Thread: Scales identification

Originally Posted by luckypip

Yes Bob, its virtually a wedge blade with a barbers notch but with a fair bit of spine wear.

Very nice, even with the hone wear it should take a good and shave well. I think it is a good decision not to try and unpin the razor, far too easy to damage the ivory scales. Same reason I did not unpin the few ivory scaled razors I have have. I'll let Pixelfixed comment on cleaning them and how to clean around the pivot pin. Enjoy you new find.

Bob

Getting the rust out of the Pivot area is darn near impossible without unpinning.
In your case I feel less is more,I would not be sanding the scales,I would ren-wax them, treat with mineral oil a couple times a year,JMO

Ivory is usually found on better razors, usually washerless pinned, is much thinner than bone, wood or plastic, has irregular grain and feels only like Ivory. Smooth like a polished finger nail.

I bought this razor for the scales, a Wade Butcher at a flea market for the scales, 2 bucks.

Yes, remove active rust with fine steel wool and keep the patina, hone and shave.

Enjoy

[QUOTE=Euclid440;1265722]Ivory is usually found on better razors, usually washerless pinned, is much thinner than bone, wood or plastic, has irregular grain and feels only like Ivory. Smooth like a polished finger nail.

I bought this razor for the scales, a Wade Butcher at a flea market for the scales, 2 bucks.

Yes, remove active rust with fine steel wool and keep the patina, hone and shave.

Enjoy

Yes, you appear to be spot on - the scales are indeed very smooth and thin with an irregular grain !
I will indeed clean it up slowly and carefully to preserve the original integrity, I will post photos after I have finished it and had my first shave with it; hopefully with all going well !
Many thanks

If it were me I'd unpinned them and put a better blade in there. It looks like a huge chip in the middle of that one by the time you remove it you'll be into the stabilizer. Great find even better buy.

Yea, that one was bought just for the scales. I have many old blades that would wear them well. That blade is too far gone and the chip too large. Once I have it apart I will clean, lightly sand and hand buff the scales.

I do like old blades with original patina, especially if they can be cleaned up without unpinning.

Luckypip, looks to have an excellent candidate for an original patina restoration, that one, I would not buff.

Some dental floss with 2 or 3 knots and some WD40 worked in between the pivot and scales then wiped on a paper towel will remove most of the rust from the pivot. Takes some time but is worth it.

Fine Steel wool and WD40 will remove the active rust and leave patina.