My 1st 5 some what dirty/rusty razors

Hi there,

(Thanks again to all the people that helped me.)

I now have 5 vintage razors (for 50 Euro's (no S&H)) from marktplaats.nl).

I've made some pictures and put them online: Flickr: WR1L's Photostream

Does anyone know:
- what the best is way to clean them?
- what I need if I want to use them?
(I'm thinking of a strop on a board - I can't find one on marktplaats.nl though - could I perhaps make one myself? I have some leather at home, but I'm not sure if it's useful).

Thank you in advance!

Regards,
Wichal

For restore Info start here ....

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...wers-here.html

for any more questions that come up on restorations just post them in the Workshop forum....

I'm not familiar with the maker but Solingen made razors are usually really good shavers. If it was me I would polish with something like Wenol or Semichrome on a paper towel and then hone them and use them. I don't mind a bit of patina.

Thanks guys.

I've thought of leaving the razors in some hot water with baking soda or something first.

Just checking is this is a smart thing to do...

Thank you in advance!

Regards,
Wichal

When soldering tattooing needles together I dip them in hot water and baking soda afterwards to neutralize the acid from the flux. If left in the solution the baking soda crystallizes and sticks to the needles. I don't know what it would do with a blade but if you do it rinse them under hot water afterwards and then dry them and maybe some rust preventative would be in order.

Thanks for your message!

Another guy wrote me: "...I wouldn't try water with baking soda. Carbon steel generally does not like water...". - http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...tml#post448335 (I commented in here).

Thanks anyway!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wr1l

Thanks for your message!

Another guy wrote me: "...I wouldn't try water with baking soda. Carbon steel generally does not like water...". - http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...tml#post448335 (I commented in here).

Thanks anyway!

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Ah. That would be me and some explanation may be in order. The reasoning behind my comment was that soak in hot water is in my opinion bad for carbon steel. I read somewhere that japanese swordmakers use baking soda (actually, sodium bicarbonate) in the water while polishing the blade, but I can't say if it completely disables further rusting. I use baking soda myself while sharpening scandic carbon knives and I think it deters the rusting somewhat. I have no experience on prolonged soaks.

If JimmyHAD uses it with needles, I guess it is ok then. His experience is greater with razors too.

If it clears the acid in fluxes, good. (Sodium bicarbonate makes the solution the opposite of acid, ph >7 (can't remember the term)). But I don't think it will miraculously clear up patina and rust just by soaking, but you can of course try since this is just my guestimation. I just wanted you to be aware of the possibility of wrecking a blade. As I said, in the other tread, 20 minutes soak in alcohol/water solution brought up orange rust in my heljestrand.