Thread: Santa came!

My Aunt sent me my grandfathers straights for Xmas. 2 straights and a hone. My Aunt thinks there were 2 more straights and a strop but she didn't find them, this last visit up to the old homestead. He died over 30 years ago and it has all been sitting in their old place up in the mountains of BC so I was not expecting them to be in nearly as good shape as they are. However they appear to just need a touching up honing to get started. The one on the top is a Boker King Cutter and the one on the bottom is a Sanssouci. The hone is a Pike Koenig.

The scales on the sanssouci are a little warped and I will have to think about best way to repair them. Ill post pics later on. I was thinking probably the best way would be to remove the scales and place them on something very flat slowly turning up the heat in the oven till the plastic gets a bit soft and they flatten out. Does that sound like practical plan to anyone?

They look to be in great shape!!, my brother sent me a Dixons Cutlery Co. straight for Christmas, says Magnetic Steel on the blade.

What a terrific piece of family history!! Thanks for sharing I would be very careful about modifying anything, you don't want to mess it up...

You are lucky to have such good heirlooms to shave with, congrats and enjoy.

I would do some searching on here to get an idea of how to go about straightening warped scales. I would not stick them in an oven. I have been able to straighten some scales without unpinning them using a hair dryer and popsicle sticks/tongue depressors. If you read up on there are a few different ways to go about it. Keep in mind too that when you unpin and repin scales you take a chance on bunging them up.

Anyway get them honed and shaving.

Bob

From personal experience I would replace the scales on that Sanssouci razor. I had one with the same scales and they had developed cell rot which was causing pitting on the blade so it was replace the scales or loose the blade. That inlay can be transferred from those scales to new acrylic scales, which is what I did to mine. I know it would be more sentimental leaving it alone with just doing some cleaning but in your case it would be considered preserving a family heirloom.........

Those should clean up very nicely!

There are a few threads on here about fixing warped scales, I've fixed some by dipping them in boiling water for a few seconds, bending them straight and setting them under cold water (this only works for plastic or man made materials I think). For family heirlooms I would probably send it out to get it done by a pro.

Nothing shaves like an heirloom razor. I would hold off on doing anything with that razor until you have had a little practice with less important razors, or send it to an experienced member for some servicing. The scales appear to be faux tortoise which is prone to failure. If you are going to r&r those scales an idea might be some nice acrylic tortoise scales. It will look very similar and not off gas and ruin your blade. Nice, no, really nice gift from your aunt.

Originally Posted by rodb

Those should clean up very nicely!

There are a few threads on here about fixing warped scales, I've fixed some by dipping them in boiling water for a few seconds, bending them straight and setting them under cold water (this only works for plastic or man made materials I think). For family heirlooms I would probably send it out to get it done by a pro.

Yes I already decided that whatever I do to the scales will be tried on something of no personal value to myself first, and second and third etc.. until I am confidant I can do it right

Originally Posted by DoughBoy68

From personal experience I would replace the scales on that Sanssouci razor. I had one with the same scales and they had developed cell rot which was causing pitting on the blade so it was replace the scales or loose the blade. That inlay can be transferred from those scales to new acrylic scales, which is what I did to mine. I know it would be more sentimental leaving it alone with just doing some cleaning but in your case it would be considered preserving a family heirloom.........

I have no clue how to do inlay but should I ever figure that out I think it could be a viable option. Regardless of what I do I will NOT rush into doing anything. Those scales of yours do look good!

Here you can see the warping