Thread: Helo All! New to SRP! NEED HELP

Hello! My name is Casey, and I consider myself a beginner, still, though I've been wet-shaving for about two years now. I started off with a Adoration Axe, got a DOVO 5/8 in imitation tortoise, then a Ralph Aust 6/8, and I'm about to buy my next razor here shortly I'm in a bind at the moment because I have a broken wedge on my only razor I can shave with right now, the Ralph Aust, and I'm itching to take it apart. Luckily, I was wanting a new razor anyway, so I'll take the RA apart when I get my new one. The problem is, and the reason I can't shave with the vintage Axe or the Dovo, is because I started a restoration on the Axe and its in pieces, and I tried fixing chips in the DOVO and its ground down to about 4/8 or less with a terrible edge. I put it down a long time ago when I screwed up the edge, and now I need some guidance getting it shave ready again. I really don't know if I can get it back to a daily shave, but I think I can. I'll try to post some pics, but I wanted to introduce myself and my situation first. I've waited a long time to post since I joined because I've been trying to figure it out on my own and do my research. Another problem is I've tried sanding/buffing/polishing my daily shave, the RA, to get the small scratches out of it, and I cannot seem to get it back to the mirror finish. I just need help all around at this point. I have the Norton 4k/8k and 220/1k for honing and need a finishing hone, I know. But for my touch ups along the way and attempts at rehoning the DOVO I've used these plus a linen strop with .5 micron chromium oxide spray paste and a hard wool felt strop with the "white paste." Also, I use a bridle leather hanging strop for daily stropping. Anyway, I love shaving and everything about it about and would really love to make a hobby out of honing and restoration. Luckily, I have this place with all you experts and newbies. I'm thankful for that and the conversations I'll have with you all from here on! Thanks for everything in advance!

Welcome Casey. It would help to put up some pics of each razor to see what you are trying to deal with. Were you trying to buff the machine marks out of the RA? If so, you may have got a bit close to the edge. You should be able to get it back with the 8k if it is not too bad, then paste, and then leather.

Originally Posted by Grazor

Welcome Casey. It would help to put up some pics of each razor to see what you are trying to deal with. Were you trying to buff the machine marks out of the RA? If so, you may have got a bit close to the edge. You should be able to get it back with the 8k if it is not too bad, then paste, and then leather.

If the pictures don't work this time I'll have to upload them tomorrow. If they do, the first two are the RA which has been sanded on the tang only because I wanted to do what I could before I took it apart (also sanding the scales). The third and last picture is of the vintage Axe. All these razors are in the same stage. I need to figure out how to get the mirror shine from the 1500 grit paper. The RA is in awesome shave shape and just needs cosmetic work from my buffing and polishing attempts that left haze and scratch marks all over it.

Hi Casey & welcome to SRP. You need to have your Dovo & your Axe shave ready at times like these. If you can't get those sharp, send them out to a pro so that you can shave with a straight again. Also if you need some one on one guidance you should look in the member area to find someone in your are that might be able to mentor you. You can learn a lot on here as well as someone in your area if there is someone close.
Steve

Originally Posted by engine46

Hi Casey & welcome to SRP. You need to have your Dovo & your Axe shave ready at times like these. If you can't get those sharp, send them out to a pro so that you can shave with a straight again. Also if you need some one on one guidance you should look in the member area to find someone in your are that might be able to mentor you. You can learn a lot on here as well as someone in your area if there is someone close.
Steve

That's kind of why I posted this, and that's why I didn't post until now... I wanted to make sure I looked for answers to my specific questions before starting a new thread (from my experience, people on these forums really don't like answering questions that have already been answered, understandably). I haven't attempted to sharpen my two extras in about a year because I didn't want to make the same mistake again and grind away the edge leaving me little to work with. I became interested in restoring razors (very, very interested) and need to do a light restore on these two before sharpening. I just ordered the Boker Elite, so after I get one ready I'll break down the RA.

Sounds like you are well on your way into the world of straight razors. The only advice I would give you would be to pick up a couple cheap vintage razors to start your restorations on. As a lot of people have found out (me included) the first few probably won't end up the way you envisioned. While there is nothing wrong with that, there is no point de-valuing up a perfectly good razor just for practice.

Glad you joined up and looking forward to seeing how your restores go

Originally Posted by challigan23

That's kind of why I posted this, and that's why I didn't post until now... I wanted to make sure I looked for answers to my specific questions before starting a new thread (from my experience, people on these forums really don't like answering questions that have already been answered, understandably). I haven't attempted to sharpen my two extras in about a year because I didn't want to make the same mistake again and grind away the edge leaving me little to work with. I became interested in restoring razors (very, very interested) and need to do a light restore on these two before sharpening. I just ordered the Boker Elite, so after I get one ready I'll break down the RA.

Sounds good to me. I hope you got the Boker Elite from SRD so that Lyn can hone it up for ya!
Steve

Welcome to SRP!
To get the mirror polish on the blade you want to step up from 1500 grit to 2000 grit and then 2500 grit. After that #0000 steel wool with Maas or Mother's metal polish. After that I go to a polisher or polishing cloth with CrOx some people use a Dremel (not safe IMHO). Check out the Workshop sub forum, there is a sticky with a whole lot of information in it on how to restore and where to get supplies.

Originally Posted by criswilson10

Welcome to SRP!
To get the mirror polish on the blade you want to step up from 1500 grit to 2000 grit and then 2500 grit. After that #0000 steel wool with Maas or Mother's metal polish. After that I go to a polisher or polishing cloth with CrOx some people use a Dremel (not safe IMHO). Check out the Workshop sub forum, there is a sticky with a whole lot of information in it on how to restore and where to get supplies.

I use a Dremel for polishing but I only recommend it for people who are experienced in using one on a blade. I learned a lot on how to use one from Lynn's dvd. I have polished many blades successfully but it has to be done with the tool spinning away from the blade. If you are interested in using one, I would say practice on a junk blade first. Here is a Boker Imperial that the blade was tarnished & would not polish up by hand. It also had a broken scale but I had some other good scales to use & replaced them. I polished the blade with my Dremel before I re-assembled it. As I mentioned earlier. If you don't have any experience using a Dremel on a blade then don't attempt it. If you are interested in doing so, I recommend buying Lynn's dvd & watching it first, then practicing on a junk blade.

Originally Posted by criswilson10

Welcome to SRP!
To get the mirror polish on the blade you want to step up from 1500 grit to 2000 grit and then 2500 grit. After that #0000 steel wool with Maas or Mother's metal polish. After that I go to a polisher or polishing cloth with CrOx some people use a Dremel (not safe IMHO). Check out the Workshop sub forum, there is a sticky with a whole lot of information in it on how to restore and where to get supplies.

YES!!! That's what I'm talking about. I sure do appreciate it. I was just a bit lost after the 1500 grit. I may use a Dremel, or I may use a buffing wheel on a mounted motor. I'm not sure yet. I definitely need to pick up Lynn's DVD though. I can get it on SRD, right?

And yes, I definitely got the Boker Elite from SRD and cannot wait to see it!

Thank you all so much for replying with your wisdom and experience. When I find time, I'm gonna grab a couple old cheap razors and Lynn's DVD and get going on these restores! I'm super excited.