Slighly oxidation on carbon steel straight edge

[nuclear_shaver]

Hey B&B,

I recently started shaving with a straight edge and I have a relativly inexpensive Whipped Dog razor. I've noticed slight oxidation where my fingers grip it and around the pivot. Whats the best way to clean it up? I will have to be a bit better with oiling my razor when I'm done. I live on the coast, and it gets pretty humid...

Nuclear Shaver

 

[YetiDave]

When you say oxidation are you talking red rust or a greying/patina of the steel? You can use very mildly abrasive polishes to remove the greying but it'll be beneficial to leave it on if the area you are in gets humid as it can help to prevent active rust. Plus it looks kinda cool and adds character to a blade, but ymmv on that one

 

[nuclear_shaver]

After taking a bit of a look, it seems to be a bit of both. I suppose I could leave the grey film, but the rust I should probably take care of.

 

[paco664]

clean it off with steel wool or a green scotch brite... making sure NOT to touch the cutting edge....

then when you are done shaving just put a thin coat of mineral oil *(baby oil) on the blade/tang.... THIN...

 

[superbleu]

sounds to me like you just need to be a bit more diligent in the drying of the razor after shaving.

If the oxidation/rusting is due to high humidity, wouldn't you see it all over the razor vs just on the tang/pivot?

try not to get the scales and pivot too wet while shaving, and after you are done, I mean as soon as you rinse the lather off the blade take a towel and wipe off the blade and the tang, squeeze the towel over the pivot, and move the blade up and down to squeeze up any water that might be in the pivot area and soak it up. I live near lots of water and have never had spontaneous rusting of my blades.

 

[Doc226]

Silicone sleeves from TSS

 

[nuclear_shaver]

Well, regardless, what do you guys recommend to get it off? I'm not sure I can reach the area with steel wool around the pivot.

 

[Drybonz]

Well, regardless, what do you guys recommend to get it off? I'm not sure I can reach the area with steel wool around the pivot.

If it's up in around the pivot, probably what is happening is you aren't keeping your hands dry, and the tang dry, while shaving... it's pretty common. I pop the scales off and give them a quick run on the buffer, then re-pin them. If you don't want to do all this, I have seen people say then use some Maas and tooth floss to get in there.

 

[Acmemfg]

The grey patina can actually be beneficial. I force a patina on my carbon kitchen knives (some pocket knives too) using mustard. Keeps rust at bay quite well

 

[nuclear_shaver]

If it's up in around the pivot, probably what is happening is you aren't keeping your hands dry, and the tang dry, while shaving... it's pretty common. I pop the scales off and give them a quick run on the buffer, then re-pin them. If you don't want to do all this, I have seen people say then use some Maas and tooth floss to get in there.

How do you just pop the scales off? They looked pin pretty good... Do you drill it out and repin?

 

[ladykate]

How do you just pop the scales off? They looked pin pretty good... Do you drill it out and repin?

First... I'm all for tearing things apart and putting them back together... but that's me. If you don't know how or aren't into that sort of thing, then just clean it up with floss/toothpicks and keep it lubed. The 'sight unseen' deals are not perfectly polished razors and a little tarnish in the pin area is common. I wouldn't go into rebuild mode unless I wanted to REALLY rebuild it. Don't worry too much about it. Do what Paco said.

Oh... and there are lots of Youtube videos on how to pin a razor if you want to look into it. You run the risk of losing the scales so, unless you are prepared for that, just take a long swig of root beer and clean up the razor to 'good enough' condition and enjoy it. A little patina is fine.

 

[superbleu]

How do you just pop the scales off? They looked pin pretty good... Do you drill it out and repin?

there is all sorts of useful info here:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...Restoration-Sticky-Redux!-*****Look-Here*****

 

[nuclear_shaver]

Sounds good! Thanks for the advise. I think I will try and clean it up a little bit and see how it goes...

 

[nuclear_shaver]

Couldn't find any unscented mineral oil so I guess my razors are going to smell like baby butt.