Razor Cleaning Guide

Let's talk about single and double edged razors and the blades that they use.
max-s
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Post by max-s »

Roger,

I've now cleaned 4 razors to perfection with Blue Magic!

If I use Nevr-Dull or Maas it's always before Blue Magic or let's put it this way. I always finsh with Blue Magic. That polish is really amazing. I might even use Blue Magic twice after each buffing.

But you need to do a lot of cleaning and buffing with BM. My cleaning/buffing cloth just keeps getting black after each rubbing.

Some Q-tips and cotton balls is what you need to get into the really tight spots but I also have a Dremel that I use a lot which really helps shine up those babies.

Hope this helps, Roger.

Max
primetime34
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Post by primetime34 »

What is the best to disinfect without boiling? Can I put it in rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide? I've cleaned mine up pretty good, but I haven't done anything to disinfect. Thanks.
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final_id
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Post by final_id »

I'd just say, disinfect with Barbicide. Available at Sally's Beauty Supply and similar stores. Just read the directions -- I think it's 1:32 in water, simple.
Cliff in New Orleans
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~dan~
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Post by ~dan~ »

I just finished my first restoration of a Star razor and some metal cases.

I boiled with a 2 of drops of antibacterial washing up liquid. I didn't use this for the antibacterial qualities, but to make the water wetter. It worked fine. No ill effect.

Anyway, I have tested many metal polishes over the last few years -- trying and buying is one of my responsibilites. If you are in the UK, the stuff to get is called 'Peek'. I suspect that this is very similar to Blue Magic. This razor came with origional Star blade and it even cleaned that up apart from some slight staining.

All in all, my biggest problem has been finding suitable tools for getting into those hard to reach areas.

Of greater difficulty will be the box this razor came in. It stinks. I suspect it has been in somebody's shed or loft for at least 60 years.
At the moment I have it with some of the paper and cardboard bits sitting in a nappy-bag with Bicarbonate of Soda. I think this will reduce the smell but I'll find out what the right gear is to eliminate it and let you all know. I know I have a couple of professional products at work for this, and I'm sure they are available in the US, Canada and Europe.
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DragonOptical
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Post by DragonOptical »

Allright,

So I have a SS I want to clean up.
Well not clean up, that part has allready been done by the guy I bought the razor from, it probably has also been disinfected before I bought it but I still wanted to disinfect it so I let it bath in 70% alcohol during half an hour.
Now I would like to give the metal a 'like new' look as much as possible with the products I have at home.
I don't have products like CLR, Blue Magic, MAAS, scrubbing bubbles and mineral oil.
But some of the products I have are similar I think.
Here's a picture:

Image

Left you can see the 'Cif Active Gel' (there's some baking soda in it if I'm not mistaken), my guess is that it is similar to 'Scrubbing Bubbles', this product is suposed to be good for eliminating scum in the bathroom and kitchen.
Then you have the 'Eres Inox-Net' which is specifically for cleaning and polishing stainless steel.
The good thing about this polish is that it's biodegradable and there's no particular warning on the back of the bottle.
On the extreme right you have a similar bottle (the yellow version), but this polish is more aggressive (there's a warning on the back and it's not biodegradable), so I don't think I would use it.
In the middle you have the WD-40 and some steel wool.

I was thinking about using the WD-40 first, let it stand a minute then using the 'Cif Active Gel' with a toothbrush.
Wash down the razor (with hot water and dish soap), use some 'Eres Inox-Net' with some steel wool to polish the razor then wash it down again and after that maybe a little 70% alcohol to be sure the polish is completely gone.
And finally let it sit in baby oil.

What do you guys think?

As soon as I cleaned the SS up I will post a before/after comparison (hopefully there will be some difference ;)).


About the CLR: I found this on B&B:
I believe CLR contains either Oxalic Acid or Phosphoric Acid (I can't remember which). Prolonged exposure can etch the surface of the stainless and attack more fragile components inside the razor.
Mehdi

Razors: Merkur HD, Gillette SS 1948-50, Weishi; Brushes: GFT Super Badger, TAoS Pure Badger; Shaving Creams: GFT Violet & Coconut, Taylor’s Almond & Rose, D.R. Harris Arlington, Proraso Red & Green; Shaving Soaps: MWF, Joris
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GA Russell
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Post by GA Russell »

My Weishi (like all Weishies) is a TTO. It looks great on the outside, but I think that soap scum in the interior is clogging up the mechanism.

I don't want to try to take it apart. I don't need to disinfect it.

Is there a solution I can soak it in that will dissolve the soap scum, and can then be rinsed away?
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CMur12
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Post by CMur12 »

Hi GA -

You might try a 24-hr soak in Oxi-Clean.

- Murray
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GA Russell
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Post by GA Russell »

Hi Murray!

That's an interesting idea that wouldn't have occurred to me. That's what I'll do unless somebody has a better idea!
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final_id
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Post by final_id »

I'd suggest a 20 minute soak in a weak solution of CLR (1 CLR : 5 water) and then a quick brush around with a used-up toothbrush. Probably same results as Oxi-Clean. Not sure which is gentler or more caustic to the razor ...

:)
Cliff in New Orleans
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razorburned
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Post by razorburned »

you could also try soaking it in scrubbing bubbles. Many users spray the aerosol version to clean the outside of their razors....the spray kind may work for the inside.

the SC Johnson site states 'Scrubbing Bubbles® Soap Scum Remover with Orange Action® powerfully removes stubborn soap scum and grime. Its penetrating foam thoroughly cleans your bathroom surfaces and leaves behind a brilliant shine-as well as the scent of fresh oranges.'


Image
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bbsupersport
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Post by bbsupersport »

Gentlemen,

I consulted my barber on the use of Barbicide to sanitize my razors. He implored that it wouldn't be a good idea because any residue would be a severe irritant on my skin. He suggested soaking them in Isopropyl Alcohol (90%) for 10 to 15 minutes would be sufficient.
Regards,
Bill
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Shave4Fun
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Post by Shave4Fun »

bbsupersport wrote:Gentlemen,

I consulted my barber on the use of Barbicide to sanitize my razors. He implored that it wouldn't be a good idea because any residue would be a severe irritant on my skin. He suggested soaking them in Isopropyl Alcohol (90%) for 10 to 15 minutes would be sufficient.
I clean any used razor with an overnight soak in dilluted dish detergent and if necessary, some type bathroom cleaner w/o bleach and a good scrubbung with a hard toothbrush. If it still seems gunky inside, it gets a boiling treatment (except for gold finishes) and another scrubbing. Then a good soaking in Barbicide for at least 10 minutes because it will kill AIDS, staph, and Hapatitis B & C. (However, alcohol makes the same claim.) Since the razor will be rinsed in water anyway, if there is a concern for skin irritaiton with Barbicide, rinse after the soaking.

Roger
Roger

I've been a wet shaver for 56 years! 8)
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melyus
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Post by melyus »

İ boiled my Gilette Rocket and Slim Adjustable 63 and than washed them with pure Alcohol... before every shave i wash them with alcohol also..

Regards!
faceslice
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CLEANING

Post by faceslice »

hi all
tooth brush and toothpaste is a good one .
ultrasonic cleaner is a bonus :wink:
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Blue As A Jewel
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Post by Blue As A Jewel »

I'm in the process of restoring a vintage drum kit and use many of the same products recommended here... One thing that I did find about soaking chrome parts in CLR is that it can have tendency to remove the weaker portions of any chrome plating - so I would use caution in soaking for any prolonged (read in excess of 30 min) period of time.

I now soak for 15 min and scrub, rinse, dry and polish up with Flitz. It's a lot of elbow grease on small parts, the monotony bores the hell out of me - but its the only way! Those parts that were damaged are being re-chromed.

Anyway... point is use caution with any of these products!
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Post by function »

RAVI!

Another drummer I see. What are you restoring?

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1) I will begin stalking you to see the kit
2) I will drop over dead from jealousy
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stephen732
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Post by stephen732 »

Ben's Guide to Restoring Razors is very helpful to new or seasoned shavers
http://www.shavemyface.com/gallery/thum ... ?album=331
1907 Gillette model 102
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Wills01
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Re: Razor Cleaning Guide

Post by Wills01 »

Do not boil any razor of any kind, no toothbrush and toothpaste either. The razor will end up being scratched doing this. Boiling will see to it that the plating will peel away in time as the metals in the razor will expand at different rates.

Just use a shave brush with handwash solution to clean then rinse under moderately hot running water. Dishwashing liquids such as fairy liquid etc are to be avoided. There are salts in solution that will promote the onset of rust. Use a spray disinfectant to keep the thing clean. If a spruce up is needed, use a quality auto polish such as menzerna with a cloth. This is not nearly as abrasive as other things mentioned. I have old fatboys, slims etc that i bought new, they are all like new, pristine. A razor is not a surgical implement, even though a few razor/blade combinations do their best to convince one otherwise. Leave any tto razor upright in a wine glass overnight after dropping mineral oil down from the head end. Oil can be pooled slightly in the depression in the top plate with gillette ones. Normal smooth operation will ensue.
Just give them a good dose of tlc.

All the very, very best to all
Wills.
Technopundit
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Re: Razor Cleaning Guide

Post by Technopundit »

Science definitely needs to synthesize that brown/grey coating that appears on 45 year old Gillette razors. It can be seemingly impossible to remove! We could coat space ships and bomb shelters with that stuff!
slackskin
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Re: Razor Cleaning Guide

Post by slackskin »

If doing a routine cleaning on a routine daily shaver (not an encrusted antique), I have had good success with a simple soak in full strength Simple Green.
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