Scales turned green after a bath?

[SideshowB]

I gave my 2 new straight razors a bath in hot (not boiling, but uncomfortable to touch) water, with some dishwashing detergent added. Left them in there on extremely low heat for 30 minutes, stirring them every 10 minutes.

When I took them out, the scales had turned from black to a kind of khaki green :eek: :
http://www.gimps-r-us.com/stuff/bengall-green.jpg

It what it used to be before its bath:
http://www.gimps-r-us.com/stuff/bengall-1.jpg

I'm having a crack at restoring the Birko I picked up as well, and it seems to still be black underneath, once I sanded it back a bit.

What are these scales made of? They do smell a bit funny, but they did when they were black too. Does anyone know a way to make them black again, without sanding?

[mdunn]

theyre probably bakelite. Unfortunately, I think (and it seems like that has happened here) it reacts to heat. You could try polishing it, but it probably needs sanding.

The easy way to tell what scale materials are when you sand them - if you get brown swarf then its bakelite, if it smells like wet dog then its horn, if it smells like camphor its celluloid.

I must ask - why were you giving them a bath?

[machine99703]

theyre probably bakelite. Unfortunately, I think (and it seems like that has happened here) it reacts to heat. You could try polishing it, but it probably needs sanding.

The easy way to tell what scale materials are when you sand them - if you get brown swarf then its bakelite, if it smells like wet dog then its horn, if it smells like camphor its celluloid.

I must ask - why were you giving them a bath?

What pray tell is "swarf"?

[mdunn]

the slurry thats come off when you sandpaper it. The tiny particles of whatever is being abraded

[machine99703]

Ahh, thank you. :smile:

[Leche]

I must ask - why were you giving them a bath?

My thought too, nice looking scales before.

[SideshowB]

theyre probably bakelite. Unfortunately, I think (and it seems like that has happened here) it reacts to heat. You could try polishing it, but it probably needs sanding.

The easy way to tell what scale materials are when you sand them - if you get brown swarf then its bakelite, if it smells like wet dog then its horn, if it smells like camphor its celluloid.

I must ask - why were you giving them a bath?

And the winner is... Bakelite! Brown swarf is came off the one I'm currently learning on. It is progressing well, it's now got no scratches except the really deep ones near the pivot that it came with (and these are now smaller), just needs some more polishing to come back to gloss. I might keep it matte black, because I prefer that look.

I gave them a bath in an attempt to get a nasty smell off them, and kill any bugs that might have been hitching a ride from wherever it came from before the antique store. It seems to have got rid of the smell, at least. I was trying to be careful with the heat by not boiling them, just heating them, but looks like even this was too much :frown:

Oh well, mistakes are for learning from.

So, for future reference, how do you tell the difference between Bakelite, Horn, Celluloid and Plastic without sanding?

[henkverhaar]

And the winner is... Bakelite! Brown swarf is came off the one I'm currently learning on.

Actually, given the discoloration resulting from prolonged bathing in hot water, I would guess it is ebonite (vulcanized rubber) rather than bakelite. Bakelite does not readily discolor when wetted, whereas ebonite does. Note how ebonite pipe stems are always discolored (yellow, greenish) at the mouthpiece end, from exposure to saliva...

Henk

[mdunn]

So, for future reference, how do you tell the difference between Bakelite, Horn, Celluloid and Plastic without sanding?

an easy way is to rub the scales quite quickly with a cloth (or if youre in an antique shop, very subtly with the corner of your shirt) and then smell the bit that has been heated a little by the rubbing - same smells as when you sand.

[GsSixgun]

Those old "Slick Black" scales can have a coating build up on them I believe this is actually oxidation on the material... When you heated them up with the soap you accelerated that...I have seen people get the same reaction from soaking them in Barbercide too... General rule of thumb soaking razors doesn't really pay off, elbow grease usually does..

Just hot water, dish-washing liquid and an old tooth brush does wonders...
You can sand down "Slick Blacks and re-finish them... start at around 600 grit and sand them up to 2500 then some MAAS or Plastic polish
I have seen them so that they are totally brown and even a few sets that one side was brown and the other was black.. Probably the razor was sitting in the same position for a long time...

[professorchaos]

I rarely soak scales...most of them clean up really well with a little polish and effort.

[Fnord5]

To get rid of the nasties, all you need is rubbing alcohol.

I have a spraybottle full for this reason(Only use on borrowed razors to be honest)

It's also good for cleaning up sanded scales ect.

[Wann]

Is it not possible to dye them with black color? For example with the black dye used for make plastic car bumpers shiny again?