Thread: To buff, or not to buff?

Originally Posted by Scipio

Depends if you want a shaver or a looker. If it would compromise the etch or frosting, I would leave as is. Not that it doesn't already look like an awesome razor. Now the scales on the other hand deserve a nice buffing, and some neatsfoot oil as a treat. They, as you know, would come out beautifully. Would make all the difference.

I've just finished it on the 12k, with only general cleanup. Kept the etch (which, as Dylan noted, is really more a frost than an etch) and cleaned it up pretty well. However, the scales can't really do much... They look like horn, but they're actually Bakelite. The back scale is black, the front one is brown-ish (isn't that what happens when Bakelite gets heated? Turns brown? Can't recall)

I'll buff them, but that's about it.

If part of the scales are turning brown, could very well be vulcanite (rubber). It's tough, durable, decent-looking stuff ( I like my tires made of it) but exposure to some UV light band turns it brown. It's tough to get it black again, though scrubbing with Fantastic helps sometimes. It buffs pretty easy too, try a little tripoli and almost no pressure.

Oh God, I just Googled "vulcanite" ... the Amazon result is going to keep me awake nights.

Originally Posted by stimpy52

Oh God, I just Googled "vulcanite" ... the Amazon result is going to keep me awake nights.

OH GOD, WHY DID YOU SHARE THAT!?

Originally Posted by ShavedZombie

OH GOD, WHY DID YOU SHARE THAT!?

If all your friends were jumping off a cliff, would you do it? You know you wanted to see. Now live with the grim consequences.

Well what happens when you say "Oh, and don't look behind this door!" ?

Everyone in the room wants to know what's behind it then!

I'm going to go wash that image out of my mind with bleach >.>

I feel like I accomplished something today.

Originally Posted by stimpy52

I feel like I accomplished something today.

Dude! You've just won the Straightrazorplace title of the day:

Derrier douche discovery dude!

I just hope this never comes up again. Nobody really reads this stuff, right?

I have had some success with buffing discolored scales that I knew were supposed to be black but weren't. Not sure what the scale material was, but buffing worked. If you are going to try it, go slow, because there is no telling (unless you have lots of experience with identification and buffing scales) what they might do.

Also, I got the toothbrush idea from CarrieM.

For you Amazon people - at least it says it's comfortable.