Thread: Unpacked my shaving stuff after 5 years. Advice / info needed on razors

I havent been on the board much for about 6 years. Over the last 5 years it was one thing after another that kept me from shaving with anything other than a trimmer from time to time. I have finally finished grad school and my full time job has changed slightly allowing me to work normal hours most of the time. After living in pajamas for literally 3 years of working from home and sleeping only a few hours a night I am determined to try and join society again...sort of lol. I've been getting dressed every day for work and sleeping on a regular schedule for 2 weeks now, even though work is still just a walk downstairs. I've found that anything which slows me down incredibly soothing and relaxing over the last year. I've moved from typing my meeting notes to writing them again in an effort to slow down and I think that a nice shave in the morning will really help me as well.

Uncivilized Josh: (this WAS me about as clean shaven as I got during my work and grad school days)


Civilized Josh (BTW, that is a real Rembrandt above the fireplace...obviously not my house lol)


All of that said, I've been here before, convinced I was going to start SR shaving again, but this time I'm going to invest a few dollars into it to make sure I follow through. I know that once I get a real shave again I will be hooked, which is convenient since a few of my razors need some restoration work. However, I'm unsure which to start with, what would be hardest to replace if lost in the mail (besides my custom razor), which should be babied with kid gloves and lastly which (if any) may only need a cleaning with something like fine steel wool, vs an actual restoration?

I have a very small and modest collection compared to many, but I'm emotionally attached to each and everything I have. I'm also a bit in dismay over the condition of some of my stuff, mostly because I'm an idiot.

In the below photo is most of my shaving stuff.
A few details are included for each item. I've started another thread asking for people who hone and are located near me, so I don't want to re-hash that. I'm more concerned about how to get stuff back into shaving condition and who is still on the forums that provides these services if I can't do it myself. I am totally out of touch with who is still on or not on the forums since I was active in 2006.

Accessories
Tony Miller custom heirloom strop: 4" x 30" of usable area. Either the leather stretched, or more likely the canvas shrunk through being stored in a box in the bathroom where the temperature and humidity changed with each shower. The leather won't pull taught anymore because the canvas won't stretch that far. I've contacted Tony to see if he can do any repair work on it. I'm not sure if he is still in business or not, but I assume from the website that he is.

Kent BK8 shaving brush: In good condition, but feels stiff. I think that there is a brush cleaning solution or powder out there, but I cant remember what it is called?
S. Neighbor hand painted mug: In perfect condition thankfully.

Razors (left to right): All stored in a low humidity gun safe and well oiled before storage, but time and lack of attention still impacted them a bit
12/8 Bill Ellis custom: The liner has separated in areas from the scales. We knew this was a possibility when making this, as it was a prototype and a tough build. They need to be re-glued. I've contacted Bill twice in the past few years for this and never sent it to him and feel bad asking again. The razor is perfectly usable and needs a good honing.

9/8 Marsh Brothers Pondworks Sheffield: I don't remember much about this one. The scales are bone and say Robert Williams on them. Has some light pitting / oxydation especially on the spine and wondering if its worth sending out to be restored by someone, or should I try to lightly sand it with fine steel wool myself?

8/8 Joseph Smith and Sons Celebrated Razor 3415: I don't remember what the scales are made of or who rescaled it. This one is in great condition, other than the beginnings of some very light oxidation on the spine. Definitely needs honing.

7/8 Bill Ellis restored Joseph Smith and Sons: inscribed with "Cutlers to Their Majesties No6 Norfolk Street Sheffield". Dessert Ironwood scales: This shows some light pitting and a tiny bit of rust in one spot. Needs to be honed.

8/8 Henkels Friodur INOX No Stain: Purchased NOS. Scales made by Gary (garythepenman). Perfect condition, but needs honing

8/8 Henkels Friodur INOX No Stain: Purchased NOS from John Crowley for my last shave as a free the morning of my wedding. It is off center when it closes and hits the scales. Also needs to be honed.

I was just using my knife for a sense of scale, which didn't really work that well, so you can ignore that.

I love your razors and glad ur getting time now to get back in the swing of things

Welcome back Josh - good to see you here again mate

There are a few more people in the honing and restoration game than back in 2006! Of course it depends what you want done and how quickly you'd like it done, but rather than single anyone out in particular I would suggest you take a look at the Workshop forum to see who is doing what kind of work and whether it appeals to you. There are some fine practitioners out there who will both restore and hone.

IMO you could grab some MAAS or similar and give them all a little polish up yourself to see how far that can take you, then assess them again and go from there.

If you were in Australia I would offer to hone them for you myself for old time's sake, but shipping would kill you I think Anyway, it is the thought that counts, right?

Anyway, excellent to see you again, and I hope to see you more around the forums.

James.

Your stuff looks good. I second the MAAS or similar product. It's amazing at what a little polish and some work will do. I'm still learning to go to that before I get out the sandpaper and steel wool. ;D

Who is the woman with "civilized Josh"? Don't mean to be rude, just asking.

Originally Posted by Tylerbrycen

I love your razors and glad ur getting time now to get back in the swing of things

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Welcome back Josh - good to see you here again mate

There are a few more people in the honing and restoration game than back in 2006! Of course it depends what you want done and how quickly you'd like it done, but rather than single anyone out in particular I would suggest you take a look at the Workshop forum to see who is doing what kind of work and whether it appeals to you. There are some fine practitioners out there who will both restore and hone.

IMO you could grab some MAAS or similar and give them all a little polish up yourself to see how far that can take you, then assess them again and go from there.

If you were in Australia I would offer to hone them for you myself for old time's sake, but shipping would kill you I think Anyway, it is the thought that counts, right?

Anyway, excellent to see you again, and I hope to see you more around the forums.

James.

Thanks for the info, from the size of the forum, I had guessed the "good old days" of scoring amazing finds on eBay any given day of the week were gone. I still never got my 8/8 barbers notch Wade and Butcher full wedge I had been hoping to find for a steal. Oh well. Aside from the cost of shipping in general, USPS has lost 2 out of 3 insured packages I've sent this year. Before I send them to anyone to restore and/or hone, do you know where I could get info on what I'd want to insure them for? I have no idea what any of them are worth other than the Bill Ellis custom.

Originally Posted by Cove5440

Your stuff looks good. I second the MAAS or similar product. It's amazing at what a little polish and some work will do. I'm still learning to go to that before I get out the sandpaper and steel wool. ;D

Who is the woman with "civilized Josh"? Don't mean to be rude, just asking.

I will have to try the MAAS. What do you use to polish usually, just a soft cloth? That's my wife in the photo. The same woman who had to put up with uncivilized Josh for several years...hence the smile on her face lol. That was the night after graduation.

Welcome back! Sorry but giving a value for insurance is the same as a valuation, which isn't allowed on the open forums. Check the workshop and Member's forum for psople providing services and PM them asking for an insurance value. Another path would be to check EBay completed auctions to see what they are going for today, next week may be different. If you feel like visiting the Rochester NY area in the near future bring your razors with you and I'll hone a few for you and teach you how to hone. Drop me a PM if interested. Cheers

Welcome back. Nice collection you have. Nice to be able to pick up on an old hobby and have the stuff you need. Enjoy the day. Oh...is the painting hers?

Originally Posted by Joed

Welcome back! Sorry but giving a value for insurance is the same as a valuation, which isn't allowed on the open forums. Check the workshop and Member's forum for psople providing services and PM them asking for an insurance value. Another path would be to check EBay completed auctions to see what they are going for today, next week may be different. If you feel like visiting the Rochester NY area in the near future bring your razors with you and I'll hone a few for you and teach you how to hone. Drop me a PM if interested. Cheers

Rochester is about 4 hours from me. Its a little to far for me to drive, but I appreciate the offer and information on new forum rules.

Originally Posted by Mvcrash

Welcome back. Nice collection you have. Nice to be able to pick up on an old hobby and have the stuff you need. Enjoy the day. Oh...is the painting hers?

I wish. If she owned that painting, I could retire.

All I can say is you've got some nice razors there. Welcome back and smooth shaving ahead.

Good to see you back after all those years. The site has changed a little in your absence.