Scale on restoration???

Hello everyone, I hope your day is going well. I have an old razor that I would like to have restored. The blade has rust and a bit of light pitting. The scales (Ivory), however, are in wonderful shape and are adorned with beautiful floral brass washers. There are optimists in the world that say anything is possible but realistically speaking, can an adequate blade restoration be done without removing the scales? Also, can original washers be unpinned and re-pinned with reasonable success. I like my razors to be as original as possible but also usable. Thanks in advance...

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Originally Posted by Moonbow

can an adequate blade restoration be done without removing the scales?

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Sure can, I've done it many times

No need to remove the scales if not necessary, with Ivory I wouldn't take the risk at all

It sort of depends as to how much rust, but also where the rust is. In order for the razor to shave the edge needs to be strong enough. So as long as the rust does not extend into the edge, it is likely that it can be restored.

there is a difference in restoration, and touching up a few spots on your razor,, if there is no rust in the tang are nd very little to the blade,, ya,, but a razor tht needs a bit more work,,,, take the scales off and do it right. they are not that tough to unpin and save the collars and pretty things. I have had plenty of ivory and tortoise removed. Tc

Give us a picture or 2, Moonbow?

Here you go. These are the bay pics as my offer was just accepted and I do not have the razor in hand. There is a blade etching that will disappear with any work but I am Ok w/ that.
Attachment 298686

That could be done with scales-on. Tedious.

A few I did in 2011.....Ironically, I just finally brought them to the shop to be honed for the first time.
Have been 'display razors' since cleaning them up. Time to shave them.
https://sharprazorpalace.com/custom-...sh-razors.html

Depending on how clean you want them. Yes, it can be done. Getting rust out of the pivot area is not going to happen unless you unpin. You can get a lot out but unless you unpin, it's not all going to come out. Just be very careful as it doesn't take much to break Ivory.

BTW, that is one cool old razor. What does the tang stamp say?

Nice razor.
Honestly I would start that one by making sure I could get a nice clean bevel set.
Even though I know better, I recently made scales for a razor I have had around for a while. I had done quite a bit of work to it some time ago. I hope I can use the scales on another razor, because this one is toast.

The tang reads "Silver steel ...then..Sheffield" There is no makers mark per say. So...whats the general consensus? Un-pin it, re-use the washers and hope it goes back together....or simply work the blade and keep scales on? please give me some opinions and maybe an idea of who to turn to for this type of restore. Its a beautiful and unique razor...it deserves to get back in the game.IMO.

Seems up to you and your experience.

TBH, the minimal stuff done seems to be better in the long-run. You can always take away, yet you can never put back.
Happy I went minimal with my Heiffors. Just me.

For what my opinion is worth, I think you should make sure you can get a good clean bevel set, then kill the edge, do a thorough deep clean with 0000 steel wool and WD-40, then steel wool and mothers polish, then just polish on a microfibre cloth. Look it over then and decide if you are finished. That will give you the least invasive, deep clean, without removing any healthy steel. Scales on the whole way.

I like that idea RezDog. I can start simple and ratchet things up from there...if necessary.

That is pretty much what Tom was saying too, just not quite as specifically. A lot of guys around here like to keep things fairly minimal.

Thanks to you both. I couldn't agree more with "You can always take away, yet you can never put back." Well said. Once I have this in hand I will know a lot more. As I stated before, it is such a unique beauty that it deserves to be used. I don't think I have seen another one like it. Cheers!

Without re-pinning the scales I have cleaned the pivot area out many times with teeth floss (and some metal polish), works very well
Jam it in between the scales and wrap it around the pivot pin a time or two, then move the blade and scales open and closed a few times -> friction -> it'll clean out nicely.

Of course it all depends what you mean by restoring. For me it's putting it back in shaving and working order, function over esthetics.

I'm not a fan of highly polished mirrored blades, certainly on older razors, ergo I would not remove those scales but thats just me; others love it that way, for me I don't want that on these older blades, but to each their own. Your razor = your choice.

I'd make sure the blade itself is relatively clean (cleaning up the devil's spit and see how much pitting there is), make sure I can hone into good steel and that the blade centers nicely inside the scales when closing and opening. Those are the main things that I'd do

I think your taking Rez and Tom's advice to do a minimalist scales on clean up is the way to go. That is especially so if you have had little experience unpinning/repining scales and doubly so since the scales are ivory. It does not take much to bugger up ivory scales unpinning or repining them. Even doing a scales on job I would treat those ivory scales with respect and do not put too much pressure on them. You can not replace ivory scales today so an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

I think that is a good looking razor that will turn out well for you.

Bob

Nice Razor.
Last night I was re pinning some ivory scales, thinking to myself ,how the hell did they get this centred the first time around ?
Nothing beats Ivory scales in my book.

Good luck with the clean up :)

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Originally Posted by BobH

You can not replace ivory scales today so an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

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Yes, this is sound advice.
I once had a set of ivory scales crack at the pivot when trying to tighten them up a bit; I keep the damaged scales on my razor desk as a daily reminder, I still beat myself up thinking about it

A lite clean up, as said. But u might use a tip from Rez, that I've used several times. Coat the scales in mineral oil a few days before u start your clean up. It'll soften them up slightly, gives them new life and removes some of the brittleness that occurs over time. We do the same thing with horn, but with neatsfoot oil.

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Originally Posted by TristanLudlow

Yes, this is sound advice.
I once had a set of ivory scales crack at the pivot when trying to tighten them up a bit; I keep the damaged scales on my razor desk as a daily reminder, I still beat myself up thinking about it

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Cracks can be repaired in quite a few cases.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

Cracks can be repaired in quite a few cases.

Bob

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I meant, it cracked all the way through, read: it split in two pieces

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Originally Posted by TristanLudlow

I meant, it cracked all the way through, read: it split in two pieces

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Still might be possible to repair with the use of a liner like brass. It would be an interesting challenge for sure but there are some threads on that iirc.

Bob

Yeah, I'd like to see a pic of the scales. Depending on how big the piece is, u might be able to fix it with CA n soda.

I've dine it with bone, just haven't had the opportunity to try it on Ivory, yet. My understanding is, that's what's used for repairing ivory. In some cases.

You're right, although I'm not sure where I put the other pieces.

It was on a bigger razor 6/8, I'm more of a 4/8 and even 3/8 razor kinda guy, I was thinking about reshaping the scales to fit a smaller blade in there that I will use on a daily basis

I have repaired horn scales with CA that seems to hold up well at the pivot area, if it decides to separate I'll add a liner to it

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm not one to toss out or waste the precious materials. i've had very tough horn and ivory scales as well, very thick and durable, it's always a bit of a gamble

Attachment 298713
Lets take one more look at this beauty...
A beveled spine, nice! Quarter hollow? My fave! Excellent collars... and beautiful ivory scales.
She has sharp lines and graceful curves, and dressed in a royal gown... Your a lucky man!
:chapeau

Yeah, I agree completely, I have yet to come across a razor with such interesting geometry. It looks (at least from the pics) to have never been honed. I am guessing it dates from the 1830's or 1840's. Just a guess based on indicators like blade shape, the tail and pointy end scales. Again, my hope is that with a little love and attention she'll be as good as ever. I very much appreciate all the great advice and encouragement.