Thread: What is this, and is it bad?

Originally Posted by JimmyWetshaver

It is called devils spit and unless I get an amazing deal on the piece in question I avoid razors with this condition at all cost. Exceptions are insanely cheap razors so its worth a shot or a razor with awesome scales that I would pay the price I am bidding for the scales alone to use on another razor in case I cant get this one to my satisfaction. It (devils spit) isnt always the kiss of death but more often than not - it is.

Noooooo!!
I guess I'll be even more happy if I can salvage it then, and will certainly post pictures.

For sure you can salvage it.

It does not have to be shiny to shave… and then there is a good satin finish.

Woldpack34 has posted some super satin finishes recently. That style of razor really looks good in satin, in my opinion. Satin finished blade and gleaming black horn scales look great.

Look up Woldpack’s work. While satin can be used to hide blemishes, satin in the caliber of Mike’s, is actually more work that mirror, because you take it to mirror, and then carefully apply the satin with Croesus Cloth to get a very even finish.

Either way it will be a shaver.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

For sure you can salvage it.

It does not have to be shiny to shave… and then there is a good satin finish.

Woldpack34 has posted some super satin finishes recently. That style of razor really looks good in satin, in my opinion. Satin finished blade and gleaming black horn scales look great.

Look up Woldpack’s work. While satin can be used to hide blemishes, satin in the caliber of Mike’s, is actually more work that mirror, because you take it to mirror, and then carefully apply the satin with Croesus Cloth to get a very even finish.

Either way it will be a shaver.

I appreciate your perspective Euclid. That's definitely what it boils down to anyway. What drew me to it initially was the minimal hone wear, so I figured that it would take an even edge relatively easily (here's hoping).

Just checked out Wolfpack's work, and really dig that satin finish. It will be my first Sheffield blade, and at 125+ years old that finish would be fitting to go with the original scales (which are good but not perfect). I can't wait for it to arrive so I can give her some TLC...then put her to work!

Yea, she should turn out to be a good shaver but you'll know what you have when you start to clean her up. The "Devils Spit" corrosion can be deceiving in how deep it goes. The concern with corrosion near the edge is that you may have to do a lot of honing, read removing metal, to get past the corrosion for a good solid edge. You'll know there too once you start to hone. I have a few that that I had to hone a lot to get past edge corrosion but in the end got to good metal and a solid edge. Just takes work.

If the horn scales are on the dry side you can give them a good soak in Neats Foot oil to help with that. Goos luck with your project.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Yea, she should turn out to be a good shaver but you'll know what you have when you start to clean her up. The "Devils Spit" corrosion can be deceiving in how deep it goes. The concern with corrosion near the edge is that you may have to do a lot of honing, read removing metal, to get past the corrosion for a good solid edge. You'll know there too once you start to hone. I have a few that that I had to hone a lot to get past edge corrosion but in the end got to good metal and a solid edge. Just takes work.

If the horn scales are on the dry side you can give them a good soak in Neats Foot oil to help with that. Goos luck with your project.

Bob

Very good point. In fact you should probably start by setting the bevel on this Once you can get a nice clean bevel, you will know it will be absolutely worth any effect you put in. The oil on the scales does do wonders too.

Originally Posted by RezDog

Very good point. In fact you should probably start by setting the bevel on this Once you can get a nice clean bevel, you will know it will be absolutely worth any effect you put in. The oil on the scales does do wonders too.

Sounds like a plan. I'll start with a bevel setting and a neatsfoot oil bath and go from there. I am contemplating repairing the two chips in the edge of the scale, but if they don't affect my grip on the blade while shaving I just might keep them for character's sake.

If you want to try and repair the scales here is some food for thought in post #13 http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...-repair-2.html .

Bob