Thread: My First Razor

Stated in my first "Hello World" post, I bought my first straight razor at an antique shop.

I posted this on Badger and Blade, and realized that there are few experienced straight razor fanatics on that forum; as I didn't get a reply. So I'll transpose it here:

Background:
Shaved with DE. No problem. Wasn't going to switch to Straight, but I was walking around an antique store and found one that sparked my interest. Picked this one up ($47)

Need Help:
So now I need help. First of all, I'm curious what it is; can one of you identify it? Was it worth the price? Is it a good brand? What would you have paid for it?

Secondly; I'm curious - what maintenance will this need, and do you have any recommendations of where I can get the services done?
The antique store owner cleaned it up with a silver polisher, but that didn't do much :/
I've already decided to have it re-scaled. It's definitely got to be honed (not only do I not know how to, I don't even own a hone).
And it has got chipped edges - is the service that makes the razor usable again called "restoration?"
And what about setting the "bevel" - I've heard about it, but I have no idea what it is haha.
Should have this whole thing sandpapered?
There's some rust, and I'm not sure what pitting is, but since this thing is such a dinosaur, it's probably got that too.

Where can I get all these services done? I just want a total, all in one, combo package where the razor goes in as its current decrepit state, and comes out a shaver Do you have any recommendations?
Note: I really prefer price over quality at this point, I'm pretty low on funds (as an unemployed teenager)

Really, I just bought it because it was a cheap German made one. The antique store dealer said it was made in 1921, by a maker called "Platypus."

Also, what else do I need. I know I need a strop and a hone, but what else? Would I need strop paste? Mineral oil?

Aloha and Welcome to SRP! Congrats on your first Straight Razor, it looks like it is restorable. Look in the Classifieds and then the Member Services section to find a member to restore her for you.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/class...wcat.php?cat=4

I'm new to this whole straight razor thing too so I don't know a whole lot. What I do know, however, is there are members here at SRD who offer full restorations for straight razors. They're in the classifieds link at the top of the home page. They can and will make your razor look really good but I don't think it will be very cheap to do depending on what you want done. You can message one of them and discuss options and pricing.

You will need a strop to keep your razor (once restored) in tip-top shape and later on a hone, if you want to hone yourself, or you can just send the razor out to a honemeister whenever it gets dull.

As for the razor I can't help you there but I'm sure there will be other members who come along who know exactly what it as and if it was a good price. The chip in the edge will take some work to get out so don't expect a full restore to be very cheap as most members charge around $15-$20 for a hone. Maybe start with just getting the blade shave ready and then later on you can rescale it if you decide you like to use a straight.

Best of luck on your new straight razor adventure

Great thanks for the info.

Can any of you tell me about the specific razor itself? Is the "Platypus" a good one?

Also, how much would a "full restoration" of this razor run about? What about a re-scaling of it? Do any of you have experience with someone who does them cheaply?

Anything with a monotreme on it has to be good - they are all indigenous to Australia, after all.

I've seen a few platypus razors - never owned one but that looks OK to me, and should end up a good shaver after a proper honing. It's German made and vintage, so it should be fine unless there are things I cannot see going on with it (eg is that just a line or is it a crack in the second pic at the edge under the "D"?)

As for restoration, you will have to ask the rates from the restorers themselves - usually the cost reflects how much work you want done on it and the kind of work. Personally I could live with the patina on that blade, although I would give it a polish with something like MAAS or autosol (or similar). But that is me. Some people really like the polished blade mirror finish look, and that will take some extra work, probably. And of course we have no idea what the other side of the blade looks like.

Good luck!

James.

As above,try to polish it with nothing more than metal polish,No sandpaper,no dremels,NADA
It is a nice razor with a modecum of honeware,If the scales are okay,Just send it out to be honed.Learn with it.I would not spend money on a full restore and I think the resto pros will tell you the same,Wellcome to SRP.

Jimbo, good eye; it *is* a crack. Would that be a problem?

Also, you say German and vintage are good; how so? Would something French and new like a Thiers Issard not be as good?

Ugh just saw that,is a problem.

Yes, unfortunately cracks are an issue. Someone with more expertise than I might chime in here, but I would suggest that this razor is done for as a shaver - the location and extent of the crack means that very little, if anything, can be done to salvage it.

I'm very sorry.

James.

I might add that you shouldn't feel too bad about it - this can happen to the best and most experienced of us.

A while back I bought a 5 day set for quite a bit of money (several hundreds of dollars). When I got it home and looked more carefully, one had a crack in almost the same place as yours. I wondered how I didn't spot it at the time of purchase, but there you go.

I've never, and will never, make that mistake again. I doubt you will either. So some good will come of it.

James.