Thread: Nick repair?

I just got a $12 box of beat up razors from fleabay, cracked and broken scales, chipped, cracked and FUBAR blades ... you know the drill.

One of the blades however is in fairly good shape. It has a little pitting and staining and one nick about the size of a fine ball point pen ball. The wear is pretty light from honing and the blade seems like it's full hollow. Other than the nick the blade passes the thumbnail test and doesn't appear to be warped. The question; Is this blade repairable or was this purchase just a donation to my ongoing education fund (I'll know better in the future!!).

Thanks,
Ferd

Pictures would help

However, if it is a small chip you can remove it. Hold the blade at approximately 45° and run the blade forward and back like you were cutting bread. Repeat on both sides until chip is gone. Use a course stone. I use a 200 grit diamond hone. Then reset the bevel and hone.

Very hard to say without a picture.

OK, I just couldn't stand it and got out my 500 or so stone, some electrical tape and started making little circles. After about 10 minutes of 50 to the side the nick is gone. Made a few circles on some 1K paper and it removes hair from my forearm all along the edge. I feel semi-confidant that the bevel is good and I can order some finer paper to hone up an edge.

The razor is a Bartlett, Hibbard, Spencer & Co. "Our Best Razor" with a 0 beside the pivot pin.

I then got some bits of 400 paper and attacked the pits and stain. From the looks of things everything is confined to surface damage and will come clean. In the AM I'll take the scales off and clean up the majority of the nasties and chuck 'er in the brass tumbler (I reload).

I'll pull 'er out in a couple of days and see what I have. There is also a nice selection of exotic wood at the local lumber co. I can see some scales in the future if the blade cleans up.

Ferd

P.S. I'd post pictures but my camera is a flip phone and you might be able to tell it was a photo of a straight razor. LOL!!

Sounds like you've really, "taken the Bull by its horns". Nice work and commitment!!!
Your dealing with what I feel is the hardest part of the restoration process.

Which part is that? Waiting to put it together, hone it, strop it and shave with it or waiting for the interminable grinding, sanding and polishing to be done without succumbing to the temptation to use a bench grinder to "speed things up"?

A bench grinder would certainly speed things up........as in ruining the blade. When it comes to anything concerning a straight razor, rather it's restoring, honing or shaving, the faster you go the quicker something bad will happen! Go slow and enjoy.

Oh yeah!! I was being facetious about the grinder. The closest I have to a grinder is a dremel and that's for the dog's nails.

I'm in no hurry to get this razor in service. The day before it showed up in the post, my far better looking half came home from shopping with a pack of new Schick Hydro 5 blades. When I showed her the SR she indignantly announced that I'd best use ALL of those damn expensive freaking razors!! Being a good husband, I agreed fully.

I did however put the aforementioned blade in my brass tumbler and proceeded to nick the edge again! I suppose I'll need a cover for the center post. Heatshrink comes to mind...

I'm waiting for a selection of micromesh to come so I can play with honing on glass. Like I said, I'm in no hurry. It may take 3 months to use up that pack of Schicks. By then I might have honed this blade into a steel toothpick!

A little info for you about your razor. ......Hibbard Spencer, Bartlett & Co. later became True Value Hardware!