Thread: 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)

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

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

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. 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.

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