Thread: Corrosion Inhibitor

I use castor oil as a go-to corrosion inhibitor for my daily razors and my collection. I hate it when I check out a razor that's been neglected in storage and find it all rusted and ugly.

Castor oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the castor bean ("Breaking Bad" anyone?). For you young'uns, castor oil was a routine medicine, skin/hair conditioner, laxative and all round lubricant (yeah, that too) of choice back in the day. I know there are some great products out there that many swear by, but what "odd" home solutions do you use to keep things in shape or sharp?

Oh yeah, I wipe it on my naked strops for maintenance and reconditioning.

This paper from the Oriental Journal of Chemistry explains the research into corrosion prevention properties of good old castor oil.

http://orientjchem.org/dnload/Sangeeta-Vyas-and-Sharda-Soni/OJCV027I04P1743-1746.pdf

Isn't Castor oil hygroscopic? Some of us have had trouble with other oils turning hygroscopic in long term storage resulting in unpleasant surprises.

Castor oil blocking acid may allow for some peace of mind concerning razors with original celluloid that are a risk of cell rot.

Jonathan

Originally Posted by Datsots

Isn't Castor oil hygroscopic? Some of us have had trouble with other oils turning hygroscopic in long term storage resulting in unpleasant surprises.

Castor oil blocking acid may allow for some peace of mind concerning razors with original celluloid that are a risk of cell rot.

Jonathan

There ya go using 10 dollar words. heh

You remind me of the other day when I was at the park with my girlfriend. I thought we were having a nice afternoon. I was pushing her in a swing, the birds were singing, and we were talking about this and that.

She says; "I think you're a pedophile"

and I said; "That's a mighty big word for a 9 year old."

ba-dum-dum

Now, where was I...

Oh yeah, Castor oil is hydroscopic, but it protects the metal (or scales) covered by the oil. See the link for the research that explains it. You have to cover what you want to protect. Demarcation lines can definitely suffer. In the case of a straight razor the hinge area covered by scales is tough to get at. Look at a razor that has had it's scales removed and you can see the corrosion from being inaccessible in a moist environment (I use an old toothbrush to reach that area).

I've got no bank in castor oil, but it sits in my bathroom easily accessible which is important to maintenance, inconspicuous (I try to keep the shave articles to a minimum, I'd hate to out-clutter the Queen in bathroom stuff), and it isn't fatal if the grand-kids get a snoot full. I'm just sharing my experience and hoping others will share their little tricks. There are better ways I'm sure, but that's why I'm hoping for some input on this thread. I love it when someone shares an idea on SRP that I never thought of before.

Thanks for the question and observation.

Fun facts:

Castor oil turns to gummy glue (there's a technical term for you) with age and exposure to oxygen.

It was used a lubricant in 2 stroke engines and in the rotary engines of WWI aircraft due to its very high burning point.

Buying large quantities will attract the attention of law enforcement because you can get the poison ricin from it.

Plenty of other products I would use before castor oil. Have you tried Tuf-Glide, Ballistol or Renaissance Wax for example?

edited to add: like EisenFaust said!


"Like dissolves like", any carbon based substance, like carbon based oils, should not be used on metal.

Mineral oils are much better - I use Tuf-Glide, Ballistrol comes to mind, there are lots.

And yes, that will turn into a gummy glue!

I also store my blades in silicone impregnated razor socks, they look much like a razor sized gun sock.

I am concerned about long term storage with hygroscopic oil in part due to JSmith1983's experience related in Devil's Spit Theory.

As OP included a link to a published science article about caster oils ability to inhibit acidic corrosion. My use of BIG words was an attempt to stay in the tone of the OP, while including a search term that can be used to easily find related information.

A coating that would inhibit acidic corrosion would be good in some scenarios. But if that coating would encourage rust by absorbing watter that would then be held to the blade. The value of the features would have to be carefully weighed.

In a short daily rotation scenario, the hygroscopic properties of a coating is much less of an issue than in a long term storage scenario. However in the short daily rotation scenario the pivot would likely collect some of the coating. The pivot would then be at greater risk of rust due to the hygroscopic properties of the coating. Potentially causing eventual rust even on razors that have never had watter in the pivot.

Jonathan

I store my razors in tupperware with dessicant packs. I also oil my razors with a WD spray called 'Inox'

My razors have never been constipated.

Originally Posted by Datsots

I am concerned about long term storage with hygroscopic oil in part due to JSmith1983's experience related in Devil's Spit Theory.

As OP included a link to a published science article about caster oils ability to inhibit acidic corrosion. My use of BIG words was an attempt to stay in the tone of the OP, while including a search term that can be used to easily find related information.

A coating that would inhibit acidic corrosion would be good in some scenarios. But if that coating would encourage rust by absorbing watter that would then be held to the blade. The value of the features would have to be carefully weighed.

In a short daily rotation scenario, the hygroscopic properties of a coating is much less of an issue than in a long term storage scenario. However in the short daily rotation scenario the pivot would likely collect some of the coating. The pivot would then be at greater risk of rust due to the hygroscopic properties of the coating. Potentially causing eventual rust even on razors that have never had watter in the pivot.

Jonathan

After thoroughly drying my blades, including always between the scales, and then letting air dry for an hour or so. Then it's time for the after shave strop, which is usually 20 linen then 40 leather, then one or two drops of Tuf-Glide only on the pivot area, and then into a razor sock, stored in a ventilated, dry area, not the bathroom.

The razor socks though were the best thing I got for both storage and blade care.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

I store my razors in tupperware with dessicant packs. I also oil my razors with a WD spray called 'Inox'

My razors have never been constipated.

That's good...took me a second.................