Thread: Ebony wood

Hi all, I'm thinking of eventually getting a higher end razor. How long do ebony handles last? Many razors are over 50 years old--do we find many with ebony handles in good shape, or do they deteriorate with time? How about other natural materials such as ivory, other hardwoods, horn etc? From what I've seen so far I dont see many vintage razors with hardwood, but then again I've only looked once. Thanks.

There's SOME info in the Help Files to the effect that bone and laminated birch are the best materials for scales. Ivory can crack with time, plastic and celluloid can melt and burn sometimes spontaneously at extreme temperatures, etc. Each material has its benefits and drawbacks. I have a little wood fetish so I would lean to the ebony myself. Natural substances for the earth's future and all. I have ebony on all my guitar fingerboards and it has worked superbly for years. The ebony for scales will be properly finished to withstand the moisture of shaving too.

Take care of your razor and you should have no problems.

X

Ebony wood is used in a number of differnt musical instruments and seems lto ast for a long time.
Ray at www.classicshaving.com has some Ebony handles available for sale. I am making handles from a number of different woods for myself right now and the wood handles seem to last a long time. I have three razors with wood handles and only one is bad. But then it was definitely a homemade job and probably had no finish applied.

Which is the best material? I have no idea. They all seem to last longer than the first owner.

xman, you a guitar man?

I made a couple of those, all walnut, neckthrubody, fingerboard and all


The thing about ebony (and rosewood too) is that it contains a lot of oils in it. That makes it such nice material for uses that are around moisture (guitar fingerboards and razor handles). On the guitar fingerboard ebony and rosewood are not finished, they are just polished and for cleaning lemon oil is used. I would love to get my hands on some early '60 or 70 Stratocaster My friend has '72 Strat and, used daily, fingerboard rosewood is in great condition...

For finish on my guitars I use oxydated linseed oil and beeswax.

Thanks for the replies. Looks like my next razor is going to be ebony.

Check into desert ironwood. I bough a set of high-end scales from arizonadesertironwood.com for a pistol. They are not cheap, but durable is an understatement. The other downside (other than price) is that it is hell on tools. Extremely beautiful, stable, self-sealing, and needs no finish. Did I mention that it's hell on tools?




Wayne

Originally Posted by JohnyKwst

Hi all, I'm thinking of eventually getting a higher end razor. How long do ebony handles last? Many razors are over 50 years old--do we find many with ebony handles in good shape, or do they deteriorate with time? How about other natural materials such as ivory, other hardwoods, horn etc? From what I've seen so far I dont see many vintage razors with hardwood, but then again I've only looked once. Thanks.

I recently offered to replaced the scales of a newbie razor gratis. The plan was for the razor to be sent to me as soon as I received the DOVO ebony replacement scales.

Now I've been restoring razors for a few seasons and a new set of scales always carries some risk during the installation. Thus it was with my first attempt. One scale cracked during the tightening finish-phase. "Darn", I thought. "I'm losing my touch."

So away went a second order for DOVO ebony replacement scales. This time, I vowed to be extremely conservative. But despite the finesse gained from a couple hundred previous tightenings and refittings, a scale on the replacement set cracked again.

Then I looked at the DOVO ebony scales themselves closely. I noticed they were much thinner than the ebony scales I have on other razors .... too thin, it would appear. So my advice is don't choose the DOVO ebony replacement scales in your choices.

On a more positive note, I did fit the razor in question with DOVO pakkawood replacement scales on the first try with no problems. They are cut more thickly than were the ebony scales. Don't forget, a couple of other forum members sell newly cut replacement scales and the hardware to install them.

Originally Posted by uthed

I recently offered to replaced the scales of a newbie razor gratis.

That's my Böker David's refering to and I love it. It's my daily shaver and the keeness ruler by which I measure my honing progress. It is definitely a little heavier than the celluloid scales so that may be why DOVO started making them thinner. They must have a machine that fixes them to their blades or something so they don't crack at the shop. Thanks again, David. With the rounded spike this is an awesomely comfortable razor to shave with and beautifully simple with the natural wood scales to boot.

X

Originally Posted by xman

That's my Böker David's refering to and I love it. It's my daily shaver and the keeness ruler by which I measure my honing progress. It is definitely a little heavier than the celluloid scales so that may be why DOVO started making them thinner. They must have a machine that fixes them to their blades or something so they don't crack at the shop. Thanks again, David. With the rounded spike this is an awesomely comfortable razor to shave with and beautifully simple with the natural wood scales to boot.

X

Yeah, they do. You can see it on the DOVO factory visit video, tapping the scales with a hammer...