Thread: Possible cell rot, Hayashi Diamond.

I recently got a Hayashi Diamond 888.

When I first picked it out of the case I noticed that there were black rust spots on both sides of the blade near the toe, I suspect that it might be in the early stages of cell rot that's either originated from the wedge and has yet to affect the scales or that the wedge is made of celluloid and the scales are made of some other plastic so that the cell rot is isolated to just the wedge(this is what I'm hoping for if it is in fact cell rot since the scales are gorgeous.)

The rust spots are not easy to see in the pictures because I polished them off as as well as possible with some autosol on a cotton swab. but it's possible to see them in the second picture:

Often razors using good quality celluloid were wedged with crappy low grade celluloid. Dubble Dux were notorious for that along with some Droeshers and HESS's.

So to be on the safe side it would be best to unpin it and remove the wedge so that the scales might not start breaking down?(if they haven't already started)

It could have just been moisture built up inside of the scales near the wedge. I would keep it dry and watch to see if any rust forms. Shouldn't take more than a couple days for rust to start to show. If it does you can separate the scales from the wedge and use an old crappy razor to test the scales and the wedge separate to see which is causing it. If its the wedge replace it, but I would still keep a close eye on the scales as well.

Originally Posted by JSmith1983

It could have just been moisture built up inside of the scales near the wedge.

That's what I'm hoping for, I'll wait with unpinning it until(if) it starts showing signs again.

I've been keeping it quarantined from other celluloid since the start but that's a given.

Take a flashlight and look inside the scales to see if you find what appears to be droplets emanating out of the scales like on this Wester Bros Manganese that I found in the dreaded condition ;



I had this razor for some months, stored in the requisite cool, dark and dry. Came to shave with it one day and to my horror there were the tell tale spots. Further examination revealed the celluloid generated moisture we see in these photos.

No droplets that I can see(at the moment) but I'll remember to check for that when inspecting the blade for new rust spots.

That's a about shame your razor, were you able to polish out the spots or was the pitting to deep?

Baxxer I would recommend you just keep an eye on your Hayashi for the time being. In the scheme of things that is a fairly late model production razor. Quarantine is always a smart move if any issue may be suspect.

I really would not worry so much, Baxxer! Since it would seem we have both bought the same razor from the same seller, I have a theory. I feel he has/had several of these and is/was using a photo of one on all his listings. He does say that there is scratch/rust on an item. I bought one, although I had worried about the toe of the razor from the pictures in the listing as the picture clearly shows here:



However, once I had received, The razor had no spots whatsoever. Just a bit of scratches from box wear on the scales. Nice!




So I feel you may have received the one on the listing pic. Plain and simple. Razors from the 60's and thereabouts don't seem so old to us, in general. Still, 55 years or so sitting around in a plastic bag in a box some things could happen?
Polish it up and keep an eye out is my advise. JMO

Originally Posted by Baxxer

No droplets that I can see(at the moment) but I'll remember to check for that when inspecting the blade for new rust spots.

That's a about shame your razor, were you able to polish out the spots or was the pitting to deep?

I haven't messed with it since taking it out of the scales. I don't think it is pitted, but I imagine it will show the spots to an extent if I ever do get around to cleaning it up. I wouldn't care to buff it to the extent necessary to get to completely clean metal. Just my own thing. For now it is on the back burner and the scales are long gone in the bin.