My first vintage arrived!

Hi, just got in the mail my very first vintage razor. It's nothing special, and seems to be in good condition.

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The scales seem to be made of plastic and feel not much solid, maybe I'll think about changing them later. My main question for now it's what do you guys normally use to clean/sanitize vintage/old razors you acquire?

Cheers!

Metal polish.
Hand sanitizer gel works in a pinch, for sanitizing.

Metal polish as Outback said and then to sanitize I'll put some rubbing alcohol in a test tube shaped bottle I have and set the blade in it for 10 minutes of so. Keeping the scales out. Dont know what you can do about sanitizing scales. I just clean it all up the best I can including the scales and go for it normally.

I use baking soda/lemon juice mix to remove some rust. Then some #000 steel rub down if you have it finishing with a metal polish

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Originally Posted by Gasman

Dont know what you can do about sanitizing scales. I just clean it all up the best I can including the scales and go for it normally.

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Would you use any products or mild soap?

Cheap cleaner/ polish is toothpaste and an old toothbrush. Hand sanitizer followed by another good washing and rinses plus gently wiping and,if you have it, a blow dryer gently applied works a treat.
YMMV
~Richard

I had one of those, exactly the same C.F. Schwartz & Co. Manganese Steel, a fine little 5/8" razor. It and a couple other things went to str8razor for the monthly giveaway a few months back, so I expect it will turn up in the monthly giveaway eventually!

Should clean up fine, great little Solingen blades. I only gave it away because 5/8" isn't my favorite size.

Since it's your first vintage razor, you might want to send it out for honing, or maybe do what I did: spend a few hours with a honemeister getting schooled on technique.

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Originally Posted by jmabuse

Since it's your first vintage razor, you might want to send it out for honing, or maybe do what I did: spend a few hours with a honemeister getting schooled on technique.

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Unfortunately I do not expect to find a honemeister nor a trustful person/place to hone it nearby so I'll have to resort to videos and experience from others on this forum. I've got a 1000 and a 6000 wet stones that I'm using on my knives, I'll give it a try at them once it's clean.

Here is a piece of advice I can give then: I think the Mastro Livi videos on YouTube are really very fun and you will probably find them fun as well as instructive. Since you are in Brazil, and Portuguese and Italian are not so very different, and Mastro Livi speaks very clearly and precisely, you will probably find that you understand most of what he says, but there are also English subtitles.

He shows honing, stropping, the use of treated strops, etc., and I think he's delightful -- he's so happy to share his knowledge.

When you are done honing as sharp as you can with your 6000 grit stone, I think you will find that you need to refine the edge considerably further for a comfortable shave.

Here I think the easiest thing to get hold of will be Cr2O3, chromium (III) oxide powder. Jewelers use it for polishing, and some art supply shops carry it for coloring. It is inexpensive -- in the U.S. you can get a supply that will last you many years for about $5.

You can make a paddle strop by gluing a piece of flat leather to a piece of flat wood (if I recall correctly there is a lot of leather production in Brazil and you should have a great selection; pick something smooth, well-tanned and soft). Then you can make a paste of the Cr2O3 with paste wax and spread it on the leather. When it dries, you will have a very green paddle strop, and you can use this tool to refine your edge to be as sharp as a razor can be. Use the technique of stropping (as shown in the Mastro Livi videos) at least 100 times on each side of the razor. You may find you need more since you stopped at a low grit stone.

Then test the edge. If it doesn't easily cut hair, go another 100 times on each side. Finally, when the edge is very sharp, strop the blade 100 times on leather, being very careful not to roll the edge on the leather.

Many people find that stropping on flat leather is easier and more consistent than on a flexible strap, so as a beginner you might want to start with a plain leather paddle strop too.

This will give you a very sharp razor and probably an excellent shave. Higher grit hones would make all of this quicker, but while I have stones up to 30K, I am still amazed by what Cr2O3 on balsa or leather can do. It is great stuff once you get the technique down and do enough repetitions. Remember -- if the razor pulls on your hairs instead of cutting right through them, strop more on the Cr2O3. If it cuts hair okay but scrapes your face, the leather strop will help, but mostly refining your technique is what you will need then. That comes with practice.

It's a nice vintage razor, just needs cleaning.
All vintage razors have a story; they are all special.

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Originally Posted by jmabuse

Here is a piece of advice I can give then... ... That comes with practice.

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Thank you very much for the extensive feedback. I'll definitely look at his videos! I have purchased a flexible strop but will look after a wooden one as well, they are very cheap and available at our local eBay variety. They also have the green paste (jacaré) and I'll go and purchase them both. I'll also see if I can find the chromium oxide powder. Can't thank you enough!

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

It's a nice vintage razor, just needs cleaning.
All vintage razors have a story; they are all special.

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I've thought of what I've written right after and you are right. I just meant is not a rare, luxury-brand razor but it most definitely carries a story with it.

Some of the most humble looking razors turn out to be great shavers.