Thread: Restoring a blade back to it's original shine

I have recently bought 5 straight razors, in good condition, but they have minor black rust marks. I have used from 600 grit up to 1500 grit sandpaper and silverware polish to clean up the blade. In the process I have noticed that the sand paper has made minor scratches making sections of the blades look "cloudy". What can I do (by hand) to get the blade to a beautiful shine? Do I just need to go to a higher grit of sandpaper or is this going to be permanent.

Thanks

Originally Posted by Aaron27

I have recently bought 5 straight razors, in good condition, but they have minor black rust marks. I have used from 600 grit up to 1500 grit sandpaper and silverware polish to clean up the blade. In the process I have noticed that the sand paper has made minor scratches making sections of the blades look "cloudy". What can I do (by hand) to get the blade to a beautiful shine? Do I just need to go to a higher grit of sandpaper or is this going to be permanent.

Thanks

I use 1, 2, and 3k wet dry sandpaper to get the polish back.

If there is some rust in the pivot pin area, I will get some WD40 in there, let it sit for a couple of hours, rinse, and by folding the sandpaper into little shapes, I can usually get any stains and rust from the area without having to unpin it. After a good sanding, I'll usually treat the pivot area with some Tuf-Glide and let dry overnight, then hit the stones....that's if the razor isn't to badly rusted.

Just going to start a Japanese razor tonight....

Do you jump from the 2k to 3k wet dry sandpaper?

I hope this sounds right but don't skip to fast between any step. Each one removes the previous marks. If you advance to fast on just one you will see it in the end.

I've used 2k, and 3k on vintage watch crystals. They come out looking brand new. Should do the same for metal.

Wet sanding.
I like too use WD40 on my HIGH grit papers.

Other thing that works in those tight areas is an small SE blade...got the rust out of the pivot pin area using a Feather SE blade, slides right under no problemo, no rust, another dose of WD40 to soak and some sanding tonight...then the stones tomorrow, taking the darn day off....

If I have a badly tarnished or rust spotted razor I will start with steel wool, then move to 800 grit wet dry, then 1k, then 2k. Then I use Mother Mag and Aluminum Polish. With this method I can usually bring out a mirror finish (if it was there originally). I don't use power tools...just elbow grease and lots of patience.

So, photos would help…

Metal polish, Mothers, Flitz, Maas, Semi Chrome.

000 steel wool, 600 grit, 1k to remove all the 600 scratches, you should be able to go from 1k to metal polish. 2K will easily take metal polish.

The scratches were probably already there and the 600 did not remove them. Stay on the 600 until you get a uniform finish. 1k will easily remove 600 scratches.

Are you using a backer? A wine cork works well.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

The scratches were probably already there and the 600 did not remove them. Stay on the 600 until you get a uniform finish. 1k will easily remove 600 scratches.

This is what I was thinking also.