First eBay purchase - now what?

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12-14-2009, 12:29 AM
BingoBango

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First eBay purchase - now what?

I just bought my first "ebay razor" and don't really know what I should/shouldn't do before I start shaving with it. It's a 5/8 round point. Blue Steel Bengall. It looks like the tang used to be blued and some of it's been polished off. Attached are photos. FYI -the back of the tang says:
Hoffritz N.Y.
Sheffield England

To me, the razor looks like it's just been "out of practice" for a little while. There's no rust, pitting or corrosion on the blade. It closes properly. The pivot pin is tight. (Maybe a little too tight.) And the edge looks just fine to the naked eye. There's a little grime in the pivot area and so far I've rubbed a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol over the blade and the scales and a lot of dirt came off. I've done a TPT and I'm definitely feeling some stickiness when I go with the edge. And it shaved a bit of arm hair.

I'm guessing I just want to clean this thing up and see if the edge shaves well. I was planning on using some Maas Polish on a rag, then soak it rubbing alcohol to disinfect it. I've never used Maas or cleaned up a razor, so any tips would be awesome.

I have no hones or special pastes. All I have is the Filly strop from RupRazor which has CrO on the back. Maybe do a couple of passes on that, then a long stropping? Is that it? I could just be over-thinking this...
12-14-2009, 12:32 AM
Scipio

CRO aint gona help you with the edge on that. Send it to a honemeister, located in the classifieds and he should make it shave ready for you.

That needs to be honed aggressively and polished to perfection - the full sequence, before you can put it anywhere near a strop.
12-14-2009, 02:12 AM
IanS

It's possible it only needs stropped.

On the other hand I've bought 20+ eBay razors and not one of them had a shave-ready edge on it... so it's unlikely.

As suggested, you'll probably need to send it out for honing.
12-14-2009, 02:16 AM
red96ta

+1 on having it honed...save yourself a bit of trouble.

Having said that, I HAVE bought antique store razors that were brought back using a couple passes of crox and a strop...just as sharp as they were 100 years ago. Usually, my field test to see if they can be brought back quickly is to hover the razor above the skin and move it along the top of your arm hair. If the hair falls off, you might be close.
12-14-2009, 07:07 AM
hothotpot

Nice pick. i also bid for this ...
12-14-2009, 08:33 AM
onimaru55

Quote:

Originally Posted by BingoBango

I've never used Maas or cleaned up a razor, so any tips would be awesome.

I have no hones or special pastes. All I have is the Filly strop from RupRazor which has CrO on the back. Maybe do a couple of passes on that, then a long stropping? Is that it? I could just be over-thinking this...

Tip 1. Be very careful of the edge if using metal polish. You can easily dull the edge.
Tip 2. Get it honed anyway. Odds are high its not shave ready.

btw Congrats, Bengalls can be exceptional razors :)
12-14-2009, 11:27 AM
Scipio

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanS

It's possible it only needs stropped.

On the other hand I've bought 20+ eBay razors and not one of them had a shave-ready edge on it... so it's unlikely.

As suggested, you'll probably need to send it out for honing.

Are you kidding!? Take a look at that edge, its full of tiny chips. That would likely damage a strop!
12-14-2009, 11:46 AM
wireless00

Are those really chips in thee blade or does it just look that way due to laying on the material? Let's start there then move onto possible solutions.
12-14-2009, 02:26 PM
BingoBango

Quote:

Originally Posted by wireless00

Are those really chips in thee blade or does it just look that way due to laying on the material? Let's start there then move onto possible solutions.

I don't see anything wrong with the edge with the naked eye. My Dovo is shave ready, and when I do comparison TPTs, the Bengall seems to have a dull area about a 1/3 in from the toe. I'll probably send it in for honing just to be sure. This does make me want to learn how to hone, though. I'm getting impatient to try this baby out!

The two things I wanted to cover:
1 - getting a shave ready edge. Solution: Send it for honing seems to be the consensus.
2 - Clean it up so it looks and feels as close to new as possible. Solution: Maas polish (staying away from the edge), rinse, quick soak in alcohol to kill any germs, lube the pins with oil.

Of course, I still welcome any other tips.

Thanks for everyone's help! HTH others who bought something of the Bay and want to know where to start.

PS to hothotpot: If it makes you feel any better, I got out bid at the last minute on another razor. Some guy swooped in with under a minute left... :(
12-14-2009, 02:28 PM
mainaman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scipio

Are you kidding!? Take a look at that edge, its full of tiny chips. That would likely damage a strop!

I am sorry but I do not see ships on the blade.
I bet its not shave ready though
12-14-2009, 02:31 PM
Slartibartfast

Blade looks like it is going to need a lot of work looking at the edge pic. Unless there is just some strangeness in the photo messing with me.
12-14-2009, 02:59 PM
MisterLewisR

I think that the texture of the fabric upon which the razor rests is creating some fuzzy shadows and the illusion that the razor's edge is chipped or uneven. The razor looks quite nice, edge included, in the first picture where it is standing on end. Most people, beginner or not, would know right off the bat that a razor with a chipped blade needs some serious attention before it will shave properly.
12-14-2009, 06:39 PM
IanS

Yes, as others have said. At first glance it looks like there are chips but looking closer it seems that it's just the fabrics texture obscuring the edge.
12-14-2009, 08:03 PM
niftyshaving

Quote:

Originally Posted by BingoBango

.......

The two things I wanted to cover:
1 - getting a shave ready edge. Solution: Send it for honing seems to be the consensus.
2 - Clean it up so it looks and feels as close to new as possible. Solution: Maas polish (staying away from the edge), rinse, quick soak in alcohol to kill any germs, lube the pins with oil.

Of course, I still welcome any other tips.
..............

Just not in that order.
Clean it up and polish it with Maas or what ever first
then send it out.

Or ask if the honemaster is willing to do both for you
and for how much extra.

As others indicated the clean up process can dull the edge.
12-14-2009, 08:11 PM
15straightrazor

Deffinatly looks like it needs to go to a professional.
12-14-2009, 08:55 PM
Koji

Quote:

Originally Posted by BingoBango

PS to hothotpot: If it makes you feel any better, I got out bid at the last minute on another razor. Some guy swooped in with under a minute left... :(

Was it a Bengall as well ?
12-14-2009, 09:03 PM
BingoBango

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koji

Was it a Bengall as well ?

No if I remember correctly it was a Sheffield with Tortoise shell scales.
12-14-2009, 11:21 PM
Koji

Ah ok , because i also snagged up a really nice Bengall in the last few seconds . Didn't want to start off on the wrong foot with anyone here . But then again , if he really wanted it then he should have placed a higher max bid :w
12-14-2009, 11:26 PM
treydampier

If you want it honed, I'll do it free. The blade appears to be in good condition and most Bengal razors I have honed worked well. PM me if your interested.
It will make a great shaver.