Thread: To buff, or not to buff?

So, I'll make this one quick... I found a new Torrey today, and I can't decide whether or not to buff it. It has "Our Beauty" in a sort of frosted-etch on the blade (if I buff it, the etch is history, most likely) However, it also has surface staining and water spots (that would be cleaned off almost as easily as the etch) that I really want to get rid of.

So, if it were your blade, would you want to keep the etch and have a semi-grubby looking blade (I know some of you prefer the aged look, so please take no offense to that term... Just my preference) Or would you rather have a fully polished blade that lost it's etch?

Cheers,
Jeremy

EDIT: Oh right... Pictures... Sorry for the low quality, these were hastily shot

The pictures don't show it well, but that black gunky stuff is also on the Our Beauty etch, but only a bit of it

Keep the etch.

Semichrome, Flitz, or Wenol on a paper towel and I'm done. I don't buff old razors to get them shining like a new dime. I'm with Oliver Cromwell, "Paint me as I am, warts and all."

Thank you both, I think I'll just hit the back of the blade and the spine with Maas, and keep the rest as is.

Gratzie!
Jeremy

I have one of those, and I'm not going to risk MAAS on the lettering. Mine doesn't appear to be an actual etch, but almost like a frost. Soapy water and maybe a light once over with a toothbrush is all mine's going to get.

I'd rather leave the etch if it were my blade

I really like the way it looks now! I wouldn't risk it.

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.

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.