

[cernel_joson]

I cleaned up a similarly gunky razor (smoke and soap scum residue). A long soak in very hot water (near boiling) and a tablespoon of baking soda melts a lot of scum right off, even in very hard to reach spots. Lighter fluid is a very good, but gentle on metal, solvent that melts soap scum and hard water spots.

A combination of those two methods works every time for me.

 

[novitiate]

WD40 will remove that nasty stuff.

I've used penetrating oil (Kroil & Liquid Wrench) as well. It will dissolve most crud almost immediately by scrubbing with a still bristle brush.

 

[tacchini]

baking soda in a bowl with boiled water poured in it, that will get most of the gunk off it,then cover in scrubbing bubbles or similar, spray with scrubbing bubbles again and scrub with a toothbrush.

 

[ryan2022]

hmm, Ive found boiling water with Oxy clean works well on the superspeeds Ive done.