Why Do Super Speeds Lose Plating Under the Blade Platform?

[koso]

Those of you who have had the opportunity to look at a lot of Super Speed razors must have seen what I've noticed: Lots of them have lost plating on the 'underside', where the date code is stamped.

I've wondered why so many have brassing in that same area.

My theory is that these razors were hung up after use, as opposed to being laid on their sides. Over time, water that collected in that spot while the razor was drying took off the plating.

That's just a theory. Okay, a guess.

Do any of our posters with advanced knowledge have the answer?

 

[luvmysuper]

Those of you who have had the opportunity to look at a lot of Super Speed razors must have seen what I've noticed: Lots of them have lost plating on the 'underside', where the date code is stamped.

I've wondered why so many have brassing in that same area.

My theory is that these razors were hung up after use, as opposed to being laid on their sides. Over time, water that collected in that spot while the razor was drying took off the plating.

That's just a theory. Okay, a guess.

Do any of our posters with advanced knowledge have the answer?

I've thought about it. That's a good guess.
What I considered was the possibility that, since that area is the most prone to having hard water / calcium stains, that people have scrubbed them to remove that hard water stain and eventually the plating wore. The plating loss seems to go beyond just where it would come in contact with something if it was hanging. It doesn't seem to be on the bottom of the guard bars, which would seem to be in contact with a hanger as well (at least one of them)

 

[Oldguy]

I think a couple of reasons. First I think the plating is probably thinest there. I think not drying the razor after rinsing leaves a lot of water stains which takes a little more elbow grease to remove. The plating comes with it. Also over the years putting a wet razor back in it's case just aggravated the corrosion process.

I have a large collection of Super Speeds I shave with. I always wipe dry my razors with a tissue and a Q-tip in the area you mention. I also never keep a blade in the razor after using it. Most of the guys here leave the blades in and just rinse off the razor. I could never figure out why.

Len

 

[T Rick]

I think a couple of reasons. First I think the plating is probably thinest there. I think not drying the razor after rinsing leaves a lot of water stains which takes a little more elbow grease to remove. The plating comes with it. Also over the years putting a wet razor back in it's case just aggravated the corrosion process.

I have a large collection of Super Speeds I shave with. I always wipe dry my razors with a tissue and a Q-tip in the area you mention. I also never keep a blade in the razor after using it. Most of the guys here leave the blades in and just rinse off the razor. I could never figure out why.

Len

Curious, what do you do with the blade for storage in between shaves? I don't want to leave mine in, but haven't come up with a suitable alternative yet (even ran a thread in General Shaving Talk, got a bunch of "rinse it, shake it dry and leave it in", which isn't going to work for me.

For the OP, I've wondered if the plating loss had to do with lather build up that wasn't properly rinsed over years. Seems the place it's most likely to build up, and along with the plate loss, I've seen some pitting there too.

 

[82R100]

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that the razors were plated after assembly and that they were typically supported under the head during that process.

This is a common problem with any plating/coating process. Often automobile springs (which are coated with an anti-rust coating) will start to rust at the point that ended up uncoated because that's where they were hung during the coating step.

- Chris

 

[Oldguy]

Curious, what do you do with the blade for storage in between shaves? I........

I rinse out the blade and then place it on a paper towel to dry. I don't wipe it dry. I then use the same blade the following day. No problem. But I do have three shelves in my bathroom just for shaving gear.

Len

 

[Manos]

I've wondered why so many have brassing in that same area.

I've noticed this, too. It seems like the underside of the head would have very little wear from use. I am favoring the 'thinner plating under the head' theory. Perhaps the typing under there would fill in with nickel if a thicker plating layer were applied.

 

[r0ckrat]

Based on the patterns of plate loss under there, here's my guess...

The water/soap that doesn't get washed off after a shave is also connected to the blade inside the razor. The blade is steel, and so oxidizes. This in turn causes the reaction necessary for the material stuck underneath to be able to eat away at the plating a little faster, and thus when finally cleaned away many years later reveals that the nickel has been dissolved revealing the brass.

Just my guess as to why it happens under there. Oh, that and the soap scum has a bit of an alkaline tinge to it, which probably helps eat at the nickel a little faster to.

 

[GarageBoy]

I rise, open the razor, rinse, close and dry
I think the cream is caustic and doesn't get rinsed off well enough

 

[the beav]

It could be that the bottom plate collects more soap during shaving and it accumulates over time. Then the owner decides to clean his razor with Comet, or something just as abrasive, and since he really scrubs that area, the plating comes off.

 

[Sando]

Those of you who have had the opportunity to look at a lot of Super Speed razors must have seen what I've noticed: Lots of them have lost plating on the 'underside', where the date code is stamped.

I've wondered why so many have brassing in that same area.

My theory is that these razors were hung up after use, as opposed to being laid on their sides. Over time, water that collected in that spot while the razor was drying took off the plating.

That's just a theory. Okay, a guess.

Do any of our posters with advanced knowledge have the answer?

I've often wondered about this, too. I've considered most of the answers posted here but they don't really connect for me somehow. Can soap/cream residue really affect the plating? I've seen SS razors used daily for years have the doors remain very nice. I once had a Parat that had beautiful doors but the handle showed the wear pattern from a regular user turning and twisting it.

...Ray