Thread: Question about scales

I am going to restore a Boker "Peerless" razor I picked up some time ago. I am wondering about the scales on this razor. They don't appear to be plastic...I am thinking maybe horn or early plastics (Bakelite, Celluloid). I know it is difficult to tell from the photo...but do you have any advice on how to polish the scales? They are very dull in appearance...which makes me think it is some kind of horn.

Look like Bakelite. Either way, some mass or flitz on a rag ( I prefer to use my dremmel ) and start rubbing. I've also used a plastic, scratch removing compound with good results as well. If you use a dremmel, don't hold it in one spot too long, it may get hot and melt the scales, and always buff off the edge.


PS
That one should clean up a treat.
Let us know how it goes.

Mike

Looks like horn or Gutta-Percha. Gutta-Percha is a hard rubber made for electrical insulation and use to make old, black telephones.

Either way, clean with some 000 steel wool and WD40, then polish with a good metal polish and paper towels. If the brown spots near the middle, are not dirt, then they may be horn, and if so, can be dyed, with black leather dye or with a sharpie.

If horn, soak in neatsfoot oil, you can soak after a quick polish or before. Neatsfoot will not harm Gutta-Percha.

Nice looking razor.

Another wrinkle.

If it is vulcanite you may get light spots. Sand them out and apply a plastic preservative like ArmorAll. Then polish with a good wax.

If the material is soft and Maas is a bit aggressive, use a polish meant for chromized plastic.

The blade had a bit of rust. I used steel wool and 2000 gtit sandpaper on the blade...and Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish. And elbow grease. The scales I used WD40 and Q-Tips and then polished with Flitz. Turned out nice. Will get this SR on the stones soon.

Looks great!


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Nice work on a nice Boker!

I think you used the secret product, elbow grease. It seems to be a key ingredient in making your projects look great. I hope it hones easy and shaves like a dream.

Originally Posted by RezDog

I think you used the secret product, elbow grease. It seems to be a key ingredient in making your projects look great. I hope it hones easy and shaves like a dream.

Patience and elbow grease. Yes, it honed easily and is a great shaver. The scales are not horn -- I can say this because I recently restored a Joseph Rogers & Sons wedge razor and those scales were definitely horn. The scales on the Boker were closer in consistency to a material similar to what old telephones were made of.