Thread: Nice to meet yall, starting to restore razors.

Getting there. Pins are not tight yet, but had to stop. As I magnified the hinge pin I noticed a crack in the scale. Glue gets here tomorrow or Sat so I can fill it before finishing pinning.

All yall's work is starting to pay off. I got the first one done and got a shave off of it last night. Not sure what grade yall would give it, maybe a D or a C. Fred Broeker of Broeker Bros stamp.

This is one of the first ones I did, so it was sanded and not cleaned with 3M polish. But, as I was honing it, and looking at it with my new loupe, I noticed some heavy scratches that were not blended out. I think I will just accept that as a rookie error.

Pinning: I know my heads aren't great, but to my naked eye they look ok. I had some trouble with the wedge end. I suppose I could have used some sort of spacer that puts the scales tight against the wedge on both sides rather than trying to get the pin to clamp it up into that angle.

This is repinned with the existing scales. There was a crack in one of them that I glued with CA so it is nice and strong. But there was some green (tarnish from the pin?) in the crack that is now sealed in.

Hone wear: OK, so what happened was as I was trying to reshape the heel I wanted to see if the stabilizer was clear of the edge and I thought "well, this diamond plate can put a rough edge on it real quick" and never thought "so lemme tape this spine". Since it was real ugly, and I was having some issues getting it honed, I did some experimenting with and without tape. I will probably leave it rather than trying to polish it back up.

Anyway, anyone that wants to offer critiques, I'm braced and ready.

Thanks, I would not have gotten here without yall.

Originally Posted by outback

Lots of rubbing with steel wool and 3M, followed with 3M on a rag, should get it looking pretty good.

For instance...the Clauss in the top of this pic.
Attachment 325478

Used to look like this, before the 3M

Attachment 325479

I have no idea why it posted both, the first one was deleted.

OK, it is not really a question, but here is the finished magnetic razor. It was funny, it kept sticking to the anvil during pinning. It is not honed yet, but it has a bevel. I think I am going to try to get a smile to match the curve of the spine. The black marks you see near the heel are left over sharpie.

I obviously need to work on my heel reshaping. But, I think the pinning looks more better than the Broker. But, I think part of that is the large brass washers whereas my nickel pods just have tiny little locking rings.

Anyway, I see that this has kinda turned into a journal for me, but since I could get a side by side comparison I thought it was funny.

Just an update, I've got six of these finished and honed. I'm finishing so fast that I have to wait until I can shave test them. I've got one that is honed, but just needs to be pinned. I was able to reuse seven of the ten sets of scales. I could probably save one or two more of the scales, but they're in several pieces to try to line up and glue.

I bought five sets of scales to replace them. But I want too get the blades honed before I drill the new scales. If I can't get them to shave, I see no reason to pin them.

One problem with finishing them all at once is I'm doing one test shave and am satisfied with the edges, but I have no idea how they will hold up over, you know, TWO shaves .

One thing I've learned, but not made note of. I should not have polished up all the scales before pining them. I need to sand and smooth some of the pins, so I'll probably have to sand and polish the scales again.

That's usually par for the course, when finishing the pins.

Use a dulled DE razorblade to protect the scales, while u clean up the pins.



A long look thru the workshop thread, " What are you working on ". Will reveal a lot of tricks we use during repairs of all sorts of things.

Its a long read, but a wealth of knowledge resides within that thread

Originally Posted by outback

That's usually par for the course, when finishing the pins.

Use a dulled DE razorblade to protect the scales, while u clean up the pins.

Mike, you come up with the most ingenious solutions.

Not my idea.!

Just one of the things I learned from the workshop, from another member who passed it forward.

“One thing I've learned, but not made note of. I should not have polished up all the scales before pining them. I need to sand and smooth some of the pins, so I'll probably have to sand and polish the scales again.”

Yup, always hone last.

I always remove the edge with a diamond file before doing any work on a razor, even if it is just to touch it up on the buffers.

I never work on a sharp razor, it will cut you and as you found, you will usually damage the edge by working on it. A razors edge is very fragile.

So, even if you make a test edge, remove it to work on it. Besides, once the bevels are flat and in the correct bevel angle, it is simple to re-hone an edge on flat bevels.

If you do not have a buffer, you can make a mini pasted strop, by gluing a strip of leather to a popsicle stick or tongue depressor and paste with metal polish to shape and polish pins. Or chuck a small pencil in a drill press and polish with a dab of metal polish and the eraser. It polishes and makes the pins perfectly round.

Originally Posted by outback

Not my idea.!

Just one of the things I learned from the workshop, from another member who passed it forward.

Sad thing is, you passed it forward for protecting the scales when filing off the pin, then left it to me to make the leap to using it after pinning. Good thing about being an idiot is I give myself plenty of things to laugh at every day.

I do try to read the what are you working on thread, but man going back in time is like reading war and peace. If someone could take that thread and make it indexed it would make an awesome textbook.

That is a problem, a lot of nuggets are buried in the middle of threads and not searchable.

If a guy could go through the Workshop threads, one could probably make a good “How to” razor book.

Tons of great info in those threads.