Restoring My Grandfather's Razor

I would like to restore this razor, I have some pictures of what I'm working with, here's a link to them: Santoras World

It's nothing fancy, it was produced by W H Sample & Son, Albany New York, the model name is "Our Chief." As you can see the blade is tarnished and needs to be polished, that's my starting point. What type of polish and how to do it.

Also, if you notice there is some corrosion by the tang and pivot pin. And it is a little stiff opening and closing. I would suppose a little oil would help? I don't know if that's part of the corrosion, or how to get that off. My first thought is 2000 sand paper, but I don't know?

It might help if I can take the pin off and clean it. But to be honest, I would not mind, not having to do that.

And I guess, we'll get to the honing and sharpening later.

So, any suggestion on polishing? And getting rid of that corrosion?

Welcome Santora -
Stiff opening and closing is good. Don't oil it. When you're done that thing will be very sharp and you don't want it flopping open.
What you will use to clean it up depends on what final results you want. If you're looking for a perfect mirror finish, you've got a lot of work ahead of you. Best first bet is to use some MAAS polishing compound. See where that gets you. That'll get rid of the tarnish and any light blemishes and you'll have a better idea of what you're looking at.

For rust, you'll need to sand it out which could mean going all the way down to 200 grit depending on the rust. Start higher, because you can always go lower.

Check out the restoration forum here (the Workshop) for some complete restoration walk-throughs

My first suggestion is leave it alone,,,,
I would not suggest even attempting an heirloom restore without a ton of restoration under your belt... Heirlooms cannot be replaced...

In fact I only know for sure of two of us restorers that even take them on any more, and that is myself and Max...

I really, really, highly recommend that either you contact one of us, or you at least tackle a few other projects before you tackle your grandfathers razor....

I would kill to have an heirloom razor myself, that my relative actually shaved with.... wow how cool is that, I envy those of you that have them...

Restore! That thing looks great as is! Just needs to be cleaned a little.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kenneyty

Welcome Santora -
Stiff opening and closing is good. Don't oil it. When you're done that thing will be very sharp and you don't want it flopping open.
What you will use to clean it up depends on what final results you want. If you're looking for a perfect mirror finish, you've got a lot of work ahead of you. Best first bet is to use some MAAS polishing compound. See where that gets you. That'll get rid of the tarnish and any light blemishes and you'll have a better idea of what you're looking at.

For rust, you'll need to sand it out which could mean going all the way down to 200 grit depending on the rust. Start higher, because you can always go lower.

Check out the restoration forum here (the Workshop) for some complete restoration walk-throughs

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The only reason I asked about oiling, is because I fear that corrosion has gotten in-between the pivot pin. And maybe that would help clear it up a little without having to take it apart. And then once I clear it up, let the oil dry up and get it stiff again. Does that make sense?

But as you say, I was right with my first thought about hitting it with some sand paper. Starting with fine grit. I got some 1800 grit which I could start out with.

We all love the family heirloom razors here! Everyone wishes they had one, but there not too common. It doesn't look like there's that much work to be done on your's. It's in good shape.
I'd take Glen's advice if i were you, but if you do work on it, nothing drastic & don't remove the scales.
If you get it honed, you can still have a great shave out of it till you're ready to restore it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

My first suggestion is leave it alone,,,,
I would not suggest even attempting an heirloom restore without a ton of restoration under your belt... Heirlooms cannot be replaced...

In fact I only know for sure of two of us restorers that even take them on any more, and that is myself and Max...

I really, really, highly recommend that either you contact one of us, or you at least tackle a few other projects before you tackle your grandfathers razor....

I would kill to have an heirloom razor myself, that my relative actually shaved with.... wow how cool is that, I envy those of you that have them...

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+1 here. I'm just starting with the whole restoration thing, and I wouldn't even consider working on a family heirloom. I've seen quite a bit of Glen's and Max's work here on the forums, and for what they charge, you really get your money's worth and then some.

And, as the man said, heirlooms cannot be replaced.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

My first suggestion is leave it alone,,,,
I would not suggest even attempting an heirloom restore without a ton of restoration under your belt... Heirlooms cannot be replaced...

In fact I only know for sure of two of us restorers that even take them on any more, and that is myself and Max...

I really, really, highly recommend that either you contact one of us, or you at least tackle a few other projects before you tackle your grandfathers razor....

I would kill to have an heirloom razor myself, that my relative actually shaved with.... wow how cool is that, I envy those of you that have them...

---

Yeah, I know what you mean about heirlooms. I am getting a little emotional about this.

Let me tell you little about this. A little about me. I am a licensed barber, for 20 years now. I have a cosmetology license, as well. I've been in the hair business since 1975. But when I was trained in barbering, I learned how to shave with a razor with disposable blades.

And though I don't do professional shaves, I have been shaving myself for the last 20 years, with the razor I was trained in barber school, with disposable blades. But they never trained me one stropping and honing.

A few weeks ago, I came across an online site with old school barber supplies. And it carried straight razors. And I was all ready to buy a REAL straight razor, when it hit me that I still had my grandfather's straight razor. I dug it up, and started looking around the net. That's when I came across this site, along with some videos on YouTube, on honing a straight razor, which lead me to this site.

But. I'm babbling now. I guess all I need to do is clean it up. Just polish it, as it was when my grandfather use it. He died when I was only 2 years old, so I never really knew him. I've been carrying it around all this time. From New York to California.

I understand what you're saying. And I really want to get it into a condition to where I can use it. I came across another one like it on ebay for 12 bucks. I don't know if it's still for sale. But it's not as in good condition as the one I have. There's a crack on the pivoting pin.

I don't know, I was not thinking about it, but maybe I should buy that one, if it hasn't been bought yet, and play with that one?

I don't know? If you think that's how I should go. Or maybe just clean this one up a little. I still have to get a honing stone and strop. I guess that norton honing stone, as I've seen on the YouTube video, is the way to go.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Leighton

Restore! That thing looks great as is! Just needs to be cleaned a little.

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Yeah, that's what I wanted to hear. Maybe that's all it needs, a good cleaning. As I just explained to gssixgun, about me and the razor.

Cool.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ben.mid

We all love the family heirloom razors here! Everyone wishes they had one, but there not too common. It doesn't look like there's that much work to be done on your's. It's in good shape.
I'd take Glen's advice if i were you, but if you do work on it, nothing drastic & don't remove the scales.
If you get it honed, you can still have a great shave out of it till you're ready to restore it.

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This is just what I've been wanting to hear about this razor. i just have to clean it up a little. Nothing drastic.

Cool.

But it does need a good cleaning. This thing hasn't been used in a good 50 years.

But I do have to learn how to hone it myself.

It looks like I've found the right place for help on this. :rock:

Outstanding!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Leighton

Restore! That thing looks great as is! Just needs to be cleaned a little.

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I was thinking the same thing. :rock:

There's nothing wrong with learning to hone it yourself, but I think you've got the right idea buying some other blades on ebay to learn on.

As you said, that razor has very little monetary value, and if it was just an old razor you happened to have in a drawer, I'd say it was a perfect candidate for learning on.

Since it's a personal family heirloom, I'd either buy some trash blades off ebay to learn with, and THEN hone that one, or if you want it shave ready sooner, send it to glen or max. They're very reasonably priced, and I'm sure I'm not speaking out of turn when I say that either one would be honored to hone a family heirloom for you.

Then you enjoy using it, while learning to hone on ebay trash. The next time it needs honing, you'll be ready.

Learn to hone on something that you don't care too much about. And you need a benchmark razor as well. OR you could just forgoe honing and let the pros handle it.

Honestly, I would just send it to Glen or Max. Their prices are reasonable and they'll hone it for you too. Cleaning a razor isn't exactly easy, even though I make it sound like it is. Not rocket science either, but like Glen said, you can't replace it if you **** up.

What I would do is send that one to a restorer for cleaning and honing. Then buy something to practice honing on. If you can't find one, I can dig something out of my razor pile. That way, when you get your grandfather's razor back, you'll have a benchmark against which to measure your own honing progress.

Alternatively, buy a shave ready straight from the classfiieds and patiently wait until you have the skill to restore the razor with no chance of a screwup. Obviously, the downside is a lot of wasted time if you decide you don't even like restoration. Plus, you run the risk of oxidation eating away more of the razor as it sits there. Not a problem if your in AZ like me, where the humidity is zero %, but a large problem near the coast.

I would go with option 1.

Beautiful razor man. I have an old DE gellette of my Great-Grandfather's that I am using now, until I get a shave ready straight razor. I am jumping into the restoring of some old razors, practicing on the ones that I will never use, and then using the techniques that work on the one that I hope to use someday...its a long process, but relaxing and enjoyable. The learning curve is all part of the fun.

OK why can I not load this razor????
Heck I try at work later....

The pictures look pretty good, the patina of age is nice. Take the advice of these guys and post it off to a pro for honeing and you could be getting great shaves with it in two weeks, how cool would that be!

I dunno if this helps gss, but i'll give it a go anyway

http://www.santorasworld.com/image/razor01.jpg

Yeah man, I think that's a pretty cool razor and although it may seem like the pivot area "just needs to be cleaned a little", it may really entail some more detailed work to keep it protected. If you cannot stay patient and leave the razor alone until you have practiced enough to be confident, then it really would be worth it to send it off to Glen or Max or someone. Kenrup I believe also still does heirlooms too.

Very nice razor. Looks in pretty good condition.

It is a thing of beauty when you get to use Granpa's razor
It's special
Tom

Great advice thus far. Do not attempt this yourself, UNLESS, you have put many other blade restorations under your strop. Looking at that blade, it appears to need very little work, but I would rather it stay the way it is with a load of oil on it than try to fix it and screw it up.

I am not scared at all to take a $10 flea market find and spruce it up, but My dad has his grandfathers straight that will be mine someday (hopefully later than sooner) and I have every intention of sending it out to one of the masters when that time comes. My skills would have to improve greatly for me to attempt this now.

My advice is to send it out, gentle cleaning plus a good honing. Buy some clunkers and the neccesary equipment (hones, strops, etc.) and get into the groove of straights. Use grandpas razor every once in awhile, but use the others as a learnig process. It sounds like you have been using a feather for quite some time now and know how to use a psuedo straight.

Good luck and welcome to the shiny side.

Jerry

Thanks for all the advise. I think I'm going to drop you a line Glen. I'm checking out your site right now at some of your work.

I'm going to find some old razors to mess with. And have you work on my grandfather's blade.

Yeah.

I got to do a lot of reading on this.