Thread: My first Ebay restore

Keep up the good work, of bringing old razors back on line.
Thank you for sharing yours.

Just checked on the description for my store bought Boker Tree Brand, it says Canvas Micarta. Oops, that isn't made of wood at all. It's still one of my favorite razors though.

Congrats on your first ebay restore. Always nice to grab a blade off the bay that isn't total trash!

Originally Posted by Steelstubble

Constructive criticism well taken! I have a saying about myself, "I've never claimed I was smart."

Smart has to do with intelligence. I have no doubt you are smart. Ignorance has to do with education on the subject you want to learn about. Everyone on this forum is ignorant about the subject of brain surgery. See the difference? That is why I believe with time being on this forum, you will learn and be every bit as capable as the next guy.

As for woods on eBay, I have indeed tried my luck there. I purchased five different wood blanks. Of those five, only one turned out to be worth the purchase. If I can give some input, it is not only the appearance of the wood, which some can be very beautiful, but it also has to do with how the wood will stand up in a moisture rich environment. Soft woods, with large pores, like Redwood, unless treated with proper sealants, are not going to fair well. Exotic woods like Cocobolo, as just one example, are dense and have not only very small pores, but also have resins that help the wood to repel water.

At any rate, I am so glad you did not take me in an offensive manner. All of the members here are trying to help one another. I am still ignorant of so many aspects of this craft I can not even count them. But I keep plugging away and some day, maybe, I will have learned about 10% of what I need to know.

Randy

No worries! As I've gotten older I've mellowed out a good deal and even welcome correction now. Its a good thing to be corrected and informed especially if you're really doing something boneheaded. If I had humbled myself and sought out real help when I first started with straight razors it would have saved me tons of grief and things blowing up in my face in general. In fact the first and most important thing I learned here was that newly made straights are usually not shave ready. I was under the impression for nearly a year the factory edge was as good as it got! I sure felt silly shaving with that dull razor for so long and not knowing better!

If I could make money off of the boneheaded things I do every day, I would be a zillionaire! Two days ago, I complement a user on his razor pinning. Turns out they were not pins at all but mechanical fasteners. In my defense, the pictures were small. Another example is when I complimented a member on the fine file work he had done on the spine of a razor. Turns out the spine work was done by the manufacturer. There is no emoticon for embarrassment, so just think deep red faced.

I am just as green as you are in the area of straight razors. I am certain I will make many more faux pas as I venture along the road of learning this craft. I do know wood though and the reason for my reply.

Like you, I have mellowed out as time has passed. I now have a good hardy laugh at my miscues and learned to gain experience and knowledge from them.

Randy