Thread: Vintage Puma Restoration Question

I’m a relatively new straight shaver (4 months). Who are some vintage razor restorers. What are expected costs for a polish and restore job on a vintage Puma like the one attached.
I just built a shaveable, although not a great edge on this recently acquired Puma, but I'd like it to be restored. There's an ugly black spacer at the end of the scales I'd like removed and replaced with one more in keeping with the scale color. I’d like it to look as close to factory fresh as it’s possible to achieve. Is that a reasonable request. I’m retired and on a fixed income. Who should I be talking to and what would you imagine it might cost?

To be honest that razor looks pretty darn good. The scales and wedge look original. The blade is not bad. Thank looks to be the worst. Nothing that sanding and polishing can't fix.

They are not that collectable, unless it has sentimental value to invest a bunch of money into. Once you start taking them apart you potentially open Pandora’s box of cost.

If you want it cleaned up, some good metal polish Flitz, Maas, Semi Chrome, Mothers or 3m Marine and 000 or 0000 steel wool will clean up most of that tarnish and polish up the blade and scales nicely.

Get a sheet of 9x11x¼ inch/6mm craft foam to work on as you press on the blade, (let the scales hand off the foam) it will press the razor into the foam and prevent the edge from cutting you and allow you to polish right up to the bevel.

Take you time and it will clean up well. If you want to take it to the next level some 1000 grit wet and dry wrapped around a wine cork will bring out a deeper shine, then follow up with metal polish and 0000 steel wool. A wooden coffee stir stick will get between the scales.

An hour or two of work and probably under $20 will have it looking near new. The Workshop forum has a host of cleaning, polishing tips and answers to any questions you may have.

Keep in mind that if you replace the original black wedge/spacer you are no longer restoring the razor as that is originally how it came from the factory. I'd just do a hand polish as suggested above.

Bob

Good replys here. And I agree. Also the fact that you dont have much as far as money to spend its an easy enough cleanup. The wedge is right. No need to replace it. Just be very careful when cleaning as a dull razor will cut you just as fast as a knife. Plus the fact that after all the metzl polishing you most likely will need to hone it again. The edge is so tiny that even metal polish will dull it.

As stated above, metal polish and a old sock is about all you need. If you have staining that won't come off with the rag, try using 000 steel wool in combination with the polish. Sanding is not needed on that one.

PM sent.

We should all be so lucky that that's the worst of what we need restored lol

You already got the good answers, i just wanted to chime in because I can't believe no one has talked about it still having the sticker intact on the back scale as proof that it's in FAR from bad shape!

I do agree, I've always thought dark wedges look odd behind light colored, translucent scales...but a lot of them come that way