Cheap Non-Shaving Restoration

This is the razor I picked up over the weekend at a local antique store. I came across it while I was looking for a DE. Apparently it's no good shaving wise, but I've had fun working on it thus far. I'm planning on putting it and some other vintage shaving supplies in a shadow box on the wall in my bathroom.

I haven't taken the scales off because I don't know if I want to get that deep into it. I'm a little afraid of getting them off, and then not being able to get them back on. I'm hoping that I can just sand and shine them up a little while they're still on the blade. We'll see.

So far I'm in about $20 for the razor and sandpaper from 150 grit - 2000.

This is what the whole razor looked like when I got it.
http://www.aww-kittah-aww.com/up/fil...ght%20003a.JPG
http://www.aww-kittah-aww.com/up/fil...ght%20004a.JPG
http://www.aww-kittah-aww.com/up/fil...ght%20005a.JPG


This is the opposite side that I've been hitting with the 150 grit to try and get all the rust and pitting out.http://www.aww-kittah-aww.com/up/fil...ght%20007a.JPG
http://www.aww-kittah-aww.com/up/fil...ght%20009a.JPG
http://www.aww-kittah-aww.com/up/fil...ght%20010a.JPG
http://www.aww-kittah-aww.com/up/fil...ght%20011a.JPG

I think that some of the scratches and dents are going to stay. I've been sanding on this thing for a while and although the main stains and marks are gone, these don't seem to be going anywhere.

After looking through the gallery here in the restoration forum, I kind of like the blades that still have a few age marks on them. Makes them look like they've actually been used, and shows the age some.

I'll update with more pictures as I go, and when I get done with the whole project.

Please comment. I'd like any kind of positive or negative feedback.

If for nothing else, you're enjoying what you're doing and getting good practice doing it. I like those scales.

Chris L

Those scales do not look right... they seem nicer than the blade ever will be or was.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by syslight

Those scales do not look right... they seem nicer than the blade ever will be or was.

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They've got some dents and scratches on them. And might be a little bent. I'm no expert.

Is there anyway to get them smoothed out and shined up?

Just read that you can buy the brass tubing for pins at Hobby Lobby. Since I work there, I think I'll try and pick some up.

If I can do that, I'll take the scales off.

you work there and didnt know you carried tubing? Looks good tho! It looks to me you have the same computer as my girlfriend. It just died the other day...such a shame...

Time for some progress pictures. These were taken after 150-2000 grit sanding, and some time with Turtle Wax buffing compound. There are some hairline scratches that could probably be taken off with some mechanical help.

http://www.aww-kittah-aww.com/up/fil...zor1%20006.jpg
http://www.aww-kittah-aww.com/up/fil...zor1%20002.jpg
http://www.aww-kittah-aww.com/up/fil...zor1%20001.jpg
http://www.aww-kittah-aww.com/up/fil...zor1%20005.jpg


I picked up some small brass nails that I think will work for pins. I'm going to experiment with that in the workshop tomorrow. Maybe those scales will come off after all.

Its looking good, now im not so scared to have a go at the bomby one i picked up in Thiland.

Ill have to do the same thing with the progress pics. But the scales on mine are deffinitly done for.

+Buckler

Looks great!

I can not believe that you spent so much time restoring a "Pakistan" razor! That will NEVER shave.

Well, you gained a lot of experience on how to restore....I recommend you try your hand on a razor that will be able to hold an edge. Taking the razor to that next level (shaving with a restoration) is a great feeling.

Great work on the clean up and polish!!

C utz

Quote:

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Originally Posted by C utz

Looks great!

I can not believe that you spent so much time restoring a "Pakistan" razor! That will NEVER shave.

Well, you gained a lot of experience on how to restore....I recommend you try your hand on a razor that will be able to hold an edge. Taking the razor to that next level (shaving with a restoration) is a great feeling.

Great work on the clean up and polish!!

C utz

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Thanks on the compliment.

I'd rather mess up some crappy razor, than get one that could be brought back to life and then screw it all up. I haven't messed with taking the scales off yet. I'm still unsure about my abilities with the whole thing, and I don't have any tiny washers. lol. The plan was to go out to the flea market this Saturday and see if I could find anything decent, but I got called into work. I've got various antique shops around town on the lookout for me. I'll have myself a shaver soon enough!

Don't write it off as a bad shaver just because it's from Pakistan. True, nowadays, anything that you get from Pakistan on some place like ebay today is mass produced garbage to try and trick people, but if thing is old (and it looks like it) it could actually be something that was used to shave at one time and was sold way before the dawn of the internet (in which case they weren't producing these things to export, they were probably producing them to use in their own country) possibly even made by another company and just stamped "pakistan" for location's sake.

From the pictures, it's not stainless steel, as I'm pretty sure much of the blades on ebay from pakistan are. It might actually hone up!

I will be floored if you find me a "Pakistan" straight razor that will shave....

These are notoriously poor shavers due to the quality of steel that is used to make them.
It's unfortunate but true. New, old, what have you. The 'Pakistan Challenge' has never been accomplished (getting a bbs-shave edge) in the years I have been in this. Many have tried......
Some have claimed to have gotten the edge, to only have it dull in the first pass.

Anyway. As for removing the scales, that has been covered here many times over as well. Do a search here on 'Pin removal', or something along those lines.

Don't sweat messing up these scales. If they do break, I am sure there are people that will be more than willing to donate their Pakistan razors for you to work on. (Almost everyone has fallen for the poor picture, one razor in the group, in experience, Pakistan razor acquisition....)

Good luck and keep at it! Cleaning up the blade to the level you did is one of the hardest (time consuming) parts.


:tu

C utz

I haven't messed with the Pakistan razor anymore. It's nice and clean enough for the purpose of practicing a little and then just hanging there.

I just picked up a straight for $12 on B&B. No pictures but the description said it had a little corosion and maybe a little pitting on the blade, but that didn't effect the shaving ability any. That's right, I got a shaver. New thread when it comes in. I've still got a ton of sandpaper leftover from the paki razor.