My new Ducks

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11-17-2012, 05:00 PM
10Pups

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My new Ducks

Well I finally won a bid for a DD Satinedge. I kind of feel bad running up the price on many razors while trying to learn how to buy one but what an experience. I saw these going for $50.00 to $80.00 and I felt like I was up against some of you that make a living restoring and reselling these nice razors. I just wanted to get one to shave with at the cheapest price possible. I learned that everything happens in the last seconds and got outbid many times trying to outsmart the other guy at the last second. I won this 1 and went back to look at the bids. Someone bidding against me bid the same max 5 seconds after me. WOW that was close but I got it. It may not be the best deal I could have gotten but I am not a pro buyer. The razor I was bidding on before this went for 80 and was called near mint.

Well here it is.

Attachment 112367

http://www.ebay.com/itm/350636852408?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p398 4.m1439.l2649
If you care to look closer.

I am debating what to do with it now that it's mine. Being a beginner I will probably just strop it first and test it out after a basic clean. I have looked all over the forum for basic cleaning tips. Like what should I use to disinfect and clean the crud off it. How do you get the inside under the scales near the spacer clean without taking it apart ? I am thinking some type of solvent or liquid cleaner like CLR and blasting it out with air. I also wonder about polishes as the brass looks great but not shining like it could. Won't 0000 steel wool (like I see suggested ) scratch the brass and need polishing with Mothers or semi chrome polish anyway? I don't want to melt/discolor/destroy these scales. The scales aren't perfect and have some small chips and a small crack on the inside middle pin. It has a loose pin at the scales and blade end that makes it hit the scales near the tip that I am thinking about gently tapping with a ball peen and/or punch to tighten but this may not be enough at which point I will wait or send it out for detailing. The blade is in great shape except for the loose pin. The end of the blade is definitely dulled off and I understand this may be a good thing for me. It won't take much polishing to get it to mirror. I have some less expensive razors I have honed with a Norton 4/8 combo and I am afraid to go there with this 1 and will start looking for a finishing hone method that will work for me when I learn enough to go there. I have 4 other less expensive razor to learn on and I am in no hurry to learn anything on this razor. I know I am going to hear "send it out and let a pro do it right" and that is probably the best advice . Sometimes I have to flip a coin on this because I am too much of a DIY guy and enjoy the sense of accomplishment .
11-17-2012, 10:17 PM
thebigspendur

Be very careful with the scales. They are celluloid and abuse, even hard rubbing will destroy them. No solvents either on them or near them. Maybe some warm water and a q tip or thin strip of folded cloth to get into the tight areas. I have some watchmaking tools that fit the bill to do that. Also be careful of the brass on the scales. They are almost like a foil material and can deform if you are not careful. I'm not sure if they are just pressed into place or they used some glue.

For the razor plan on it needing a good honing. If stropping gave you a decent shave that would be miraculous unless the seller was a honemeister and said it would be shave ready.

Nice razor by the way.
11-18-2012, 12:16 AM
10Pups

Fragile..got it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Be very careful with the scales. They are celluloid and abuse, even hard rubbing will destroy them. No solvents either on them or near them. Maybe some warm water and a q tip or thin strip of folded cloth to get into the tight areas. I have some watchmaking tools that fit the bill to do that. Also be careful of the brass on the scales. They are almost like a foil material and can deform if you are not careful. I'm not sure if they are just pressed into place or they used some glue.

For the razor plan on it needing a good honing. If stropping gave you a decent shave that would be miraculous unless the seller was a honemeister and said it would be shave ready.

Nice razor by the way.

Seller said it may need a good honing. There is a local honemeister around here with a great reputation from what I read. When I bought this I half expected I would need to get it honed. I need that baseline pro hone to compare with my learning progress anyway. Right now I have no idea except that I can shave with the honing I do. (and cut myself) When I first started it seemed more like scraping than shaving but now if I touch my face with the razor the wrong way (even a little bit) I get a red line. Thanks for the info on the scales. It will never see anything but water.
Your advice makes me wonder about trying to tighten the pin that holds the blade on. I should probably leave that up to the same guy that hones it if he does that sort of thing too. It would have to be done before the hone as the blade hits the scales if I'm not careful when closing. I always want to do everything myself and your help is making me think straight. No sense in messing up a good thing trying to learn. I have other $10.00 razors for that. Sometimes a good slap upside the head is needed ! Better when done before you make the mistake than after.
Big thanks to you !
11-18-2012, 02:23 AM
Mike12345

Congrats on the razor. Yours looks to be in stellar shape, and the price seems more than fair. I have three DD's (Satinedge, Goldedge and Wonderedge) and all give a top notch shave. They are my favorite razors. I think if I had to give up all of my razors, I would be perfectly happy with my DD's. They seem to retain an edge better and give a smother shave. Let us know how it shaves when you get it honed.
11-18-2012, 02:45 AM
10Pups

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike12345

Congrats on the razor. Yours looks to be in stellar shape, and the price seems more than fair. I have three DD's (Satinedge, Goldedge and Wonderedge) and all give a top notch shave. They are my favorite razors. I think if I had to give up all of my razors, I would be perfectly happy with my DD's. They seem to retain an edge better and give a smother shave. Let us know how it shaves when you get it honed.

Thanks. It's comments like yours that made me determined to get a DD. You know, since I started using a SR it is the first time in my life I have enjoyed shaving. I love to challenge myself. I am betting the DD when honed and ready will make me love it even more. I'll let you know.
11-18-2012, 02:53 AM
earcutter

You fought the good fight, and won - congrats! :)

Welcome to SRP... and welcome to RAD lol.
11-18-2012, 03:06 AM
10Pups

RAD lmao yes. I will have to add that to my list of disorders, right after CBD ! Dang, only 56 and on page 2 already.

Hmmmm what happened ?
11-18-2012, 03:23 AM
earcutter

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10Pups

RAD lmao yes. I will have to add that to my list of disorders, right after CBD ! Dang, only 56 and on page 2 already.

Hmmmm what happened ?

What's CBD - sorry. :)
11-18-2012, 03:26 AM
10Pups

Quote:

Originally Posted by earcutter

What's CBD - sorry. :)

Compulsive Buying Disorder .

You were talking about Reactive attachment disorder ? LOL I am getting confused. What disorder is that again.
11-18-2012, 03:29 AM
earcutter

Bahagahaha!! We are on the same page brother lol. I think we should stop now though, that is before we give away too many secrets! :)

Oh and RAD = razor acquisition disorder :).
11-18-2012, 03:37 AM
10Pups

Agreed...we won't go into that disorder any farther.
11-18-2012, 03:40 AM
earcutter

Cough - cough... love the Duck man :).
11-19-2012, 02:04 AM
10Pups

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike12345

Congrats on the razor. Yours looks to be in stellar shape, and the price seems more than fair. I have three DD's (Satinedge, Goldedge and Wonderedge) and all give a top notch shave. They are my favorite razors. I think if I had to give up all of my razors, I would be perfectly happy with my DD's. They seem to retain an edge better and give a smother shave. Let us know how it shaves when you get it honed.

Well I couldn't resist and I gave it a few more laps on the strop and took it for a test drive. I was impressed with it for sure. It shaved better than some I have honed myself and same as the rest. I can hardly wait till it gets honed now ! I will have a gauge to see how much I have to hone my skills. And I know I am going to have a great razor. It heads toward the shop tomorrow.
Another thing I could not resist is going Duck hunting again. I shot one today for a trophy and saw 2 more I am going to take shots at. Don't know if it's bad luck to spill the beans but 1 is an 8 ball from the state I was born in and I might pull the triggers on both barrels for that one. Then I Swear that's it. :borg: