The Duck has landed

Had a package waiting for me today and inside was the Dubl Duck Wonderedge I recently bought.


I'll be completely honest in that I still know very little nothing about straight razors really and that what compelled me to buy this was that I had read positive things about it, that the price was very fair and because...well...I really like how it looks.


Having said that I do of course also hope that it can be a good shaver.


The issue/challenge
This is however far from a mint/nos razor and comes with some challenges.
What's important is if they can be overcome.


Big challenge:
There is a 'frown' (is that the correct term) along the blade as can be seen in some of the photos below and I'd love to know if it's something that can be remedied without loosing too much of the blade width.


Maybe I can claim it to be a manufacturer defect as the nice, original box that it came in has a lifetime warranty :)


Small challenge:
Purely cosmetic.
The metal parts on the scales are a bit darkened and I wonder if that can be cleaned up as well or if it's a permanent luster-loss).


Next steps if it is deemed salvageable is to have it honed and cleaned up.


Btw, does anyone know around what years this razor was manufactured?


Anyway, some obligatory pictures.


Luckily no cracks or chips off the scales.
The blade looks a tad dark but apart from the slight 'frown' it doesn't seem to be in too bad of a state?
http://i59.tinypic.com/23kzqlz.jpg


"Frowning?":
http://i62.tinypic.com/25qwv0l.jpg


Duckies on one side....
http://i57.tinypic.com/sqql28.jpg


...and duckies on the other....
http://i57.tinypic.com/2gspmc5.jpg


...duckies everywhere.
http://i60.tinypic.com/2n1xlch.jpg




It did come with the original, old box which was nice:
http://i61.tinypic.com/rc97bt.jpg

Yep, it has a frown but it can be fixed with some honing. If you don't have your honing skills down yet, I would send it out to a pro. Also the metal pieces will polish up. Thats not a problem. Usually some Maas polish or similar like Mothers will polish them up. If you don't know how to hone yet, I would send it out to be honed. it definitely has potential. It doesn't look as bad as others I've seen. Do you have any hones yet? Also, you will want to practice on another cheap straight you can pick up for a few bucks on eBay. You don't want to practice on that one. You can go here & read over many different topics on honing:

Category:Honing - Straight Razor Place Library

Here are gssixguns YouTube vids on honing:

https://www.youtube.com/user/gssixgun/videos

Just scroll down where it says "load more". Also here are Lynn's YouTube vids which you will find a lot of good nformation along with his honing video's:

https://www.youtube.com/user/LynnSAbrams/videos

There's a wealth of information here & I think SRP has the best straight razor info you will find on the net. Lynn's dvd is good to have also. You can see a lot of his work on YouTube but you won't go wrong if you have a few bucks for the dvd. I have it & I like it. I have learned from it. If you have any other questions just ask on the forum or on this thread you made. You can also feel free to pm me if you like & I'll steer you in the right direction.
Good luck with the duck! Hey, I'm a poet & didn't know it. Rhyme every time! :tu

Thanks!
I don't intent to hone it myself as I don't want to mess it up any more as have neither the equipment or skills to do it on my own.
I think investing in someone to do it professionally is the way to go for me right now.

Happy to hear that it's salvageable. :)

Nice looking razor you got there. With a little help, it will be a fine shaver.


Mike

Go to Walmart and buy Mothers polish. Red jar. Less than $10. Clean rag and 30 minutes to the brass and scales . You will be shocked and amazed at the positive upgrade YOU will see.
Put the blade on a flat surface and check how much light comes under that frown. That will give you a good gauge of how much steel from the ends has to come off.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Darkbulb

Thanks!
I don't intent to hone it myself as I don't want to mess it up any more as have neither the equipment or skills to do it on my own.
I think investing in someone to do it professionally is the way to go for me right now.

Happy to hear that it's salvageable. :)

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That's cool. I think you made a smart decision.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by engine46

That's cool. I think you made a smart decision.

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You can see here in my blog how I cleaned up a razor but whatever you do, don't use a Dremel like I do. I only use one to polish a blade plus you have to know how to use one or you can ruin a blade in a split second, but by looking at my blog, you will see how my razor cleaned up just using Maas & Mothers.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...me-polish.html

Quote:

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Originally Posted by engine46

You can see here in my blog how I cleaned up a razor but whatever you do, don't use a Dremel like I do. I only use one to polish a blade plus you have to know how to use one or you can ruin a blade in a split second, but by looking at my blog, you will see how my razor cleaned up just using Maas & Mothers.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...me-polish.html

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Odd. When i try to open up your images in that post I get the message 'invalid attachment'.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Darkbulb

Odd. When i try to open up your images in that post I get the message 'invalid attachment'.

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Funny, it opens up for me! Try this, then click on the title:

Straight Razor Place Forum - Recent Blogs Posts - Blogs

Quote:

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Originally Posted by engine46

Funny, it opens up for me! Try this, then click on the title:

Straight Razor Place Forum - Recent Blogs Posts - Blogs

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Weird. Same result. Invalid attachment. I wonder if it's only me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Darkbulb

Weird. Same result. Invalid attachment. I wonder if it's only me.

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Go to the top of the SRP page & click Blogs.
Mine is the first one because I was the last person to post a Blog. If it opens, click on the title.

Nice Duck!
That will clean up nicely.
I personally use Blue Magic to polish the brass. 5 minutes and your done.

ps...the blog works for me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chevhead

Nice Duck!
That will clean up nicely.
I personally use Blue Magic to polish the brass. 5 minutes and your done.

ps...the blog works for me.

---

Thanks Chevhead, he has issues with his computer. Probably needs to clean up history & website data.............
I never tried the Blue Magic. If I see it in the stores, I'll try it!

Welcome to the forum! I'm new to SR's as well. Those I think you made a good call allowing someone else to hone the blade for you. I wish I had done the same. Doesn't look like a bad frown. When you use polish, make sure it isn't going to remove the 'spirals' on the tang. I don't think I've seen those before. They look really nice. If the scales are straight, it looks like you get it looking and shaving great without having to spend a lot of money.

Make sure you get all your blade cleaning/polishing done BEFORE you hone it. They contain abrasives that will dull the edge on your newly honed blade.

DD does have some beautiful SR's. I found one in an antique shop, but the edge of the blade looked like it was probably more red rust than steel. :(

Great looking razor. Definitely get a pro to clean and hone. Youll have to post a pic when ya get it back. Enjoy your journey and the shave

So this is what I sent out:
Attachment 203783

..and Glen/Gssixgun just submitted some photos of what the restoration ended up looking like.
There is no trace of the frown any more and the scales looks amazing - I am SUPER thrilled to get this back!! :)

http://i59.tinypic.com/k502rq.jpg

http://i59.tinypic.com/2mzcfbp.jpg

http://i61.tinypic.com/1gnmed.jpg

http://i60.tinypic.com/t65u7p.jpg