I have a Gillette Black Beauty that I have really enjoyed using, mostly set on 4, sometimes 5. Recently after several shaves with it, I had difficulty opening the doors to remove the blade. Now they are firmly locked open, and won’t budge with reasonable manual force. I sprayed a little Ballistol, a non toxic CLP down the barrel and let that soak for a few days, with no change. Has anyone else ever had this problem, and how do I proceed with correcting this issue?
No idea. But if you send it to me. I will send you a replacement. That way I have a malfunctioning BB that I can mess with. Is it a long or short handle? I have both so you can choose. Tom
It’s a long handle. I really don’t use all the length, but I like it for some reason. Maybe just because it’s different from my other razors.
Probably limescale buildup. I don't know if Ballistol works on limescale. Maybe you got CLP and CLR mixed up in your head?
I'd try some Pb blaster on it. Razor will smell awful for weeks but that stuff breaks up most anything on threads. Unless it is a mechnical issue of some sort that should unseize it.
No, Ballistol is a CLP, cleaner lubricant protectant that also penetrates, used primarily in cleaning guns but is a great non toxic CLP with many uses.
I understand that. I was just saying that you should be trying CLR (calcium, lime, rust) remover, rather than CLP, or CLP alternatives. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
I've noticed Hickok45 has a can conspicuously sitting at the back of his loading table, but I can't find the stuff in my local gun shops (or anything else, for that matter).
Both Black Beauty handles are coated aluminum so before using CLR, or any kind of solvent, make certain that it won't destroy aluminum. Purple Power degreaser sure will. Guess how I found that out.
Ballistol can be hard to find in local stores, but it is a very good product. I usually wind up ordering from Midway or Amazon.
I’m probably going to take you up on that, a very generous offer! I’m going to think on this another night or two and see if I can come up with brainstorms on how to fix it.
FYI, I've fixed Gillette Black Beauty, Fat Boys, Slims, etc..., With the same issues. I've tried many differnt ways. The best way I have found is to put the razor in a heat proof pan/measuing cup. In a separate pot, boil some water, then pour over the razor, covering it. Next, pour a good amount of Palmolive dish soap. This seems to work better than others, for some reason. Dawn will also work tol, I just dont like it as much. Stir the water around until the soap is mixed in. Let it sit, until cool. Then try working the razor. If still sticking, remove the razor, reheat the soapy water, and resoak the razor, let it cool again. It should work fine, after the second soak. If not, try a third time. I have not had to do this more than three times, even with the worst one. This method has never damages any razor, even the Black Beauty.
I can identify the likely cause of the problem, and a likely solution. Do I know what CLR will do to a razor? No. I would try non-invasive stuff first before breaking out the big guns. Aluminum may be impervious to CLR, but the black coating on black beauties, while durable, is easily damaged by solvents and other assorted cleaning methods tried by wet shavers in the past. No one's advice is perfect all the time. Including mine.