Thread: Not so nice... but MINE!

LOL.

OK, the pics are slightly too large for uploading here, so I'll just post the links.
These aren't even CLOSE to "nice" - especially considering all of the exceptional razors I've seen here. But, they're my first straights, and I like 'em!!
Anyway, the rust is pretty much all surface rust, and there's no pitting that I can see.
Plus, I only paid $15 each! Anyway, enough with the excuses for my dirty examples, on with the pictures...

http://www.naturallynakedphotography...deShank1-s.JPG
http://www.naturallynakedphotography...kDiamond-s.JPG
http://www.naturallynakedphotography...ond-back-s.JPG
http://www.naturallynakedphotography...ndShank1-s.JPG
http://www.naturallynakedphotography...ndShank2-s.JPG
http://www.naturallynakedphotography...BRShank1-s.JPG
http://www.naturallynakedphotography...BRShank2-s.JPG
http://www.naturallynakedphotography...ed/GEBR1-s.JPG
http://www.naturallynakedphotography...ed/GEBR2-s.JPG
http://www.naturallynakedphotography...eButcher-s.JPG
http://www.naturallynakedphotography...deClosed-s.JPG

Oh, any help identifying any of them would be cool too!

Thanks for looking (don't laugh too hard)

Of course they are all vintage razors which in their day were quality razors. A few of them look OK and a few look like they are ready for the scrap heap and a couple look like they can be salvaged. I don't think its a job for someone starting out. If you have experience in this some are ok but since you bought all these I have to assume you don't have experience otherwise you wouldn't have spent the money you did on them. I don't want to make you feel bad about it but my advice is buy from the guys here and you'll do alot better.

Maybe Bruno can chime in here he's our resident razor restorer for lost causes.

"all these" = 3 razors. It's just different angles/close-ups of the same 3.

As the post says, I know they're not anything to put on display. I'm likely going to mangle at least one of them just learning to hone anyway!

For $40 for all 3, I'm happy to have something to play around with doing the "Air Razor", and cleaning up, and practicing honing before I got a "real" razor.

I don't feel bad at all. I truly appreciate the input. My plan is definitely to purchase one here pretty soon.

The Fermarud doesn't look too bad... The W&B could be saved, too. Use the third one to learn

I myself would not have paid more than 15 for all three, but I have many razors and am picky

Good luck
Ivo

Well the $$ doesn't matter now, it's what to do with them now that you have them. Personally I think you got some good pieces to really learn restoration on. These are rough but not dead and you can practice cleaning them up and honing with out worry. And hey, if the shave well you worked out the issues...

Thanks for the input guys! To be quite honest with you, I've gone over them a few times after reading all day here yesterday, and I can't really tell any significant difference between the blades of any of them - ok, the "Black Diamond" does have a bit of a frown.
Obviously, different pictures with different angles, and different lighting/flash/etc will all show different things, and often those things will not be a true life representation of what is there.
Are they better than the pictures indicate, or worse? I have no idea!!! LOL. I'm too new.
There is no pitting in any of them, and I think any of them could be brought up to shave ready. Like I said earlier, I'm still quite happy with them. I did very minor research before making the purchase, and had no idea what an old razor would cost. $15 sounded reasonable - plus, she ended up giving them to me for $12.50 each. Anyway, I really look forward to using them (even if it's not on my face!), and am glad to have the help, advice, and input you guys have to offer here!!

Ok the Wade & Butcher looks decent enough to put some effort in.
The german one with the white scales is the best of the bunch. It looks like a 4/8 that only needs minor work to get it usable.

The one with the translucent orange scales is only good for honing practise.
It is probably a 5/8 but the edge is chewed up, and it has a lot of hone wear.
since it is a hollow ground razor, there is little you can do about the honewear.
Don't get me wrong. with enough time and effort it could be saved, but trust me when I say that it won't be easy or quick.

Here is what I'd do with the 2 worth saving:
1) verify that the blade is straight. if it is warped, chuck it in the bin.
2) take off the scales. file the pinheades flat and use a small drill to drill away the rest of the head.
3) sand the blade. start with a 400 grit paper. if that is not coarse enough, go systematically lower until you get progress. Then go up in grit size to at least a 1000. You can use a dremel for sanding, but others are better qualified to explain that process. I handsand everything, and when I go the the next grit I change the sanding direction. first I go from heel to toe. then with the next grit I go from spine to edge. then the next one from heel to toe. this way you get a shiny mirror surface. If you go the handsanding route, be prepared to spend a good 10-20 hours on sanding alone.
4) polish the blade. you can do this with a dremel and a felt wheel and some polishing compound. or if you have a natural high grit waterstone like a belgian yellow or blue, you can polish manually with a wet cloth and slurry from the stone.
5) make scales or have someone make them for you and put them one. several people here can make scales, but if I had to recommend someone it would be 'C utz', 'Toxic' or 'Joe Chandler'. all are craftsmen.
6) hone it or have someone here hone it for you. If you hone it yourself, be sure to practise on a throwaway blade first.

EDIT: to thebigspendur: those razors look mint compared to what I am working on now. One blade had large pits that were so deep that they would have been all the way through on a hollow ground. the only reason I want to finish it is that I have spent so many hours handsanding that I can't stop now.
And the other was so damaged and rusted that it is not hollow but bulbous . even a pie shaped wedge lies flat on a surface, but this one actually rolls from spine to edge (once the rust and rot was gone of course). I've never seen anything like it. It is a 7/8 Greaves and son.

EDIT2: Of course I made 'before' pics so when they are ready they will be shown in the restoration thread. Not that it will be anytime soon...

Originally Posted by Bruno

Ok the Wade & Butcher looks decent enough to put some effort in... *plus lots of other good info*

Thanks much!!! I think I will try it all out on the W&B. Alan made me an offer I couldn't refuse to hone one of them for me so I can get started shaving - I'm sending him the white one today.

Thanks for the great tips!! If I get anything close to a halfway decent shine on the W&B, I'll be sure to post pics, and keep everyone informed!!

I was actually able to take hair off of my face with this one tonight after a good stropping. It was only WTG, but it wasn't too rough. There's hope yet!!