Thread: Received my first French made razor

Nice Razor!!
I have a few similar Razors, not very thin grounded but steady and certain workers.
How thin is the Leblonde grounded?

Most plastic scales are made from celluloid.
Bakelite and vulcanite were also used, but much more rarely.
I like those old original scales, especially if they are bakelite. Be gentle with them

I agree with it not being horn, horn typically will delaminate, and very seldom chip

Thanks for the replies guys. I am curious though as to why the hot pin test smelled like burning hair if it's not horn?
The damage on this horn scale looks similar: http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...le-damage.html

Originally Posted by Rockabillyhelge

Nice Razor!!
I have a few similar Razors, not very thin grounded but steady and certain workers.
How thin is the Leblonde grounded?

What do you mean by how thin? Do you mean type of grind such as half hollow or full hollow?

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Nice looking little razor. Is it a 4/8 or a 3/8? Probably worth getting some new scales. These would look nice:

Ersatzteile

It's a 5/8 blade.

Did you know the bakelite process was first made by Dr. Leo Baekeland in 1909.

You just bought a great item and you think it is bakelite but you are not sure. There are several ways to test the item.

If your sense of smell is good, rub the item with your thumb until it burns. Do you smell formaldehyde? If you do, you have a bakelite piece in your hand. But, beware not smelling it does not always mean its not bakelite. You could have a bad smeller or not be doing it correctly.

Try the Formula 409 test or use Dow Bathroom cleaner. Use a damp a cotton swab. Rub it with 409 and rub it gently on the inside of the item being tested. If it's Bakelite, the swab will turn yellow. However, if it is lacquered it may not turn yellow. Black bakelite may also fail this test.

Simichrome Polish is a non-abrasive cream used to clean metals and is by far the best method to use for bakelite. You can also use it to test Bakelite for authenticity and it will clean the piece nicely making it shine. Sparingly apply to a soft cloth and gently rub a small spot on the inside or back of the item being tested. If it's Bakelite, the cloth should turn yellow with ease. If a piece is laquered, it may test negative. Black Bakelite pieces often fail this test as well. Use the other tests above to confirm authenticity if a piece you suspect to be Bakelite fails with Simichrome.

Notes: Please be careful before doing any of these tests. Rubbing too hard with chemicals can damage the piece. Wash chemicals with warm water immediately after testing.

Do NOT use the hot pin (heating a pin and touching the bakelite) method. This can damage the bakelite.

Do NOT use scrubbing bubbles as it can strip the finish and ruin your gorgeous bakelite piece.

Once you note an item is bakelite be aware of its weight, its feel its sound. This will help you know in the future that you actually have bakelite and not plastic in your hands.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BAKELITE AND CELLULOID?

Celluloid items are thinner and lighter and can be brittle. They often crack during high temperatures. Some are flammable and can smell like vinegar or old camphor. Celluloid jewelry can be damaged by moisture, high temperatures and chemicals. It should be stored in a specific environment to prevent cracking or dulling.

Thanks Celtic. I just used a white cotton rag with some Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish on a part of the scale and it turned the rag a purple color.
Formula 409 on a cotton swab produces the same thing a purplish color.
I am not sure what formaldehyde smells like for the rub test.

@ProudMarineDad: I Meant the Thickness of the Blade by Full Hollow Ground.
I have several Solingen Razors where the Blade is extremly Thin around the edge and made the experience that especially french (and older englisch) Razors have a thicker blade although theyre Full Hollow.
I dont know the right word in english (i hope you dont mind it), but i proof the thickness of my blade by pulling the edge over my finger nail to see how intense it bulges out, i hope you know what kind of Thickness i mean.
Im sorry if my english produces misunderstandings, im still learning.

Originally Posted by Rockabillyhelge

@ProudMarineDad: I Meant the Thickness of the Blade by Full Hollow Ground.
I have several Solingen Razors where the Blade is extremly Thin around the edge and made the experience that especially french (and older englisch) Razors have a thicker blade although theyre Full Hollow.
I dont know the right word in english (i hope you dont mind it), but i proof the thickness of my blade by pulling the edge over my finger nail to see how intense it bulges out, i hope you know what kind of Thickness i mean.
Im sorry if my english produces misunderstandings, im still learning.

Your English is just fine my friend. Yes the blade is a little thicker than my Shumate, Clauss and Genco razors. I don't have a German blade to compare it to.
I just used my dial calipers on the blade and it was around .020" and a Genco I checked was more like .08-.010" so it has a thicker edge.

I've had a bunch of those old French razors, mostly framebacks but not all of the, and quite a few were scaled in ebony. That doesn't look like ebony though. I also suspect that a lot of the French makers imported their steel from Sweden. I know they had commercial relationships with Solingen cutlers. I have a vague memory of seeing a French razor actually say Swedish Steel on it, but am not positive.

The point is that if you start honing it and it's stubbornly hard, then it might be imported steel. I think the swedes produced way more than they could consume domestically.