Thread: Restoration Mentor

I'm considering purchasing and restoring a razor for my first. I'm considering this partially due to the cost of a new razor and partially to have the satisfaction that I had a hand in getting my first razor "shave ready". I would likely have it honed by a professional, but I think I can do other parts of the restoration myself. Does anyone have advice on this, or is there anyone in the Dallas area that would be willing to mentor me in the restoration process?

There is a MOUNTAIN of information in the wiki. My first suggestion would be to read through some of the sections on restoration. I'm sure you'll have many questions along the way, but that's probably your best place to start.

Also, browse through the Workshop section of the forum.


As far as having a pro do the honing, there are a number of guys in the classifieds that all do excellent honing at fair prices, or you can get some hones and do it yourself. I consider myself to be perfectly competent with a hone, and when I'm done with a razor it is shave-ready. I got all my education from the wiki and this forum. You can do the same if you want, although you'll see it frequently said that you should get some ebay garbage blades to learn on.

Originally Posted by hsudandy

I'm considering this partially due to the cost of a new razor

I can tell you that on this part you're wrong. It's going to be cheaper to not do the restoration yourself. Even if the hours it'll take you are worthless to you, spending the same amount of time on researching the matter and looking for a good deal will be more cost-effective.

+1 to this.

Looking at the classifieds I see 2 shave ready razors for <= $30.

To really "save money" you are going to be taking some big chances on some ugly blades in bad shape. Plus spend money on materials and not to mention the hours of labor.


You might try straight razor shaving and decide you hate it even....

Originally Posted by gugi

I can tell you that on this part you're wrong. It's going to be cheaper to not do the restoration yourself. Even if the hours it'll take you are worthless to you, spending the same amount of time on researching the matter and looking for a good deal will be more cost-effective.

Just to play devil's advocate, not that I actually disagree, but restoration 'can' be cheaper.

First of all, it depends on what you consider "restoration." If you get good deals on razors that don't need anything more than a little pin adjustment, some light cleaning, and a good honing, you can get some old but serviceable hones, some oil and steel wool, and do that much for very little cost.

On the other end of the spectrum, look at the cost of a beautifully restored antique W&B. Do all the clean-up by hand, have fantastic luck in buying ugly but sound razors, and while you could never do one razor for less than a new one, I'm sure that you could do 40 for less than the cost of new ones.

+1 on Gugi's and Slartibartfast's post. Buying used from a person who knows how to hone will help. Then you can concentrate on shaving and not worry weather your razor is as sharp as it should be. It will also set you a bench mark as far as how a shave ready razor feels.

As far as members in your area http://straightrazorpalace.com/vbgooglemapme.php
this will help you locate some. Please add your location to the map.

I agree with the suggestions to begin with a shave ready razor in nice condition restored or not. Find out if you are going to go through the learning curve of straight razor shaving and if it is something that you will continue to do.

A friend who restores razors sometimes hand sands a blade for 10 (ten) hours. If you are a guy who likes doing fine work with his hands and you have copious amounts of patience restoring might be fun for you. You won't get rich doing it though.

One more post that agrees with the others, get a good blade from the classifieds and you cant go wrong.

I just did a few myself. more cleaned them up than restored, as i did it all by hand. more than good enough. heck, one looks in better shape than my dovo best quality, which i got new!

it's not hard. i did it with 400, 600 wet/dry sand paper, 2 pads of 0000 steel wool, and a tub of mother's mag.

frankly, i probably could have gotten better results if i took the sandpaper up to 1000 before steel wool, but heck. they're more than useable, quite good looking, and old. i didn't even re-pivot them. just buffed the pivots and blasted the gunk out from inside. i posted some pics in the razor section.

I got one razor for $8 shipped, which shaves quite well and restored nicely. Personally, that's a sum worth the risk. any 5/8 made in solingen with minimal rust/pitting will work, as low as you can get it. in the 3 i've won on ebay, they all cleaned up well past my expectations.


That being said, i'd suggest you pick one up pre-restored or in semi-restored quality like something off whipped dog. you can get some good ones there, not to mention he's honest about his descriptions, takes clear photographs, and you know you're getting something with a proper shave ready edge. that way you've got something to go with, which you can later on further clean up. you could do both, buy a whipped dog razor, and an ebay vintage. one to shave, one to work on.

If your looking for a ebay vintage razor that needs some TLC heres one.

Wade & Butcher razor Sheffield England Transparent - eBay (item 260704440502 end time Feb-04-11 16:34:13 PST)

There are tons, and you can find a quality razor for cheap, it might not be a Wade and Butcher but there out there. I got a coupple that cleaned right up with some elbow grease. I would suggest reading up on restoring before you attempt it. I have seen plenty of pictures of butchered blades by idiots that thought they new what they were doing.

Louis