Thread: Bitten By the Antique Show bug!!!

Originally Posted by EAGLESKADU

The day will come when Ill get a proper buffing wheel(s), and be able to put the dremel aside.

A buffer is nice but like the dremel, isn't *really* required.

I have a dremel and never use it on razors for three reasons:
1) potential for causing heat damage
2) potential for causing the afore-mentioned wavy lines or other uneven wear marks that could easily be casued by using a relatively small tool
3) potential for a thing whizzing at 10-25,000 (or whatever it is) rpm catching on the blade and sending it in a totally unforseen direction with great velocity!

I also have a bench grinder that sadly runs too fast to be useful on razors, mostly (IMHO) due to heat issues.

And so I mostly use wet/dry sandpaper, micromesh, Mothers polish, time, and patience. Until I stop buying razors, etc., for long enough to be able to afford a variable speed buffer, I'll be doing all my blade cleanup/restoration by hand. It takes time and patience, but I like the process.

Anyway, that's just me and the way I like to work. Just wanted to throw out there that a buffer/dremel may be nice to use, but they certainly aren't necessities.

BTW - nice looking blades.

A cheaper, affordable way of buffing blades is to clamp a 3/8 electric drill to a saw horse or table. Lowes has 4" buffing wheels for dirt cheap along with buffing compound of various "grits." They also carry a shaft specifically for the wheels and to go into a drill. Lock the trigger on and away you go. I've done blades with this setup and it works very well. Recently I've been doing the hand sanding and metal polish way. A little bit of elbow grease and metal polish can go a long way I have found!

I'll take the advise, gratefully all, and work the wet sandpaper route and lots of elbow grease and patience. Must learn patience.
Respectfully,
Christian

Do you REALLY want to remove all the blemishes. I know I'm rather obsessed with forcing a patina, but I really think big old razors look really nice with some patination. You may never get it 100% smooth, there may always be some pitting. I DO like 100% perfect razors, but sometimes it's worth going the other way, i.e. making them look a little shabby and old.

I use a mixture of vinegar and citrus juice. Sometimes I try to make patterns. Sometime sit takes a few applications, with some rubbing with fine Wet and Dry in between, maybe three 'layers' of patination. I wouldn't do that to a razor that was professional restored and nice and smooth and shiny, bit for older ones I think it looks very nice...

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Do you REALLY want to remove all the blemishes. I know I'm rather obsessed with forcing a patina, but I really think big old razors look really nice with some patination. You may never get it 100% smooth, there may always be some pitting. I DO like 100% perfect razors, but sometimes it's worth going the other way, i.e. making them look a little shabby and old.

I use a mixture of vinegar and citrus juice. Sometimes I try to make patterns. Sometime sit takes a few applications, with some rubbing with fine Wet and Dry in between, maybe three 'layers' of patination. I wouldn't do that to a razor that was professional restored and nice and smooth and shiny, bit for older ones I think it looks very nice...

I think if I ever got around to buying a brand spankin' new shiny razor, I'd like to keep it that way. But most of my razors are 125 to 150+ years old and frankly I like the fact that they look like they have a bit of experience.

Patina lovers of the world unite!

Did I go too far on this one though?

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Did I go too far on this one though?

Nah... there are still shiny bits there!

Maybe I have to change my mindset, being of a Nautical Military Service I have been forced to shine and keep shiny anything and everything that could take a shine, especially brass. Which I love. But the inner child in me also loves the heavy patina on brass as well, when it greens and such. Its touch to change everything I've been force fed for many years, but I'll take some baby steps away from the dremmel and sand paper, and step closer to the stones and strops and put more attention there. And hopefully become accustomed to the patina and slight scratches/pitting and not look at them as only imperfections and eye sores but seasoning.
Thanks for all the advice.
Christian

Like so many aspects of this straight shaving thing, the important thing is what *you* like!

And that is what I LOVE about this site(thanks Lynn) people arent afraid to give their honest opinions but also allow you to have yours without judging(to badly) Not that I couldnt handle the judgement,I have grown to have pretty thick skin but a very sensative face
Respectfully,
Christian

Originally Posted by Cangooner

Like so many aspects of this straight shaving thing, the important thing is what *you* like!