I took the dive and am about the start my journey through Gentleman's shaving.

Well after wanting to get into straight shaving and lurking on he site for a while. I decided with my B-day coming up it was a good time to get in the game. After reading one of you guys who had found some good blades at the antique store I decided to put my ebays on hold and go see what was there. And long story short. I came home with my first to razors. I picked up a Bresduck dubl duck Special No. 1 and a Wade & Butcher's "for barber use only". I was big and I thought it could give me some good variance to try. (Photos attached) The duck has a little bit of blacking and the Wade shows some light surface rust. I know that kind of goes against the advice of what you buy (not new or well taken of members stuff). But I gave both a good look and think with a good polish they could be a great start. So I got them both for $50. So how did I do. Do they look ok? I'll search through the forums for some buffing polishing advice but do any of you experts see something obvious that I should start with. I don't have a strop yet so I'm still few days away before my face come into contact with this boys.

Edit: on the duck the edge has some black spotting on it. It might look like uneven or damage but i think it's just rust (or whatever it's called)
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welcome, i really like that W&B i'v been looking for one in good condition that wont cost me an arm and a leg but up to this point the local antique shops have been short on supply, have found a couple really nice bokers though. if your looking to put a shine on those i'd throw on some blue magic, the Bresduck seems to have some minor edge damage but i'm sure they'll come out nicely. if you don't have any stones (and i'm sure you've see this before) this site is a fountain of knowledge and experience and i'm sure one of the senior members could have those two shaving like dreams so give the member services a once over.


Good luck with your future endeavors

PaPaParmalade

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Originally Posted by PaPaMarmalade

welcome, i really like that W&B i'v been looking for one in good condition that wont cost me an arm and a leg but up to this point the local antique shops have been short on supply, have found a couple really nice bokers though. if your looking to put a shine on those i'd throw on some blue magic, the Bresduck seems to have some minor edge damage but i'm sure they'll come out nicely. if you don't have any stones (and i'm sure you've see this before) this site is a fountain of knowledge and experience and i'm sure one of the senior members could have those two shaving like dreams so give the member services a once over.
Good luck with your future endeavors
PaPaParmalade

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Thanks, I'll look into the blue magic. My goal is mirror shine. The scales are a dinged a little. It's wood so maybe someday on a more ambitious adventure I'll rescale it or something. I'm hoping I made an ok buy. I got the W&B for 16$. I didn't think that was to bad. The ducks was the main one I was after. It's seemed more like a day to day kind. I thought the W&B might be kinda fun for variety and try a different weight and size. It's notably heavier.
My gramps used to be a butcher and has one of those 3 stones on a triangle things. I know at least for knifes it's pretty good. Hopefully I can use that for honing. I'm not sure what the grits are though.

Where are ya in Idaho before you destroy the edges on questionable Knife hones, if your close to me I will show you how to clean them, buff them, hone them, strop them, and even some basics of shaving...

You should definitely take that offer, and if the wade isn't your bag, well I can PM you my address ;) It is in very nice shape, good score bro.

Man I would love that! Unfortunately for me I'm in Idaho Falls. :gaah: I might have to take one of you guys up on an offer though. ;) Would it be unwise to try and polish them myself? I can understand getting them honed by someone who knows. Or am I best having someone do the whole thing for me to get them going?

It really depends on the final outcome you are seeing in your head, at the top of the sub-forum "The Workshop" you will find a Red sticky Thread aptly named http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...wers-here.html

This has everything you could ever ask about restoring razors, from handsanding to using buffers and grinders, my advice would be to browse through there and get an idea what what is involved with fixing them up... If it is something that looks within your skill set then slowly tackle it... I would not start with that W&B as that has a bit of value there so don't screw it up...
If you need more help I am a PM away.. if you take it slow and steady, and learn what the guys that built those razors were doing you should do fine, if you jump in with both feet and rush then the outcome will show it...

Also we have two Meet-ups in the area each year, usually Yakima in the Springtime, and Spokane in the Fall although we might move the Fall meet to my place in Sandpoint so we can do a "Shop" meet this next year

Glen, your the man. Thanks for the link. While I like to think I know my way around internet forums there is tons. The problem i'm finding is there is almost to much information for smooth navigating. Until you know where to look for it at least. I just read the first 24 pages of your polishing experiment using your casing polisher. I had actually thought about that, My dad is huge into rifles and reloading and has several of them that I could probably get some time in on. (On a side note whats your gun business called so I look it up.)
Anyways, I didn't really find a solid conclusion with throwing them in with the scales on? At first I was going to take them off, but that might be a lot harder and more intense than I'm ready for, and I don't want to damage any of the stuff. The dubl duck is just the plastic and in fine condition. The W&B is wood but it's pretty beat up with several chunks missing and large gouges. So neither scale is a huge priority. Though I might attempt a save on the W&B just because I like wood. Attached is the W&B side with the big nick and little gauges. Other side is cleaner. Basic idea is clean them with in the vibrator, then use a cuetip and/or dremel buffer to due right around the pivot point for whatever isn't done. Then clean the wood, and hone them. Thoughts, comments, suggestions from the gallery? Am I about to commit razorside by attempting this? Thanks again all for your valuable input. :shrug:

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The W&B scales are most likely horn if they are factory which they looked to be.. There are several threads in there that explain the filling of the holes then re-conditioning the horn..

The DD are Catalin a form of Celuliod, they are nothing like plastic, they are highly reactive and easily destroyed they are best cleaned gently..

Don't toss them in the spinner with scales on it doesn't work..
Also after the spinner the edges are really dull, and take an experienced hand to bring them back..


From one Idahoan to another, don't Backwoods these restores, you have 2 very sought after brands of razors, if you screw them up you probably won't be so lucky getting them again.. Take your time set the razors aside and read through that stuff I linked you.. then after reading ask questions and finally start the work..

ie: Measure twice cut once

BTW Get the Dremel away from the razors and no one gets hurt, there are 100's of posts on here with dremels and bad results (Razorcide)

I don't know much but those are some nice razors, the W&B especially. If I were you, I would start with learning how to shave first and get the basics down as far as lather and stropping before I got into reconditioning. Several members of this site have honing services and refurbishing . I just sent an old henckles off to be sharpened by someone here the other day. If you are dead set on doing some refurbishing yourself for the fun and experience of it maybe send the W&B off to be professionally done and practice your own refurbishing/honing skills on the other one. To me there is just something about the vintage ones that I am more protective of than the new ones. I am compulsive and know how easy it is to want to just splash into things, and I know how much you are dying to get that first shave, but I would rather my first shave be with a razor that was professionaly honed for safety reasons at the very least. Just my 2 cents

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

Where are ya in Idaho before you destroy the edges on questionable Knife hones, if your close to me I will show you how to clean them, buff them, hone them, strop them, and even some basics of shaving...

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Holy cow!! If I lived in Idaho, wherever that is, I'd be over at Glen's houses in a heart beat. It would be like Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory for me. Maybe I will Google Idaho and see where it is, then tell Glen I am from there and see if I get an invite.

Is it something in the air at this time of the season? The most senior members of this site inviting newbs to come visit them. I got an invite from Lynn yesterday to come visit him.

If I could only figure out how to get all the senior members of SRP to house and feed me for 3 days to a week while I am learning, I could make a circuit of the entire U.S., then maybe Europe, Asia and that little floating island off in the nether lands...now I remember, its called Australia. Maybe even visit Canada. But you know those Canucks, they're different. I could be like a roaming reporter for SRP and give daily updates to members on what I am learning.:hmmm:

Hope everyone is stuffed and has a sound and restful sleep, unless of course you are heading out for Black Friday, which is now Black Thursday, for shopping. Shudder!!!

Randy
[With tongue firmly planted in cheek.]

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Originally Posted by ccase39

I don't know much but those are some nice razors, the W&B especially. If I were you, I would start with learning how to shave first and get the basics down as far as lather and stropping before I got into reconditioning.

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As I said, I would be following your development. Have you mellowed a bit? Sounds like excellent advice you gave. Take it one step at a time and advance from there. If you try this hobby with a well honed razor and do not like it, why invest more into it. If you try this hobby with a well honed razor and like it, you will have a standard by which to measure your progress.

Randy

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Originally Posted by funkemaster

Man I would love that! Unfortunately for me I'm in Idaho Falls. :gaah: I might have to take one of you guys up on an offer though. ;) Would it be unwise to try and polish them myself? I can understand getting them honed by someone who knows. Or am I best having someone do the whole thing for me to get them going?

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Thats funny, I think I know which store you bought the bresduck from!

Nice razors, and some great advice, looks like you are off to a good start.

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Originally Posted by WhiteLion

As I said, I would be following your development. Have you mellowed a bit? Sounds like excellent advice you gave. Take it one step at a time and advance from there. If you try this hobby with a well honed razor and do not like it, why invest more into it. If you try this hobby with a well honed razor and like it, you will have a standard by which to measure your progress.

Randy

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Lol I don't know about mellowing down, that is hard, but I am starting to see that patience is a big part of this hobby and experience. I have mellowed down as far as wanting to hone and recondition my own stuff, but I make up for it by buying equipment. This poses another problem, as I am learning I am bound to destroy some of it. I have already destroyed a strop because I didn't practice enough on it before I put a new razor on it. So at this point I am just learning to strop properly and lather. I will say the actual shaving part is coming pretty easily for me, but I did a lot of research on that even before I knew I was going to get into it.

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Originally Posted by WhiteLion

Holy cow!! If I lived in Idaho, wherever that is, I'd be over at Glen's houses in a heart beat. It would be like Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory for me. Maybe I will Google Idaho and see where it is, then tell Glen I am from there and see if I get an invite.

Is it something in the air at this time of the season? The most senior members of this site inviting newbs to come visit them. I got an invite from Lynn yesterday to come visit him.
]

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I would be all over it. But, it's about a 14 hour drive each way from where I am to where he is. Sadly not really doable just for a quick hangout. :( It about the maximum distance we could have while being in the same state. But if I am ever near there I'll try my luck.

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Originally Posted by shoppingforhim

Thats funny, I think I know which store you bought the bresduck from!

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Downtown Idaho Falls, your from the area?

So I put off tinkering with them to much, even though it was fighting all fibers of my being. I did pull out a little cloth and wipe them down by hand with some shine. I think it really did a good number on them. Yeah I might see about doing a restore and a hone by someone else so I have a standard set.

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Originally Posted by funkemaster

I would be all over it. But, it's about a 14 hour drive each way from where I am to where he is. Sadly not really doable just for a quick hangout. :( It about the maximum distance we could have while being in the same state. But if I am ever near there I'll try my luck.



Downtown Idaho Falls, your from the area?

So I put off tinkering with them to much, even though it was fighting all fibers of my being. I did pull out a little cloth and wipe them down by hand with some shine. I think it really did a good number on them. Yeah I might see about doing a restore and a hone by someone else so I have a standard set.

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Yep! From the place across the street from snakebite. I have a picture of your razor on my phone! lol I was there a couple weeks ago looking for razors.

i cant wait to see these in finished state !! before i knew anything about razors i was looking for one to cut my hair with !! i hit every antique store around me and out of about 20 only one had razors .. they had a box of about 30+ i went back the other day and they were closed , i hope when i can get back in there i can find something like your finds !! congrats !!

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Originally Posted by shoppingforhim

Yep! From the place across the street from snakebite. I have a picture of your razor on my phone! lol I was there a couple weeks ago looking for razors.

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Well Shopping
That's awesome. I'd say we should meet up sometime and talk about shaving stuff or whatever. But by your name I'm not sure if your a Mr. It would be a little awkward if your a girl and talking about shaving would then only make it weirder. :p Plus the wife probably wouldn't be to amused. If your a dude we might have to swap shave techniques. As in I get some from you since I don't have any. :beer1:

As far as the razors go, as sad as I am to part with them I think it's off to be honed for them...

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Originally Posted by funkemaster

Well Shopping
That's awesome. I'd say we should meet up sometime and talk about shaving stuff or whatever. But by your name I'm not sure if your a Mr. It would be a little awkward if your a girl and talking about shaving would then only make it weirder. :p Plus the wife probably wouldn't be to amused. If your a dude we might have to swap shave techniques. As in I get some from you since I don't have any. :beer1:

As far as the razors go, as sad as I am to part with them I think it's off to be honed for them...

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I am a girl....Im just in here to get gift ideas for my husband, he recently got into this himself and doesn't have any "gear" yet. Hopefully after Christmas. Maybe you two should get together and your wife and I can talk nail polish or something haha!

Yeah that would be fun. Although my wife is already starting to think I'm getting a little to obsessed w/ a hobby I really haven't even started yet. But we are always down for some good company. And anyone shopping for SR for the hubby should be good company. :o

Well today was payday and my blades are off to see Glen. I'll look forward to seeing how they come back. :gl:

You won't be disappointed with Glen's restoration work, that's for sure. Wise move, sir.

Hopefully, we'll see you up in Sandpoint or Yakima at the next meet-up. :)

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Originally Posted by funkemaster

Yeah that would be fun. Although my wife is already starting to think I'm getting a little to obsessed w/ a hobby I really haven't even started yet. But we are always down for some good company. And anyone shopping for SR for the hubby should be good company. :o

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Lol Ive done all the obsessing for my hubby. I think I know more about all this than he does by now! Although you may thing less of me now....I ended up buying him a DE razor for Christmas to start out with. Its going to be the first of many razors though.