Thread: Puma Resto Help

Hi all, I just picked up this razor, I haven't actually got my hands on it yet but, judging from the pic, it's going to need some TLC.

Clearly there is some uneven hone wear there and a little rust, if I can get away with it I'll leave the scales on and clean it up.

I think it looks like a decent razor, so I'd like any input as to how I should go about this without screwing it up. Would it likely have been a satin finish or polished? What type of techniques should I employ?

All tips and comments would be greatly appreciated.

Linc.

First step....

See if there are any cracks chips

THEN, try metal polish (my favorite is Maas).

THEN, if there is pitting your options are hand sanding (if not sure how, ask here. There is a good technique. OR, by Bill Ellis's Restoration CD/DVD).

OR, if it's too much for you to work with, send it out to one of the guys with know-how and the tools. (This is a much faster and easier solution).

Good luck, and hopefully this one will work out. PUMA's are top notch shavers!!!

C utz

P.S. You might have to de-pin the razor if that darkness 'is' rust, and you want to get it all off). Also, make sure those scales don't have a 'burning hair' smell to them. They might be celluloid, but I'm guessing that they are not.

Thanks, yeah, I hope this will be a good shaver.

I suppose it's a little early to be able to make any judgements of what has to be done. Once I get my hands on it I can check just how bad the rust is and post some more pics.

So what exactly does the burning hair smell indicate?

The burning hair smell, or something similar is 'sort of' what the celluloid degradation could smell like. I'm thinking that the condition of that blade, it does not seem to be the case. You'd see more rust toward the edge of the blade, or the part of the blade that sits between the scales (most exposure). That patena is more uniform all over.

It might just need a good polishing! It would not be the first time a really dirty looking blade looked to be rusty but was just gunked up.

Good luck!!

C utz

Yes there is alot to do on that one. Quite a bit of rust and probably corrosion. Upon inspection I would first just clean it up with some soap and water, maybe some WD-40 in case there is grease or dried protectant of some sort. Then I'd use a good metal polish like maas or simichrome and see what it does. My guess is it will take a dremmel or if you have a lot of time some sand paper or steel wool for starters. You really need to inspect it first to see how it looks after initial cleanup and then you can figure what it will take. If there is corrosion you'll have to figure how much and if its worth the effort. It looks like the edge is gone so you have to redo that also. It will be a big project but will be worth it in the end. The key will be the corrosion issue.

I would definitely take it off the scales. It will make it easier and safer to work on.

Okay, so it's arrived. Covered in tiny pits of corrosion. I think I should be able to get it cleaned up nicely- but what's the best approach with regards to the blade shape.
You can see that there's a lot of hone wear; the blade measures a full 6/8 at the heel, but at the toe it's about 1mm narrower. Do I just have to learn to live with it, or should I try and get the spine to a point where the wear is more or less even the whole way along? I'm just thinking if I have the spine wear even, then the bevel will also be the same the whole way along.

Thoughts?