Thread: Restoring ivory scales.

Sooooo I wanted to set this shame to the bottom of my razor bin. And forget about it but the FIRST razor I ever tried to restore was a C. V. Heljestrand MK No 31 with what appear to be ivory scales. I was attempting to unpin it with flush cutters and have scratched up the scales. Not super noticeable but it bugs me. Can I just use neetfoot oil soak to restore it?

It's like this around all the pins

I think I would try sanding them out. Fine grits and then polish.

Same process as you would use for celluloid scales - as 10Pups said, but polish them before re-pinning.

Yup sand with 1k and up.

For removing pins without damaging the scales, use a Dremel with a flex shaft and very small dental ball bit, after dimpling a starter hole with a sharp punch. Tape a mask from a plastic milk jug over the pin, in case you slip and go slow.

Once you have a nice hole in the center of the pin, use a starter/center drill to remove the pin head on a drill press. Using a drill bit is tricky and usually slips off.

Polishing the back side of the flush cutters helps, but unless you don’t plan on saving the scales don’t use flush cutters and certainly not on ivory.

As stated use fine grit and go easy,when it comes to polishing do not and I repeat do not get the ivory hot or even super warm ! Also take care when peening your pins as all it takes is one tap to many and it will crack.

The best thing for polishing ivory is a cape cod polishing cloth. it will shine like a mirror.