Thread: What's else can I do?

Hi team - have just been going through the collection this morning oiling, cleaning etc - and have noticed something disturbing on my beautiful Carl Rader 5/8.

This razor has an elaborate deep blade etch on the face, filled with blue enamel and gold. Whether the gold is indeed gold I'm not sure - its definitely thicker than gold wash.

All my razors not in use are coated with renaissance wax and stored in their own coffins with a desiccant pack inside a large air tight storage case with two 100 gram desiccant cans (overkill? ;-)

Anyway as you can see the gold around the words 'Carl Rader' has started to come off! Has anyone else had this problem with painted/filled etches? Could the renaissance wax be deteriorating the fill? (the blue area is fine btw). Has anyone successfully refilled such an etch?

Any info would be appreciated.

Cheers!

Beautiful razor sorry to see the wear. And sorry I don't have any suggestions for you.

Disappearing gold is par for the course. You can temporarily touch it up with gold leaf paint products.
This is the brand I've used in the past:
Brush'n Leaf Metallic Leafing Paint : Over the Rainbow - Polymer Clay, Jewellery and Beading Supplies

Thanks Os will visit an art shop here and see what they have. I've just drawn a needle over some of the remaining gold, it seems almost 'tacky' like half dry enamel - makes me wonder if the evaporating solvents in renaissance wax have softened the old paint...

I really can't see ren doing that. The stuff was designed to keep from interfering with the item it is put on. It was originally designed for museums.
I would contact them and ask. They would know.

Originally Posted by EisenFaust

Thanks Os will visit an art shop here and see what they have. I've just drawn a needle over some of the remaining gold, it seems almost 'tacky' like half dry enamel - makes me wonder if the evaporating solvents in renaissance wax have softened the old paint...

That stuff I used 90% disappears after 12 months so like I said, is temporary.