{"id":247,"date":"2021-08-27T20:48:29","date_gmt":"2021-08-28T01:48:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/?p=247"},"modified":"2022-12-17T12:11:27","modified_gmt":"2022-12-17T18:11:27","slug":"should-i-oil-safety-razor-is-lubrication-necessary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/should-i-oil-safety-razor-is-lubrication-necessary\/","title":{"rendered":"Should I Oil My Safety Razor (Is Lubrication Even Necessary?)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Has your razor ever been difficult to open or close because it was a bit dirty? You may even ask yourself if oiling your safety razor may be necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Safety razors with moving or mechanical parts benefit from lubrication.&nbsp; Grit and grime can work their way into hinges, dials, and other mechanisms which can cause the moving parts to seize. Lubrication can create a barrier to build-up and keeps moving parts moving freely.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep reading to find out more about if lubricating oils are necessary for your safety razor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/should-i-oil-safety-razor-is-lubrication-necessary\/#Do_you_need_to_oil_or_lubricate_a_safety_razor\" title=\"Do you need to oil or lubricate a safety razor?\">Do you need to oil or lubricate a safety razor?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/should-i-oil-safety-razor-is-lubrication-necessary\/#How_to_lubricate_a_safety_razor_with_oil\" title=\"How to lubricate a safety razor with oil\">How to lubricate a safety razor with oil<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/should-i-oil-safety-razor-is-lubrication-necessary\/#Oiling_a_butterfly_safety_razor\" title=\"Oiling a butterfly safety razor\">Oiling a butterfly safety razor<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/should-i-oil-safety-razor-is-lubrication-necessary\/#Oiling_a_2-piece_safety_razor\" title=\"Oiling a 2-piece safety razor\">Oiling a 2-piece safety razor<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/should-i-oil-safety-razor-is-lubrication-necessary\/#Oiling_a_3-piece_safety_razor\" title=\"Oiling a 3-piece safety razor\">Oiling a 3-piece safety razor<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/should-i-oil-safety-razor-is-lubrication-necessary\/#What_kind_of_oil_do_you_put_on_a_safety_razor\" title=\"What kind of oil do you put on a safety razor?\">What kind of oil do you put on a safety razor?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/should-i-oil-safety-razor-is-lubrication-necessary\/#Merkur_recommends_the_following\" title=\"Merkur recommends the following:&nbsp;\">Merkur recommends the following:&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/should-i-oil-safety-razor-is-lubrication-necessary\/#Shaving_forums_recommend\" title=\"Shaving forums recommend\">Shaving forums recommend<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_you_need_to_oil_or_lubricate_a_safety_razor\"><\/span><strong>Do you need to oil or lubricate a safety razor?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Hair, soap scum, and water deposits contaminate the surfaces of safety razors after each use.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Occasional lubrication of safety razors is beneficial but it is not required for all safety razors.&nbsp; Oiling does, however, prevent corrosion and reduce friction which can extend the life of a razor and its moving parts.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Several shaving forum threads are going back and forth on the debate of &#8220;oil or not&#8221;.&nbsp; One side claims to have never piled their safety razors and do not see the need especially for 2- and 3- piece models.&nbsp; The other side swears by it, conceding that it may not be necessary but they want to take steps to make sure their shavers stay reliable.&nbsp; And there are those in the middle wondering which side is correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best source on the subject is often found with care tips provided by the manufacturer. Merkur, a popular safety razor brand, suggests that moving parts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shaving-shack.com\/caring-for-your-merkur-razor.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">can be oiled occasionally<\/a>.\u00a0 But on which occasion?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally, the best time for oiling will be <a href=\"https:\/\/cremocompany.com\/blog\/how-to-clean-your-safety-razor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">after a thorough deep cleaning<\/a> of the entire razor.\u00a0 Solvents used for removing soap scum and scaling may also remove some of the factory lubricants.\u00a0 A drop of oil is enough to return the razor to its full glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/will-a-safety-razor-rust\/\" target=\"_blank\">Some razors are constructed with anti-corrosive metals or coatings that resist rust<\/a> but seams and hinges are still exposed to scaling lime scaling from hard water.&nbsp; Debris can also cause problems with moving parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The tiniest bit of oil applied to screw-on razor types and the hinges of mechanical razors will reduce friction and also create a barrier to dirt.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cleaning and proper oiling of threads in 2- and 3- piece razors and mechanical parts in butterfly razors prevents seizing due to excess buildup.&nbsp; Seizing or locking up these parts can lead to irreparable damage that will have you bitterly shopping for a replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_lubricate_a_safety_razor_with_oil\"><\/span><strong>How to lubricate a safety razor with oil<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Different styles of <a href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/how-long-do-safety-razors-last-maintenance\/\" target=\"_blank\">safety razors have different maintenance<\/a> requirements.&nbsp; 2- and 3- piece models do not have moving parts, unlike the mechanical butterfly razors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Always adhere to the manufacturer&#8217;s care guides first and follow any listed safety precautions listed to prevent injury or damage to the safety razor.<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The basic steps for lubricating 2-piece, 3-piece, and butterfly razors as well as a list of suitable lubricants can be found below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Oiling_a_butterfly_safety_razor\"><\/span><strong>Oiling a butterfly safety razor<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Butterfly safety razors have several moving parts.&nbsp; Not only do the heads open and close to load and remove blades but some models adjust the distance between a safety bar and the blade edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Butterfly safety razors also only need the tiniest bit of lubricant but often in multiple places.&nbsp; Some of those places are quite small and a needle-tip applicator will work best.&nbsp; Dry lubricants are often best for these applications<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The basic steps for lubricating a butterfly razor are:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Open the head and hinges completely &#8211; If there is a safety bar feature, open it as far as possible.<\/li><li>Apply a single drop of lubricant to each hinge.<\/li><li>Open and close the hinges a few times using the knobs and dials.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>A video tutorial can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/OcqYRlpVD2Q\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Oiling_a_2-piece_safety_razor\"><\/span><strong>Oiling a 2-piece safety razor<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>2-piece safety razors feature a head that is unscrewed from the handle.&nbsp; The blade is placed onto the concave side of the head and secured by screwing the handle back into place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The threads that attach the cap (or head) of the razor to the handle will be the focal point for oil.&nbsp; Only a single drop of lubricant is needed.&nbsp; Grit and grime can accumulate between the male and female threads.&nbsp; The debris can make attaching or releasing the handle difficult and may result in the threads seizing.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The basic steps for lubricating a 2-piece razor are:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Disassemble the razor by unscrewing the cap from the handle.<\/li><li>Clean the cap, handle, screw threads well with soap and water while scrubbing with a soft brush or a cloth.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><li>Allow the entire razor to dry completely on a towel.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><li>Apply a drop of lubricant to the threads.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><li>Screw the handle onto the cap lightly and remove it a couple of times then wipe away any excess.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Oiling_a_3-piece_safety_razor\"><\/span><strong>Oiling a 3-piece safety razor<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>3-piece safety razors feature a head that is unscrewed from the handle.&nbsp; The head, once unscrewed from the handle, separates into the top and bottom pieces.&nbsp; The blade is sandwiched between the pieces of the head and secured by screwing the handle back into place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2- and 3- piece safety razors will have similar care guidelines. Only a single drop of oil onto the screw heads will be necessary.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The basic steps for oiling 3-piece safety razors are:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Disassemble the razor by unscrewing the cap from the handle.<\/li><li>Clean the cap, handle, screw threads well with soap and water while scrubbing with a soft brush or a cloth.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Allow the entire razor to dry completely on a towel.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><li>Apply a drop of lubricant to the threads.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><li>Screw the handle onto the cap lightly and remove it a couple of times then wipe away any excess.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_kind_of_oil_do_you_put_on_a_safety_razor\"><\/span><strong>What kind of oil do you put on a safety razor?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Which kinds of oils are best for oiling safety razor parts? It does depend on your razor and the individual mechanisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mineral oil, weapon oil, or silicone grease is best for screw threads.&nbsp; Dry lubricant is recommended for mechanical parts. Avoid using food oils like vegetable or olive oil.&nbsp; Avoid oils that are acidic or resinous.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recommend safety razor oils are as followed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Merkur_recommends_the_following\"><\/span><strong>Merkur recommends the following:<\/strong>&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Paraffin oil.\u00a0 <\/strong>Similar to clipper oil used in barbershops.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><li><strong>Weapons oil &#8220;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shaving-shack.com\/caring-for-your-merkur-razor.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>or other machine oil that is acid-free and non-resinous<\/strong><\/a><strong>&#8220;.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Shaving_forums_recommend\"><\/span><strong>Shaving forums recommend<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Silicone grease.&nbsp; <\/strong>A waterproof grease made from silicone and thickeners.&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>Dry lubricant.&nbsp; <\/strong>A mixture of solid materials that help reduce friction.&nbsp; It is less messy than other oils.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>To sum it all up, there is more to gain with an occasional drop of oil than there is without one.&nbsp; Do consider the addition of oiling your safety razor to a deep cleaning routine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Has your razor ever been difficult to open or close because it was a bit dirty? You may even ask yourself if oiling your safety razor may be necessary. Safety razors with moving or mechanical parts benefit from lubrication.&nbsp; Grit and grime can work their way into hinges, dials, and other mechanisms which can cause&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":268,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":8,"label":"Razors"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Should-I-Oil-My-Safety-Razor-1024x683.png",1024,683,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Joshua Bartlett","author_link":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/author\/joshuaebartlett\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":8,"name":"Razors","slug":"razors","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":8,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":54,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":8,"category_count":54,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Razors","category_nicename":"razors","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=247"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=247"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}