What actually causes brassing?

[Fletch]

I'm curious because I've seen some rather old razors with none and relatively new razors with some. Is it just the amount of use? Neglect? Buffing it dry? What is the official cause or causes of plating occurring in a razor?

And more importantly is it avoidable?

 

[SafetyRazorDave]

My guess is that it has to do with physical wear, i.e. rubbing, bumping, etc. Isn't brassing simply the top plating wearing off to reveal the brass core of the razor?

 

[Shangas]

Brassing occurs on anything that's been plated. It's called 'brassing' because traditionally, it was rolled gold or gold-fill on brass. Brass was strong and non-reactive and good for welding/plating. 'Brassing' is when the plate wears away to expose the brass base-metal underneath.

Anything can cause brassing. Often, it's just regular, daily use. Abrasion, friction, rubbing...all that will cause brassing. It can happen with any metal object which has gold or silver plated, rolled or filled over the top of it.

Honestly, brassing isn't really avoidable. The object (whatever it is) isn't solid gold or solid silver. If it was, it would never brass, but because it isn't, it's going to rub and wear away through general use and eventually, it's going to start brassing. If the object is gold-plated, then it may be re-plated, but if it's gold-filled, then there isn't much you can do.

 

[Fletch]

So essentially on an razor that gets a fair amount of use it's inevitable. Guess this is why the multiple razor AD can actually be beneficial.

 

[Sydney Guy]

On my Dad's old Slim Adjustable, what I took to be gunk in the grooves of the handle turned out to be brass. I would have thoght that if the nickel plate was to get worn away it would be on the raised parts of the knurling. not in the bottom of the grooves (unless he was scrubbing it with a wire brush). This makes me think that some of the plate loss might be due to some chemical reaction with moisture remaining in the grooves. Any chemists or metallurgists care to comment?

 

[cnnc97]

On my Dad's old Slim Adjustable, what I took to be gunk in the grooves of the handle turned out to be brass. I would have thoght that if the nickel plate was to get worn away it would be on the raised parts of the knurling. not in the bottom of the grooves (unless he was scrubbing it with a wire brush). This makes me think that some of the plate loss might be due to some chemical reaction with moisture remaining in the grooves. Any chemists or metallurgists care to comment?

I have a Fatboy with a little of this as well. I was also wondering how it could have happened in the grooves, I don't see how it could be from daily wear by someone's fingers.

 

[Fletch]

Oddly enough I have a slim that has a little brassing under the silo door. From what I can tell nothing comes in contact with that area. The head however has no plate loss go figure.

 

[kingfisher]

Maybe the areas deep in the knurling don't dry as quickly, and perhaps oxidation over long periods of time can also lead to brassing?

 

[AlanL]

Oddly enough I have a slim that has a little brassing under the silo door. From what I can tell nothing comes in contact with that area. The head however has no plate loss go figure.

When tightening closed, doesn't the blade press up against the inside of the doors, and in that process rub against them?

 

[Fletch]

When tightening closed, doesn't the blade press up against the inside of the doors, and in that process rub against them?

I believe it does to a degree near the edge of the door where the blade edge is. However I have a small patch there and a little bit in the middle area of the door. Basically at the digest point of where the curve of the door is. Naturally I can't see what's going on with the door closed but I wouldn't think that arched part comes on contact with anything when the doors are closed. And its only on one door I'd think both sides would show a similar wear.

 

[Thebigspendur]

Also the plating process used years ago wasn't as good as these days and some of the old plated products could have plating simply lift or bubble off or flake off with little reason.

 

[cooncatbob]

It's not inevitable, Gillette considered most of it's line of razor cheap disposable items and used very thin plating.
The NEW weren't even plated properly, they had a very thin gold wash directly on top of the brass/copper without a sealer layer of nickel.
You see with the top of the line razor better plating and less wear through.