Thread: Brand spanking new to straights

Hello SRP! I've been DE shaving for a while, but a friend on a DE forum recently gave me a very nice straight. I took it to a local guy who I think knows what he's doing to put an edge on it, and he noted that since it doesn't quite center properly, there was a very, very slight nick in the blade where it had hit the scale.

He had no problem taking the tiny nick out, but I want to ensure that this doesn't happen again. I looked up a couple repair threads which suggested slight tapping on the pin, but that seemed to have little to no effect. Truthfully, I probably didn't hit it hard enough to do anything anyway, because the razor has great value to me, and I don't want to damage it in any way.

I'm a pretty handy guy in general. If I know what I'm supposed to do, I can be trusted to do it reasonably well. That being said, I don't really have any practice under my belt. The person who put an edge on it was reluctant to do any sort of repair, probably for fear of damaging the razor.

So my two questions are, is this something that I could likely fix myself? If not, I would like some suggestions for resources where I could safely get it fixed. Apart from the non-centered blade, the razor is in very good condition. It was purchased new about 40 years ago, and wasn't used. I don't believe it needs to be restored, or even re-pinned, but I could be wrong. (I usually am...)

Thanks in advance for any advice you could offer!

Welcome to SRP. Any pictures you have will be very useful to help see what's going on with the razor. Others will be along to chime in..

Being a guy who JUST figured out how to not bend a pin, I'll say this: DO NOT HIT IT HARD
you need a light peening hammer to do the job right (or if you watch Lynn's amazing DVD, he mentions using a punch lightly)

Glen recently mentioned to me to not hit the pin harder than you could your cuticle without pain..... lots of light taps

Originally Posted by ecormier

Being a guy who JUST figured out how to not bend a pin, I'll say this: DO NOT HIT IT HARD
you need a light peening hammer to do the job right (or if you watch Lynn's amazing DVD, he mentions using a punch lightly)

Glen recently mentioned to me to not hit the pin harder than you could your cuticle without pain..... lots of light taps

Well now that makes a lot sense. I haven't done any pinning yet..... Glad I saw this...... Thanks for that very very useful info!

Originally Posted by chamm

Hello SRP! I've been DE shaving for a while, but a friend on a DE forum recently gave me a very nice straight. I took it to a local guy who I think knows what he's doing to put an edge on it, and he noted that since it doesn't quite center properly, there was a very, very slight nick in the blade where it had hit the scale.

He had no problem taking the tiny nick out, but I want to ensure that this doesn't happen again. I looked up a couple repair threads which suggested slight tapping on the pin, but that seemed to have little to no effect. Truthfully, I probably didn't hit it hard enough to do anything anyway, because the razor has great value to me, and I don't want to damage it in any way.

I'm a pretty handy guy in general. If I know what I'm supposed to do, I can be trusted to do it reasonably well. That being said, I don't really have any practice under my belt. The person who put an edge on it was reluctant to do any sort of repair, probably for fear of damaging the razor.

So my two questions are, is this something that I could likely fix myself? If not, I would like some suggestions for resources where I could safely get it fixed. Apart from the non-centered blade, the razor is in very good condition. It was purchased new about 40 years ago, and wasn't used. I don't believe it needs to be restored, or even re-pinned, but I could be wrong. (I usually am...)

Thanks in advance for any advice you could offer!

Welcome to SRP!

I had the same problem with a few of mine straight razors too..... What I did was this...... I have a small anvil (anything solid will work) and a ball peen hammer...... Lay the razor on it's side with the pin against the anvil...I used very light and firm taps.... Line it up first.... I placed the ball of the hammer on the pin tip..... Raised it up an or so..... And tapped it a few times.... Controlled taps more or less. Check it after a few taps.... You DO NOT want to over hit it and make it too tight. Hope that helps.

Okay it takes a little more than just tapping the pin tighter to straighten the razor into the scales. There is a thread some wheres around here but I couldn't find it.
Anyway the idea is something like this :
First see if the pin is bent. I open the razor all the way with some(some) pressure to one side. Without pressure close it again. If the razor closes center or a little different then you have rolled the bent pin inside and yep it's bent. This is not a sure fire thing but...sometimes you can tell.
Next (if it's not bent) say you are looking down at the spine as it closes and it hits the right side. You need to do your tapping on the front side of the right pin (the side facing the toe) and the back side ( facing the tail of the tang) of the left side. Tap a few and check. You don't want to go to far.
If the pin is bent you may get it closing straight but then if you open it and close it again it will move. Then you need to change the pin.
Another alternative is to straighten the scales. Is it the pin or the scales ? This can be easy depending on the material. Search threads on straightening scales.

Confused ? Send it out to a reputable guy :<0)

Originally Posted by 10Pups

Okay it takes a little more than just tapping the pin tighter to straighten the razor into the scales. There is a thread some wheres around here but I couldn't find it.
Anyway the idea is something like this :
First see if the pin is bent. I open the razor all the way with some(some) pressure to one side. Without pressure close it again. If the razor closes center or a little different then you have rolled the bent pin inside and yep it's bent. This is not a sure fire thing but...sometimes you can tell.
Next (if it's not bent) say you are looking down at the spine as it closes and it hits the right side. You need to do your tapping on the front side of the right pin (the side facing the toe) and the back side ( facing the tail of the tang) of the left side. Tap a few and check. You don't want to go to far.
If the pin is bent you may get it closing straight but then if you open it and close it again it will move. Then you need to change the pin.
Another alternative is to straighten the scales. Is it the pin or the scales ? This can be easy depending on the material. Search threads on straightening scales.

Confused ? Send it out to a reputable guy :<0)

Hey 10Pups - I think this could be valuable but I got totally confused by the description. Could you do it again but using show side and pile side to distinguish the side and wedge pin/pivot pin to distinguish which end.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by 10Pups

Okay it takes a little more than just tapping the pin tighter to straighten the razor into the scales. There is a thread some wheres around here but I couldn't find it.
Anyway the idea is something like this :
First see if the pin is bent. I open the razor all the way with some(some) pressure to one side. Without pressure close it again. If the razor closes center or a little different then you have rolled the bent pin inside and yep it's bent. This is not a sure fire thing but...sometimes you can tell.
Next (if it's not bent) say you are looking down at the spine as it closes and it hits the right side. You need to do your tapping on the front side of the right pin (the side facing the toe) and the back side ( facing the tail of the tang) of the left side. Tap a few and check. You don't want to go to far.
If the pin is bent you may get it closing straight but then if you open it and close it again it will move. Then you need to change the pin.
Another alternative is to straighten the scales. Is it the pin or the scales ? This can be easy depending on the material. Search threads on straightening scales.

Confused ? Send it out to a reputable guy :<0)

I *think* this makes perfect sense, if I'm understanding correctly. I'm picking it up tonight, and I'll post some pics to clarify, but what you're saying makes sense.