Thread: What to do, what to do

I've got some old Sheffield steel hanging around;

This big ol W&B wedge





The good new on this big fella is that it shaves like mad, whiskers run from it in abject fear. But... it's partly sanded (some by me, some by it's former owner) and has scales that are cracked/broken. It still holds together with no problem, but stuff like that bugs me.

Question is --- leave it alone? Sand for another 5 or 6 hours? Try to buff out the pitting? Rescale? (I've never done a rescale, but it's coming this week) Punt? Sell it? I can never make real decisions, it's plagued me my whole life.

Then there's this -- Thomas McGivern and Co. -- it looks like the former owner aattacked it with a Dremel (Die, Dremel, Die!). Scales are excellent but the bevel and the spine wear is all over the place. Drives me crazy.





I've been considering stealing the scales from this for the W&B. I'd appreciate any input on these old beasts.

What do you really want to do. All your suggestions are possibles, but you must have some idea of what you're leaning towards? You might make things better............but then again, you might make them worse............

Originally Posted by ben.mid

What do you really want to do. All your suggestions are possibles, but you must have some idea of what you're leaning towards? You might make things better............but then again, you might make them worse............

What I really want is for someone to solve all my problems for me. Then I can avoid responsibility when things inevitably go wrong.

Ah, you should send them out! Part of the challenge is overcoming the problems. You will have them, this being your first go. It's not easy to get good, professional looking results. Even some of the professionals struggle!

I can make all your razor problems disappear; just bring all your razors by my place, and you'll never have to worry about them again!

Seriously, though:
On the first one, I'd leave her as is until you get to a point when you think the scales are unsafe. Then I'd take the whole thing apart, do the cleaning, and rescale her. That's because I'd rather do the cleaning when she's out of her scales and get it all done at once, but I'd want to save the original scales as long as possible.

On the second one... I'd just leave her as is. I think it would take a regrind to address the uneven wear, and since it's just cosmetic, I don't think it's worth it.

I have a W&B very like your Sheffield #1 -- only worse! Pits about the same, but devil spit has blackened it everywhere except the spine and bevel. One of my best razors for shaving, though, and I'm very fond of it as is. Wouldn't think of "restoring" it. It's earned its scars.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I can make all your razor problems disappear; just bring all your razors by my place, and you'll never have to worry about them again!

Seriously, though:
On the first one, I'd leave her as is until you get to a point when you think the scales are unsafe. Then I'd take the whole thing apart, do the cleaning, and rescale her. That's because I'd rather do the cleaning when she's out of her scales and get it all done at once, but I'd want to save the original scales as long as possible.

On the second one... I'd just leave her as is. I think it would take a regrind to address the uneven wear, and since it's just cosmetic, I don't think it's worth it.

Here ya go! I like to keep my vintage razors as original as possible, I think it adds to their charm, I have a bunch of them with their own unique personality traits and we all get along just fine!