Thread: Rookie here. Check out my microtome!

Hello there!

My name is Dirk. The other day, I picked up this amazing razor for a grand total of $5.00 from my university's surplus sales store. I have recently become obsessed with the idea of shaving with it. After doing some reading of past threads on this site, it seems to be a lot of work to make happen.

That being said, I have absolutely fallen in love with this microtome. I think the handle is made of ebony, and that it dates from +/- 10 years of the turn of the 20th century.

I tried e-mailing Mr. Addelman to get a quote (thanks for the quick response, if you're reading this!) and was informed that he doesn't do restorations at the moment.

I currently shave with an old Gillette Aristocrat, and would like to graduate to the big leagues.

Here's are some ideas of what I wanted to do with this blade:

1) Have it either buffed or nickel-electroplated, as required.
2) Have it honed and made as shave-ready as possible
3) Have the handle cleaned up with either some sort of goo-be-gone or sanded

Am I crazy? Can anyone on this excellent website perform these services or recommend someone who can?

Anyway, nice to meet you all. Enjoy the pics and feel free to ask questions. Thanks!

-Dirk

Here is a link to some very qualified guys to do this work for you: Member Services - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

That is an awesome piece to pick up and by a brand I never would have expected! Very cool!!! Welcome to the forums and I hope you get that bad boy up and running soon!

Welcome to SRP!
Make sure you check out the Beginner's section in the library and feel free to ask questions.

That should clean and hone up nicely.
Note that as a microtome it will only shave on the beveled side of the blade.

I've got one like that at work somewhere that has an inventory date on it when it was bought. I'll see what year it was to help maybe narrow down the date.

Hi and welcome. Have seen posts previously of people using microtomes for shaving. Apparently similar to using a kamisori. Good luck getting it restored and shave ready

The ones that I have at work that look like that and are in the same case were purchased new in 1903.
IIRC, the ones after 1910 had 3 stars to the right of Bausch and Lomb.
Also, the blade may or may not unscrew from the handle to make honing easier.
The honing guide with mine says to hone at a 30 degree angle or preferably to put a honing guide on it. Unlike a straight razor, the microtomes do not have spine that directs the honing. You can make a honing guide by slitting a piece of brass tubing.

Originally Posted by criswilson10

That should clean and hone up nicely.
Note that as a microtome it will only shave on the beveled side of the blade.

Use tape and you can hone both sides. Shaves in the regular fashion although since the blade is asymmetrical, adjusting the blade angle on the face when shaving with each side gives a nicer shave. I used to fanny around with one layer of tape on the concave side and 5 layers on the unground side but now I just whack three layers of tape over both sides like a normal razor, hone, strop and shave like a normal razor - the unground side does get quite a wide bevel but it doesn't effect its shave.

With all this said, the handle might present an interesting shaving experience!

To clean it up, 1k and 2.5k micromesh abrasive paper would work for the blade nicely, if you wanted to make it shiny. Not so sure on the handle since my experience runs to horn and bone so far but no doubt others can help there!

Or, finish it like a microtome, flat on gently curved side and bevel set on the curved side. I have one and also Kamisori so they are not any different except adjusting the shaving blade angle to face from side to side. I would suggest learning to shave from a mentor or experienced shaver prior to trying to shave with it after renewal.
There are a lot of shaving folks in WI so you could PM one near you when you see their city. Some one may respond.
and
Local Help - Straight Razor Place Library
Have fun, it has just begun!
~Richard
PS Best to go by the post count and common suggestions on replies.

Wow, thanks to all for the information and help! I will definitely be looking further into this restoration/hone job. I really appreciate the warm welcome!

-Dirk

Welcome to the forum Dirk. Do not worry about the chip it can be resolved easily. You have gotten some good advice from the members and there will be more. Just ignore the negative remarks. Enjoy.

Dirk,

Bob is spot on about resolving the chip problem. Yes, you have an interesting find, and I'm sure some of our experts will join the conversation with additional advice to what you already have received. As for the negative and sarcastic remarks in this thread, I deleted them, because such inappropriate responses have no place here. By the way, welcome to Straight Razor Place. We will help you as best we can.