Thread: Ruined my first razor.

I could not grind off the high spot on the heel of the spine it was riding the tang and scraping on the stones edge. I needed a dremel and a lower grit stone. I got frustrated tired and sloppy from the 1000 girt being so laborious and messed it up. Took too much metal off the toe trying to switch up my approach. I failed by deviating from what I knew needed to be done, having the right tools and patience was essential and I failed on that also. 5 hours of honing later got a few tiny insignificant cuts and feel like I learned some valuable lessons that will make my next projects more successful. I am now in the market for a dremel, 220 grit and 400 grit stone XD Its going to be a long road ahead but man does time fly when your honing. Going to start trying to fix gold dollars instead of ruining vintage razors that were abused and too complex for my skill level to fix. Now the next order of business is to somehow get more money to buy all of this stuff!

Thanks to everybody who gave me advice you were right and gave me the winning plan to fix it but ultimately I lacked the tools and patience to execute it.

Look forward to getting chewed up about ruining the razor jkjkk =]
EDIT* Big thanks to Shaun for being so generous with his advice and guidance! Thank you Shaun!

-Brandon

To error is human. Its weather you learn from your mistakes.

I destroyed my very first razor, in attempt to restore it to a like new appearance. Sanded so much the blade was like foil.

I was directed to this forum, to learn the proper way to restore razors. I got more help than anticipated, way more.

In return I did what I could, by helping others.
We call it....paying it forward. Soon after I was contacted and asked if I'd like to become a mentor for my area, I'm still here and continuously helping when I can

Don't worry about that razor, there's plenty more to learn from. Its still early in the game for you.

I have two vintage razors with cracks I put into them by honing with too much pressure. Like you, I lost patience and tried to short cut my way to fixing the edge by using brute force. Seldom works.

On the good side, I’m planning out the process for turning them into shorties. They’ll still be vintage and they will be in my rotation, they’ll just be somewhat shorter than their brothers and sisters.

You have a positive attitude and clear-eyed reflection on your own work that will stand you in good stead for your journey into restoring razors. Keep at it.

Working over worn razors is possible.
However, keep in mind that they will never regain their original geometry.

If it seems like you are trying to make a fine razor from 1/2 of the original, that is it.
Honing a chunk of steel.

Much better to search out nice examples to learn with.
One razor with the proper shape and condition is worth 10 honed-out clunkers any day. JMHO

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Working over worn razors is possible.
However, keep in mind that they will never regain their original geometry.

If it seems like you are trying to make a fine razor from 1/2 of the original, that is it.
Honing a chunk of steel.

Much better to search out nice examples to learn with.
One razor with the proper shape and condition is worth 10 honed-out clunkers any day. JMHO

The razor had hone ware in the completely wrong place to begin with.... it was ruined when I received the razor in my opinion, but hey at least i tried. The gentleman who sold it to me gave me my money back because it didn't come shave ready and he said to keep it so it's not that big of a deal. I had a lot of fun failing on this razor! I LOVE RAZORS so much, had a blast with my new stones honestly. I want more blades in bulk! gold dollars rusty ebay blades with no scales, bring it on. Lets hope I can get them cheap!

Thank you for your kind words of consolation fellas! I feel I am at home with my new found passion and hobby!

You need to realize that not everyone honed their razors. Some pasted a strop and beat on them for years.
That irregular wide, and rounded bevel is a sure sign. Hard to fix them. Some may be through the temper as well.
Fun to attempt, no doubt. We need easy success on occasion with which to shave the face, though!

Ambition is a good thing...well bridled. I too, like others have mentioned, was more ambitious than my skills allowed and ruined a blade or two. Learn as much as you can and those outcomes will diminish.

A long time ago someone said something like great restorations start at the purchase.
A great candidate for restoration makes for a great restoration.

Originally Posted by RezDog

A long time ago someone said something like great restorations start at the purchase.
A great candidate for restoration makes for a great restoration.

Definitly did not know what I was doing when i bought that first one. And still don't, but i know to look for excessive hone ware now..