Thread: Old razor revival questions

Hi Guys, my name is James and i just wanted to ask a question or two about reviving an old razor.

Firstly just to explain a little bit about my self and my straight razor shaving abilitys, basically i am a total newbie, just started straight razor shaving, just started learning to strop (By the way thanks to everyone involved with this site it is really informative) and decided well i really want to learn how to hone as well, so why not start buying old razors and have a crack at it.

I am reading information on this site at a furious rate, so im hoping i can bring this razor i bought back to a usable state from the information i can pick up from reading this site, and well i figured if i have this thread going anything i am still unsure about i can just ask.

the Razor is a bengall, please see photos below




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I Bought a norton waterstone three piece set from SRD, which consists of a 220/1000, 4000/8000 and a flattening stone.

The first thing i was planning on doing was cleaning up the blade, my plan was to use a slightly abrasive type polish with a wet rag and use a bit of elbow grease to carefully clean up the razor.

Sounds like you are on the right track,, If you start a restore with the least abrasive method, it will give you a good wroking knowledge of the way a razor comes together...

You can always add, sandpaper if needed, there is a sticky at the top of the "Workshop" sub forum that has a ton of info on restoring Vintage razors, I would suggest looking through it first to get some ideas...

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


One of my first personal restores was on a Bengall, still in my collection, and still shaves like a dream, good luck and take your time...

In the old Retsore Chat we had a saying "Rush a restore, Wreck a razor"

hunty,

The Bengall's are fine shavers

Looking at your photographs, it would seem that a small polish with something like MAAS and a hone and the razor would be good to go

Good luck !

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Originally Posted by hunty

The first thing i was planning on doing was cleaning up the blade, my plan was to use a slightly abrasive type polish with a wet rag and use a bit of elbow grease to carefully clean up the razor.

Another option is a 3M scotch brite type kitchen scouring pad. That was where I started on my Bengall.
Just cleans the surface and won't harm the blade.

Ok thanks guys, I wasnt planning to fully break it down or anything, looking at it i dont think there is any pitting anywhere on it, my thoughts were to give it a clean up and then evaluate it from there.

I was planning on using this stuff i have used before at work before called "Astonish" (at least i think that is what its called).It comes in a white tub and has the union jack on it.Magic stuff for cleaning things up.Failing that i might try some of the kitchen type things recommended.

actually it may be this stuff in older packaging.

G'Day James and welcome to SRP.

I've used similar products with 0000 steel wool with reasonable effect, too.

I'd probably be inclined to get the blade honed professionally in the first instance to know how a shave ready blade should feel.

Let us know how you go.

Originally Posted by Havachat45

G'Day James and welcome to SRP.

I've used similar products with 0000 steel wool with reasonable effect, too.

I'd probably be inclined to get the blade honed professionally in the first instance to know how a shave ready blade should feel.

Let us know how you go.

hi Havachat,
Im currently shaving with a boker from SRD which was professionally honed.

well some progress made, not entirely sure if it is foward progress though.Spent quite a few hours on this today as i had a roster day off.started last night with the scotch bright type kitchen scrubber, moved on to the astonish(it became clear that these were not going to do the job) so today moved on to wet and dry sand paper, 320, 400, 600, 800. 1000, 1200.
Things that could have been done better
1-The scales could have been removed as there is asection near the pivot which is near impossible to clean up.
2-I think i could have gone lower in grit and been more aggressive, as there are small pitting type marks that i couldn't get out, the reason i didn't is that i had fears of wrecking the edge in some way, i thought i can take metal away, but i can put it back.
3-i could have gone higher in grit, but i guess since there are still marks on the blade was there any point?

What Now?maybe those of you with some experience can give me pointers?the photos seem to look worse to me than what it looks in person.Since the object was and is learning to hone, id rather not try to get too carried away and end up damaging it(if i haven't all ready), and leave it as it is and have a go at honing.Not sure, any one have any advice?

BTW Drove my wife mad today on this thing, she told me that she cant understand how some one can spend so many hours sharpening a knife.I thought about mentioning that its not actually a knife and that i wasnt actually sharpening it......but i stopped myself .

anyway some pics



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