Thread: What am I getting into?

I've been using a straight for a month and a half. Finally gave my mom my fusion a month ago. Yet my starter razor is not the prettiest but it shaves really well; which is why I'd like to completely clean it off and rescale it all myself. Have it as reminder of when I started straight shaving or give it to a friend. The Blade is a 5/8 Shefield Square Point I believe, but you tell me if I'm wrong. From what I know its really old (1930s). It was cleaned with all kinds of chemicals prior to use and honed well but there are these really old black spots that will not come off with whatever I use.
I've tried detergent, CLR, bleach mixed with water. What do you suggest I use to get them off?

I'd also like to rescale it. I'd like to make the scales myself, I have some woodworking experience and I'm just wondering how hard it'll be and what should I look out for while making the new scales?

Here are some pictures of the razor. Sorry, they were taken on an iPhone (can't find the digital camera).




http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/425/img0009pk1.jpg
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/6889/img0008ru1.jpg
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/227/img0007bb6.jpg

Originally Posted by myslin

It was cleaned with all kinds of chemicals prior to use and honed well but there are these really old black spots that will not come off with whatever I use.
I've tried detergent, CLR, bleach mixed with water. What do you suggest I use to get them off?

Sand paper. Lots of sand paper, ranging from 120 grit up to 1000 grit, then buffing wheels on a dremel or another fast drill device.

I'd also like to rescale it. I'd like to make the scales myself, I have some woodworking experience and I'm just wondering how hard it'll be and what should I look out for while making the new scales?

An oily wood is good if you don't want to do a CA or Epoxy finish, but if you have any woodworking experience this should be pretty straight forward. Just make a pattern on paper, transfer it to the wood, cut out the outline, sand them smooth, maybe round the edges off, drill holes and pin them to the razor. There are threads on how to do all of this if you look around.

Or leave it as is, pick up another cheapo on ebay, practice on that one, then do this one.

If you are new to restoration, then I'd say remove the scales and handsand the blade.

Removing scales is easy enough: remove the pinheads with a dremel and a cutting disc or grinding bit.
then handsand the blade as explained in my handsanding howto:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=17007

Then polish the blade with the dremel, a buffing wheel bit and polishing compound.

Then put on new scales, hone it and use it.
This project will also dull your razor, and it will take you a significnt amount of time so it might be a good idea to buy a cheap second razor (like a 30$ wapienica, which are excellent razors) so that you don't have to rush your project.