Thread: Getting the rust in the jimps?!?!

I have acquired a fair amount of razors in the past few years and alot of them only require a good cleaning / hand buffing. Most of these have the troublesome rust / dirt /grime resting in the jimps. Has anyone found a good method or tool to fit in between the jimps for cleaning up and NOT unpinning the blade from the scales? This is a troublesome spot for me and bugs the crap out of me when a blade cleans up great but the rust / dirt / grime in the jimps is still there staring me in the face.

Thanks for any posts or sharing of techniques.

Also looks like I posted this in the wrong forum and not sure how to move it.

When restoring a razor I first remove the scales. Next with an old toothbrush and small brass brush I apply CLR and scrub the razor. I rinse frequently and repeat the process to remove as much as possible. DO NOT let the razor soak in CLR. Then I finish with bartenders friend (a scouring powder like bon ami) and brass brush. This gets the razor fairly clean so you need less sanding. Works for me. Am sure there are other methods out there.

The method that works for me is to use the tip of an annealed x-acto blade and scrape off the rust. I follow up by polishing with a little Maas metal polish.

I have to admit I do not like to unpin a razor either so I just use a small brass brush, put some polish on the jimps and have at her but carefully so as not to damage the scales. You don't get all the jimps though unless you unpin the razor.

Bob

Depending on how deep it goes or how fine the jimps are. I fine getting right down into the depths of the real fine jumps more challenging. I use a small wire brush to start most often, it it is needed I graduate to a wire wheel on a dremel, and if need be I follow with 4or600 grit wet dry glued to a piece of wood, making something that looks a lot like an emery board for doing nails. I have to say it is very hard for me to get them pristine. I have better success with the scales off, but not everything gets that much effort, there are some that get to the line of that is as much work as I am willing to put into this razor.

A fiberglass pen is a nice tool for a quick cleanup between the scales. If I have the scales off, the polishers with some emery compound does a great job on jimps. If there's a lot of rust I may use a wire brush first.

For light rust I use a small brass brush. For heavy rust I use a small triangular diamond file, I think it is a 3 mm.

+1 to the fiberglass pen

To remove rust the Dremel Detail abrasive brush is the best thing I have found to remove all the rust between the scales. They are spiral plastic fingered wheels impregnated with grit and come in different grits.

There will still be a bit on the sides, use an exacto knife to scrape it off.

To polish the jimps, a worn 600 grit greasless wheel will make them shine like new. A wire wheel or brush will remove the rust but not make them shine.

Fiberglass pens work well but the fibers are a pain, literally. When I have used them, I do over a large piece of news paper then carefully toss the paper. The fibers get everywhere. Wear safety glasses. You can pick them up at electronic supply stores.

As said unpinning is the best way, if there is heavy rust at the pin you will not get it by cleaning around it. But if is light rust these Detail Abrasive Brushes, as Dremel call them is the way to go, they come in different grits and sell for about 5-7 dollars. They do last a long time, been using the same one for about a year and still going strong.

I bought mine from a guy on Ebay and he sold a selection, two of each grit and I think 3 different grits for around 20-25 bucks, as I recall. Shop around Ebay to find a package deal. The ones without the quick-lock are cheaper and work the same.

Here’s a pic of what they look like, don't know if this was the same vendor I bought from. Here

I'd be real careful with a Dremel. It can very easily 'grab' the razor and pull it out of your hands.
Wouldn't use one (again(;-( )