What do I use to Clean & Polish?

Received a razor today from Whipped Dog that was one of his sight unseen razors. Wasn't sure what to expect but it appears to be in nice shape and in line with what is advertised on his web site. "Straight razor blades might not look elegant. But, the shaving edge is of the highest quality." I'll find out in a few minutes how it shaves.

I read some previous post that lead me to believe that all the blade may need is some light sanding and a little polishing. Problem is, I don't know what to get for sanding or polishing. First try at cleaning and polishing so could use a little help here please.

Labeled -
THE TORREY RAZOR CO.
WORCESTER, MASS.
U.S.A.

I'm new to this but will explore posting pictures tomorrow.

If this is your first razor I would recommend just shaving with it for a while. Any sanding will damage the edge and it will need to be honed again. pictures of a blade will be helpful.

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Originally Posted by BeJay

If this is your first razor I would recommend just shaving with it for a while. Any sanding will damage the edge and it will need to be honed again. pictures of a blade will be helpful.

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Actually have a Cutlery World I was given in the late '80s and have been using that, a Boker and a Ralf Aust for the past 6 months. I will shave with it for a while before doing any cleaning. Just looking to the future.

Gotcha. Once you get some pics up we’ll be able to point you in the right direction. Different blades require different techniques.

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Originally Posted by Diboll

Actually have a Cutlery World I was given in the late '80s and have been using that, a Boker and a Ralf Aust for the past 6 months. I will shave with it for a while before doing any cleaning. Just looking to the future.

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There is a wealth of info in the Library section. Browse the "Repairing and restoring straight razors" and if this link works you can read a bit about basic resto work by hand including discussion on materials needed: Hand sanding a blade - Shave Library

'Tis a good starting point.

For basic work MAAS and ultra fine wire wool works wonders. Bare in mind that you might have to re hone if you are not careful even with just polishing.

Once you start sanding and polishing it's going to need to be honed again.

I would wait until it needs to be re-honed to do any restorative work. You could carefully attempt to polish it (cotton swab with polish perhaps), but sanding will surely ruin the perfect edge that it should have now. I always dull the edge of a blade before doing any restoration and may dull it several times as the sanding can actually create a sharp edge unintentionally. Running the edge across glass, lightly, is all that is required to lessen the chance of cutting myself (though careful attention is still required).

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Originally Posted by Diboll

Received a razor today
.......
I read some previous post that lead me to believe that all the blade may need is some light sanding and a little polishing. Problem is, I don't know what to get for sanding or polishing. First try at cleaning and polishing so could use a little help here please.
.....

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Good I see you plan to shave with it for a while.

Over the next couple months you can shop for something to tidy the razor up.
Pictures will help help guide you.

Four aught (0000) steel wool.
Hubcap polish.
Old tooth brush...
WD40
3M wet dry sand paper (8000 if you can find it).

My rescue strategy begins with 8000 3M wet dry and scrubbing with a toothbrush and Bar Keepers Friend cleanser.
Bar Keepers Friend has a bit of oxalic acid in it and it can react with black and red rust
and get to metal below with minimum abrasion. RINSE well, then spritz with WD40 to
displace the water. Then lightly oil...

A minimum of sanding will let you see what is needed next and will allow cleaning for sanitary reasons.

Then hone and enjoy the shave.

Hand sanding with a pinch of fine 3M goes a long way...
Then I switch to a polish.

I wouldn't begin to make a recommendation without seeing a picture of the thing.

it might just need a cape cod polishing cloth or it might need "The kitchen sink".

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Originally Posted by niftyshaving

Over the next couple months you can shop for something to tidy the razor up.
Pictures will help help guide you.

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Getting worse by the minute! Now looks line I need to buy Camera, lighting equipment, special lenses, tripod, other miscellaneous photography equipment and take some classes.

Tried to take some pictures this afternoon but after looking at some of the photography skills displayed on the forum I feel grossly inadequate. I'll give it another shot tomorrow.

Just found this thread from 06-01-2009. Time to study.
How do you's guys do your photos?

I just use my phones camera. Try to crop with the program in the phone and call it good. You can go all out if you want but im just not going to go that route. Its not too tough.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I wouldn't begin to make a recommendation without seeing a picture of the thing.

it might just need a cape cod polishing cloth or it might need "The kitchen sink".

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Yes what he said...

Lol, no need to worry about poor photo quality. Most all of mine are bad :) between shaking and my phone telling me to hold still and bad lighting I'm not winning any National Geographic awards any time soon.

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Hopefully I've been able to attach pictures per several requests. Feel great that they actually posted. Don't want to push my luck with orientation. Y'all should be able to rotate them in your mind if necessary.

Id just give it a little polishing. Maybe some steal wool on the spine and lots of polish to work out any scratches. Then hone it up. Its not a bad looking razor. Its not on the top of the shelf of wanted razors but in good enough shape id put it to good use without too much work. JMO.

I wouldn't compromise a freshly honed edge by trying to polish it now.
Using it to learn to shave with is way more important than making it pretty at this stage of the game.
More razors and restoration projects will come soon enough.

Pete <:-}

Yep! What Pete said. I forgot this was a honed razor. Wait on polishing as the smallest mistake when polishing and your back to having to have it honed again.