restoration and general mumblings

Hello from Lawrence Kansas, long time reader, first time poster (sorry, I always wanted to use that line)

Anyway, I'm a poor college kid so I need a cheap good razor that is a quality blade, not a fan of "beginner" stuff in general and dont need fancy inlays or exotic scales. I probably wont collect straight razors or rather, be allowed to collect them ;) I don't have a brand specific but I thought some vintage razor with a blade that isnt too big but not too small, maybe a 5/8 or so and in good condition or in need of some work for a reasonable price. Enter Ebay. I found many nice looking razors but need to know a few things. Many posts I've seen mention people as good restoration options but I wanted to know whether there are any rules of thumb as far as the usual service charges go. Obviously they vary but I mean, if I buy some ancient wade and butcher used to shave george washington for 5 dollars, is it liking that a kindly member could buff and fix it up for under 60 dollars? Is it common to have to go through a lot of grinding/extensive honing and repinning/scaling for old ebay finds or should i limit myself to the 20 dollar variety not so ancient blades?
Also, I found a couple websites with limited stocks of wapi razors (none on ebay when i checked today) but most say that they are "hand-honed" so I wouldn't need a honing service. I would like to get the wapi rescaled by someone but was too shy to pm joe chandler as a n00b. Does anyone know whether he can do it? Anyone else that offers inexpensive but good services (not to say that there are not hundreds but someone who is inexpensive to work with?) I dont want anything too fancy just some nice dark wood or maybe some black "stuff". As you can tell I'm vague on scale materials so i suppose i need a master craftsman's advice too. woah. sorry for the long post lads and ladies.

post summary
I'm excited about straight razors and talk alot.
I want a vintage razor and have it honed/restored if need be by someone not me.
failing that, I want a wapi bought pre-honed (legitimately shave ready not factory honed) and I want it rescaled with some delicious dark wood or unknown substance found by hamsters and hand-tooled by aliens, or not.

Thanks, you are great for reading this.
-Alex

Anyone with input on these matters would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
-Alex

I am in the KC area, approximately less than 1 hr away you are welcome to swing by and look at what Ive got. Also there is going to be a get together Oct 25th when a number of us are going to get together and have some fun, it would be great oppurtunity to meet people and learn the art.Welcome to SRP>

For the Wapi set up you might really want to contact Kenrup, and Mikeratliff here on SRP they do some ready to roll Wapi kits....

As to restoration prices they do vary and as a general rule we don't post them other than in PM's..... Hmmmmm never figured that one out, but it just has always been that way... Maybe because we have to see at least a pic of the razor to give an estimate......

The best thing to do is check the gallery forum and see who's work you really like, and then PM them... Also some of us have adds in the classifieds so you can see who does what with razors....

Welcome to SRP and we are glad to have another straight razor shaver

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

As to restoration prices they do vary and as a general rule we don't post them other than in PM's..... Hmmmmm never figured that one out, but it just has always been that way... Maybe because we have to see at least a pic of the razor to give an estimate......

The best thing to do is check the gallery forum and see who's work you really like, and then PM them... Also some of us have adds in the classifieds so you can see who does what with razors....

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Glen poses a very important question.

None of the restorers here who do private work want to compete with anyone. Furthermore, none of us do this as anything more than a hobby, so we should be allowed to price our work in a way that we feel satisfied with the deal.

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Originally Posted by floppyshoes

None of the restorers here who do private work want to compete with anyone. Furthermore, none of us do this as anything more than a hobby, so we should be allowed to price our work in a way that we feel satisfied with the deal.

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Oh that statement is sooooooooooooo true.....
I don't know of anyone who only does razors, maybe one of the guys who is retired from a career, and is doing razors on the side but still that is a hobby....

Good point "Dan da Man"

Thanks all for the feedback, I've got "auctionsniper" and together hopefully I'll get a steal on ebay and maybe if I am lucky, restoration will be honing and maybe some epoxy lovin'. Much thanks for the welcomes, this hobby is definantly frowned upon by my girlfriend and my "at least i havent bought anything yet" excuse is hopefully going to run out soon but at the rate that the bid is climbing, the next guy would have probably given up, maybe that says something about my character (or characters?).

-Alex

Oh also, strange question but is it possible to round a straight (spike) blade? I knew that is probably taboo but I mean, is it possible to enjoy a vintage spike without the spike?

OMG.... did you say neuter a real spike ????


Get a Rope !!!!!!! :D:D:D

I'll Find a tree!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

I don't know of anyone who only does razors, maybe one of the guys who is retired from a career, and is doing razors on the side but still that is a hobby....

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For the prices that Altima55 gets for his razors on Ebay, if he's not restoring and selling razors full time I'd be surprised; if I were he, I'd consider giving up my day job!

Chris L

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Originally Posted by stillinkansas

Oh also, strange question but is it possible to round a straight (spike) blade? I knew that is probably taboo but I mean, is it possible to enjoy a vintage spike without the spike?

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Yup, you just grind it round, but there are plenty of round tips out there and there's no need make your own.

I just rounded off a Wester Bros flat tip a few weeks ago only because of some deep pitting close to the point. No problem.