Thread: How would you restore this razor? If you think it needs anything

Hi all,

Recently picked up this bad boy up on the cheap. I need some opinions on what I should restore. I've restored a bunch or razors before but when it comes to gold wash and etching. I don't touch it. What would you restore on this razor if anything? There is no active rust I can see. Thanks.

I'm interested in what folks have to say, too. Unfortunately, everything I've read so far says that the gold is a goner.

MAAS & Autosol and any abbrasive polish for that matter will take the gold wash straight off
I did see a post over the weekend that had a blue tin of Nans? I think it was that doesn't remove the gold when cleanin it up
does need a clean but should be a nice shaver

I'm not sure what would happen to the face of the blade. Maybe someone else can say.

I wouldn't cry over the gold wash. With a spine like that it would still look great.

Show us the results after you have decided!

The gold wash is no problem at all. its the etching that is a problem. That is of course if you want to polish the blade. I personally think it looks fine and would just hone it up and scrape your face with it but thats just me. If you want to redo gold wash try taking it to a jeweler. I have found several jewelers that will do this for me for a decent price but they are all local jewelers so its not like I can say "He went to Jarrod's!". They might do it though, i have just never gone. Also if you can't find anyone to do it they do sell kits to do gold plating. Its all just a matter of "is it worth it to you?".

Also a lot of jewelers have ultrasonic cleaners that will get the gunk off and still preserve the etching. It won't take care of pitting though.

Again my opinion is just hone and shave.

Very tough to tell exactly what need to be done to it using those pix - but - unless there's more to it than I can make out, some minor sanding (do it by hand using about 1K grit to start and go more coarse if needed) and work up or down the grits as necessary to get the pitting out. Then polish it, hone it, and shave. I wouldn't mess with the face of the blade where the ship thing is because it looks mostly fine and that art can't be replaced.

You'll lose the gold wash on the tang and top of the blade most likely, but if you can get the rest of it mostly smooth then that wash can always be replaced. It's not all that tough to do, but if you don't want to mess with it (or make the small investment in materials) then talk with Mark (Mycarver).

Good luck with it! Appears to be a very nice score.

I might try some WD-40 and a toothbrush and paper towel and carefully get it knocked down a little. The wash and the etch will be tough to hang onto if you get more aggressive than that. Of core you could take of the gold ands then replace it as suggested. It is a once razor and should look good with a light cleaning or a full restore

You know, if your wanting to sand the blade and polish it up (which I don't think is necessary but its your razor) you could but tape over the etching because it doesn't look like there is any pitting in the etch part and that is some nice etching. Also if you want to take the rust off of the tang and jimps, and you are fine with replacing the gold wash, I would use a wire (brass) brush to clean the rust in the jimps and engraving on the spine so you don't where it out and make it fade away. That is some nice work on the spine and I really like the jimps, very beautiful and intricate work.

You can mask the etch with electrical tape & sand the blade as you wish.

Birchwood Caey's rust & blue remover rubbed gently over the gold will neutralise & blacken the rust removing some of it. More importantly it will not remove the gold.