Thread: Newbie attempt at a restoration

I don't post much, beyond my "hi nice to meet ya" back in the winter. I'm still a newbie, even though I get a good daily shave with a straight I think I won't graduate until I get BBS on my neck - my last problem spot. So hello again everyone

I tried restoring a razor this past week, and really I'm writing to the other newbies because it was a lot of fun and not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. I am the least handy person I know, my wife won't even let me try to fix things at home so if I can do this anyone can. I took a $15 (shipped) razor off ebay that had heavy tarnish, light rust, and some pitting and went to work last weekend. With a dremel for polishing and sandpaper mostly by hand, about 4.5 hours of work left me with a very shiny new looking razor. While I missed a few pits, it was a great learning experience and I'm eager to move on to the razor I really want to restore (this was a test run).

So for anyone with an interest in this, it is definitely possible and the video from Lynn gives a great start, Bill Ellis CD has great tips and info that helped me through as I got to the pitting and heavier work. Give it a try - it is very satisfying. I'd post before and after pics but I was so sure the effort was doomed I didn't take before pics.

Rob

Go ahead and post the eBay link and the after pictures over in "The Gallery" - sub-forum of "The Workshop" forum. There are plenty of restorers and others who would like to see how well you've done and even give some other pointers (though with Bill Ellis' CD, you've got a good number of them....)

You could then link here to the post showing off your "handiwork".

This is exactly the stage I am at just now. I bought the eBay razors. Heavy tarnish, some rust etc.

What did you use to remove it? Wire wool? just sandpaper? If so, what grit?

I'll be following this thread. Congratulations- there's hope for me yet

I posted in the Gallery, for the steps i used etc please see that post.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/galle...n-cutlery.html

Rob

This post gives me a lot of confidence as I have recently bought several razors off ebay and all will need to be restored. I went kind of crazy but I got one for $5.50 (thats with shipping) it has a nice chip in the edge but I think it can be fixed.

Originally Posted by sidneykidney

This is exactly the stage I am at just now. I bought the eBay razors. Heavy tarnish, some rust etc.

What did you use to remove it? Wire wool? just sandpaper? If so, what grit?

I'll be following this thread. Congratulations- there's hope for me yet

Hi, Not meaning to hijack, but normally you'd start with a 220g then 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000, then if you can find it 1500 and 2000. Of course, I'm talking wet sanding by hand, Bill Ellis and some of the other resto guys have bench jigs to brace the blade while they sand. You must be progressive in sanding in order to get out all scratches. This is important when you get to polishing...The more work you do with the sandpaper equates to a better mirror finish. Once the pitting and scratches, rust whatever are removed, you can take some Mother's, or MAAS, or even Dremmell polish. I have a bench grinder/buffer with rouge. That works well to. My bench buffer goes down to 1750 rpm's or something like that. Slower speeds are better, that way you don't heat up the blade. If you use a dremmel, be sure not to keep it on the edge to long and feel it for heat. If it get's too hot, let it cool.....Rich