Rust and tetanus?

[jason192783]

Hi,

I was wondering, I've been shaving with an old open comb razor, between the teeth of the open comb seems to be a build-up of gunk
I tried cleaning it up, but what's left looks a bit like small rust spots?
Is there a realistic chance of possible getting tetanus or diseases of the like, while shaving and occasionally cutting yourself the slightest bit whilst there might be small traces of rust between the teeth of your razor?

thanks

 

[inspiringK]

Odds are that your razor is made of brass and that it is plated with a material like nickel. What looks like rust, is actually just the brass showing through. Since brass can’t rust, you have nothing to worry about.

Though, this may not be the case, just a best assessment of the situation without being able to see it.

Show off your gear with some pics and we can nail this down right away

 

[jason192783]

Thanks for the reply inspiringK,
I'll try to snag a couple of pictures later on today when I get back home

 

[BBrad]

+1 . . . razors do not rust . . . although blades can. Don't shave with a rusty blade!

Tetanus is a neurological condition caused by the Clostridium tetani bacteria. C. tetani is found in soil and is anaerobic - that is, it grows in places that have no oxygen like the inside of living bodies. It is not directly caused by rust, nor can it grow on a rusty surface exposed to air. A dirty, rusty nail just serves as a good medium to puncture the skin and deliver C. tetani spores into an anaerobic environment where they can grow and produce the neurotoxin that causes tetanus.

Like inspiringK said, post picture (closeup and clear, please) of the affected area and we can help you identify and rectify the issue. In most cases, a simple cleaning with very hot water, dish soap, an old toothbrush, and elbow grease is all that is needed.

Welcome, also, to B&B. This is a really great place to hang out and learn more than you ever thought possible about razors, shaving, and other gentlemanly interests.

 

[luky7evens]

+1 . . . razors do not rust . . . although blades can. Don't shave with a rusty blade!

Tetanus is a neurological condition caused by the Clostridium tetani bacteria. C. tetani is found in soil and is anaerobic - that is, it grows in places that have no oxygen like the inside of living bodies. It is not directly caused by rust, nor can it grow on a rusty surface exposed to air. A dirty, rusty nail just serves as a good medium to puncture the skin and deliver C. tetani spores into an anaerobic environment where they can grow and produce the neurotoxin that causes tetanus.

Like inspiringK said, post picture (closeup and clear, please) of the affected area and we can help you identify and rectify the issue. In most cases, a simple cleaning with very hot water, dish soap, an old toothbrush, and elbow grease is all that is needed.

Welcome, also, to B&B. This is a really great place to hang out and learn more than you ever thought possible about razors, shaving, and other gentlemanly interests.

I did not know this.

 

[retturn2blades]

And why don't you have a current Tetanus shot? They last 10 years.

 

[jason192783]

+1 . . . razors do not rust . . . although blades can. Don't shave with a rusty blade!

Tetanus is a neurological condition caused by the Clostridium tetani bacteria. C. tetani is found in soil and is anaerobic - that is, it grows in places that have no oxygen like the inside of living bodies. It is not directly caused by rust, nor can it grow on a rusty surface exposed to air. A dirty, rusty nail just serves as a good medium to puncture the skin and deliver C. tetani spores into an anaerobic environment where they can grow and produce the neurotoxin that causes tetanus.

Like inspiringK said, post picture (closeup and clear, please) of the affected area and we can help you identify and rectify the issue. In most cases, a simple cleaning with very hot water, dish soap, an old toothbrush, and elbow grease is all that is needed.

Welcome, also, to B&B. This is a really great place to hang out and learn more than you ever thought possible about razors, shaving, and other gentlemanly interests.

Thanks for the information, that puts my mind at ease and answers my question

And why don't you have a current Tetanus shot? They last 10 years.

I do, but I question a lot of things and I found it an interesting question, so I probably have nothing to worry about


Thanks everyone for their input, 'preciate it

As promised, a couple of picture,
I tried my best to take clear ones, if you'd like better ones, I can try getting some better ones, but for now these are the best ones I came up with (taken with my phone, it's not gonna be great up close and focused)

 

[BBrad]

Brass showing some corrosion . . . may be mixed with a little soap scum or mineral deposits.

Hot water, dish soap, toothbrush . . . lather, rinse, repeat.

I also use a small nylon "wire brush" on my Dremel to get in between the teeth on an open comb . . . works good!

 

[GDCarrington]

Brass showing some corrosion . . . may be mixed with a little soap scum or mineral deposits.

Hot water, dish soap, toothbrush . . . lather, rinse, repeat.

I also use a small nylon "wire brush" on my Dremel to get in between the teeth on an open comb . . . works good!

Scrubbing Bubbles will help as well.

 

[inspiringK]

You have two nice razors, a little soaking in hot soapy water and some scrubbing with a toothbrush should clean them up nicely, the brassing won't hurt the shave.

Scrubbing Bubbles will help as well.

Yes, but practice caution with this strategy.

As promised, a couple of picture,
I tried my best to take clear ones, if you'd like better ones, I can try getting some better ones, but for now these are the best ones I came up with (taken with my phone, it's not gonna be great up close and focused)

On a side note, if I had a phone that could take pictures like that, I may never have bought a camera.

 

[cb91710]

And why don't you have a current Tetanus shot? They last 10 years.

+1

I generally do something at least every 2 or 3 years that requires a trip to the doc for a stitch or two and I'll get a booster.

 

[jason192783]

Thanks everyone for the help, 'preciate it

Cleaned it up a bit with some hot water, dish soap and toothbrush
did a good amount of cleaning, still looks like some corrosion is showing; but with my initial concern of tetanus and it not being able to grow on a rusty surface exposed to air (even-though I do get tetanus shots) it doesn't seem I got anything to worry about

thanks fellas

 

[onotoman]

That Myatt looks to me to be an ideal candidate for the Nickel Plating Tank

 

[Mick]

All the right answers appear in here so ++++1

Replating would be top on my list of suggestions for that beauty.

 

[john shea]

Rust, despite folk tales, has nothing to do with tetanus. The bacterium that causes tetanus lives naturally in the soil and is especially abundant in barn yard soils because of its organic rich environment (fecal material etc.) It propagates in no/low oxygen conditions. Rusty nails are a concern because rust implies possible contact with dirt, rough rusted surfaces may trap dirt, and nails give deep wounds where contaminated dirt could be introduced into low oxygen tissue environments. Tetanus is a terrible disease, but preventable by vaccination and treatable, if precautions/interventions are started early. Sterilized rust presents no tetanus hazard.

 

[Slash McCoy]

No worries. If they are clean, and especially if they have also been disinfected, it is safer to shave with those razors than to cross the street. Do you disinfect the blade before each shave? The blade is the part that is likely to cut and penetrate skin, yet you probably are satisfied to simply give it a good rinse. Tetanus? A non-issue. I bet the CDC has never recorded a case of tetanus from a DE razor using a new or new-ish blade.

 

[jkingrph]

+1 . . . razors do not rust . . . although blades can. Don't shave with a rusty blade!

Tetanus is a neurological condition caused by the Clostridium tetani bacteria. C. tetani is found in soil and is anaerobic - that is, it grows in places that have no oxygen like the inside of living bodies. It is not directly caused by rust, nor can it grow on a rusty surface exposed to air. A dirty, rusty nail just serves as a good medium to puncture the skin and deliver C. tetani spores into an anaerobic environment where they can grow and produce the neurotoxin that causes tetanus.

Like inspiringK said, post picture (closeup and clear, please) of the affected area and we can help you identify and rectify the issue. In most cases, a simple cleaning with very hot water, dish soap, an old toothbrush, and elbow grease is all that is needed.

Welcome, also, to B&B. This is a really great place to hang out and learn more than you ever thought possible about razors, shaving, and other gentlemanly interests.

Beat me to it with these comments, all spot on. Any "dirty" object capable of penetrating the skin can introduce the tetanus bacterium. Also an otherwise "clean"cut can be a portal for the introduction of the bacterium if it has anything contaminated with the bacterium introduced into the cut(or scrape).

Back to the rusty nail . A rusty nail is not necessary, drop a new clean looking nail into the dirt and simply wipe it off. If it then penetrates the skin, odds are that it is introducing the bacterium. It's even possible to contract tetanus or another infection if a sterile object penetrates the skin, if the skin is not washed and cleansed well before the penetration.
Fortunately we have good immune systems that combat such infections, and then vaccinations boost the immune system to prepare our bodies for such challenges.

 

[JimK]

And why don't you have a current Tetanus shot? They last 10 years.

So far, my last tetanus shot has lasted about 45 years, nails through shoes and all. (I know, I should get a booster)....

 

[jason192783]

thanks for all the responses fellas
it's great to be able to ask questions and get them answered by people all around the world