Thread: Does razor restoration damage etchings on the blade?

Be careful, these steel polishing pastes ruin the etching as well.
The razor doesn't look too bad btw. I'd take it slow and just hone it.

Originally Posted by 0livia

Be careful, these steel polishing pastes ruin the etching as well.
The razor doesn't look too bad btw. I'd take it slow and just hone it.

+1 and I'd just clean it with some scrubbing bubbles foaming bathroom cleaner, rinse, wipe down, have it honed and go with it. I have one that's etched and the bubbles worked well for the surface oxidation and general crud.

For Semichrome, or Flitz a really high end hardware store may have one or more of them. Motorcycle shops sometimes have Semichrome and there is always the web. The only thing I would say is that gold wash or bluing will be removed. Other than that it won't do anything but polish. Another good one is Wenol.

Originally Posted by MsBlackwolf

+1 and I'd just clean it with some scrubbing bubbles foaming bathroom cleaner, rinse, wipe down, have it honed and go with it. I have one that's etched and the bubbles worked well for the surface oxidation and general crud.

Really! I think that is what I'll do then, because come to think of it, I don't think the character of the blade demands it to be mirrorlike. If the scrubbing bubbles gets rid of the oxidation, then I'll be a happy man. then Honing and stropping is the next step.

Sorry guys, don't mean to sound like Rainman but It was an issue for this inexperienced newbie.

So FLitz, Wenol, Maas and Semicrome vs Scrubbing Bubbles. Scrubbing bubbles may not take off the oxidation or rust as well but won't eliminate the etching or engraving, yet the polishes may?

Originally Posted by BYUTexan

So FLitz, Wenol, Maas and Semicrome vs Scrubbing Bubbles. Scrubbing bubbles may not take off the oxidation or rust as well but won't eliminate the etching or engraving, yet the polishes may?

Yep anything with abrasives in it "might" damage etching. The bubbles isn't an abrasive, just a cleaner. It's not going to make it mirror shiny, but will clean it up.

General rule of thumb on etching washes etc: for restoration....

If it is on the surface of the blade, it will most likely come right off the blade with just about anything, including a harsh look...

If is is etched /engraved into the blade it is pretty tuff and will stay very well.... Unless of course there is pitting anywhere near it because razor law dictates that all pitting has to be slightly deeper than all engraving

The best thing I have found to date for cleaning this up and keeping designs intact is the Tumbler method....


PS: Moved to the Workshop where it will get the attention it deserves....

Here is a link to a bigger picture (I am new to this so hopefully it works).

Originally Posted by gssixgun

General rule of thumb on etching washes etc: for restoration....

If it is on the surface of the blade, it will most likely come right off the blade with just about anything, including a harsh look...

If is is etched /engraved into the blade it is pretty tuff and will stay very well.... Unless of course there is pitting anywhere near it because razor law dictates that all pitting has to be slightly deeper than all engraving

The best thing I have found to date for cleaning this up and keeping designs intact is the Tumbler method....


PS: Moved to the Workshop where it will get the attention it deserves....

Have you ever thought the etching was a few shades lighter after you gave the blade a good workout? I've only done some very amateur work so far (a little blue magic on a engraved blade with a rag and some spare time) but I thought it was not quite as dark as it was initially when I was done. The same treatment on another blade with engraving did nothing to the engraving, and both were just your typical black lettering.

Tried to get a bit more out of it but its difficult from that auction pic.
It does not look all that bad.
You can clean off the little rust on the spine and at the shoulder
while leaving the etching alone I guess.

Glenn is right. A harsh look already makes it fade.