Thread: Evapo-Rust

The back story behind this razor is interesting, PM and I will tell you about it - suffice it to say, I am pretty confident that these are the original scales, but there are several in the collection that have rounded scales, not beveled, so I think it was a purchase option. The angular grind of the toe and the spine make this really a very modern looking razor, very elegant, I think. When you clean your scales, if you sand them smell the residue or the scales themselves - if they smell strongly (stink) of sulphur they are original Vulcanite - at least that is what my research has led me to believe. If you want any more useless information, let me know.

I just got lucky and picked up a bunch of different styles of JR's that had never been touched, used or honed for that matter. I am cleaning them all up, i will post as I get them done in the general resto forum.

By the by, I have amateur reason to believe this razor dates from 1860-1890, probably prior to 1873 or thereabouts, just FYI. Oh, and it shaves dern nice.

K

I submerged a rusty blade in Kleen Strip Rust Remover, which I purchased at an auto parts store. I left it in there overnight. When I cleaned the gel off it the next day, it appeared that it had begun to work, and suddenly, the blade about shattered in my hand. What I mean is, like a large crack in glass. I don't know why, though I speculate that the material seeped into the lattice structure of the steel in the very thin blade, weakening it. Anyway, that's my only experience with chemical rust remover on blades, and it wasn't good. - John

PM on the way. I'm amazed to see that it could be that old. Aside from the rust on mine the rest of the blade was a mirror finish and absolutely gorgeous. You're spot on with the modern look to it. I have not shaved with this one yet, but I had the impression that it would give a "#1" shave.

There's also this one from Eastwood:

http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/p...roductID=11122

Looks even better, and more for the buck.

I didn;t think they were that old either, but given the clue that I got on the Xylonite - the fact that all of the rest of the scales in my set were black (as Vulcanite could only be black - unless painted) - while celluloid is transparent in its natural state (hence the tortoise and cool colors that later came with celluloid) - and the rotten smell when I sanded the scales (given that Vulcanite is made with natural rubber and -sulphur-) AND there was no evidence of celluloid rot on -any- of the blades at all (telling me it might/must be something else) - and the seller told me 140-160 years old (of which I was skeptical) - AND the fact that "Xylonite" was specifically identified in the razor labels of the box I received with the razors and was invented by an Englishman named Parkes (ala Parkesine aka Xylonite) and unveiled in London in 1862 - all of this points to post-1862 and pre-1872 when celluloid began to be manufactured - but I could be absolutely wrong. A guy named Spill made Xylonite later, but then I would have expected the other blades to have some celluloid handles which I don't think is the case.

http://www.thecarrotbox.com/plastic/...e_xylonite.asp

Pretty cool thinking about it though.

K