Something special, asking for advice

Hi fellows,

I've been visiting my grandfather this afternoon. He's weak now (92 years old), but he still keeps a damn clear head. I love and admire him since I was child.

We were chatting for a while, and then I told him about my recent straight razor sickness. He told me some histories about the old day's barbers, "there were many bad barbers, I remember one who made you jump in the chair with every pass..."

Then he said, "i've got something for you", spent a while searching in some drawers, and came to me dissapointed. "I've found it but it's useless... it's rusted"

He put in my hands a Nº 6 Joseph Rodgers and Sons. It's rusted, but it doesn't look that bad.

"Don't worry, I know some guys who can make wonders with a rusted razor, let it to me"

Here, some pics, click to enlarge (and click again to enlarge even more):

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/2923/98199194.th.jpg
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/7195/50585477.th.jpg
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/303/98041825.th.jpg
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/2367/72649006.th.jpg
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6594/83747626.th.jpg
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/5398/99897253.th.jpg

I would love to return him a beauty and shiny razor, so he can shave with it again if he wants, or keep it for myself as a legacy. I'm still a newbie with all this straights stuff, so maybe I should send it to some of the skilled guys here for restoring, but I would love to restore it by myself. But I don't have any experience at all, I don't have any power tools either.

Give me some pointers, please. What do you think? Would it be possible to remove the rust? What do I need? I've got some sanding papers from P240 up to P800, couldn't find anything finer than that.

And please, tell me something about this razor. It looks like a good razor, and I think it must be quite old.

This is one beautiful and in this condition quite rare old sheffield.
Of course its possible to remove the little rust. I would not sand and polish it entirely though.
They never had a hi gloss finish originally.
They are great just the way they are.

+1 to what Olivia said. That looks like a very nice piece and on top of all that, it's a family heirloom. IMHO, get that baby honed up and start using it, great piece!

Enjoy,

Joe

That razor could be wonderfully restored. send it out to max or one of the other guys on here. They can work wonders with an old razor like that. It wouldnt be to expensive either. I had a few done by max and he always does an outstanding job. Good luck with it.

What a beautiful piece! It wouldnt take much to clean the old girl up! Check the classifieds for resto artists.

:dropjaw: Very nice!! Hone wear looks to be almost non-existant.

It would be great if you could restore the blade yourself. If it were me and I was just starting out on the restores I would buy a cheap blade from an antique shop, flea marlek or even EBay that has some rust and practice on it.

First I would take a single edge razor blade, like the ones you can pick up at a hardware store used for box cutters or scrapers and scrape the rust off. Next I would get some Mass, tooth picks, Q-Tips and an old tooth brush and have at it. The tooth picks can be used to apply pressure to stubborn spots w/o causing scratches. Stay away from the sandpaper for the first part. This process will not remove pits but will get the rust off w/o causing more scratches. You may be satisfied with the results and it won't take forever to finish. Then if you really want to get the pitting out yo can goto the sand paper. Still, try all of this on a blade that doesn't have any sentimental or great monetary value before getting to Grandpap's blade. Good luck!!

I'm gonna try it by myself, I've found a place where I can buy some micromesh sandpaper... hope not to screw it.

Any tips on cleaning the horn scales?

I would use a mild soap(not detergent) and a soft bristled brush, then when they are done air drying try something like neatsfoot oil to replenish the natural shine.

Its bone, isn't it?
The mildly abrasive sink / steel cleaner works well there.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jorgeovi

Any tips on cleaning the horn scales?

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Just use some sandpaper and lightly sand the scales to remove the scratches or imperfections if that's your goal. You can start with 220 grit then just use 400, 600 wet and if you have micro-mesh you can easily finish with those for a nice mirror shine or get some higher grits dry/wet sand paper. Use some Neatsfoot oil to nourish the scales and you're good to go.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 0livia

Its bone, isn't it?
The mildly abrasive sink / steel cleaner works well there.

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I know bone is tough but I didnt want him to risk the possible hazards of the different chemicals in the different detergents. If you could mention a brand name of a detergent that you know to be harmless it would help, thanks.

Well ours are a bit different and I use home made ones anyway.
(Aluminium or Cerium oxide and Shaving cream)
Maas or Flitz might do.

OK this is going good.

Removed the scales, and started with 240 grit in the tang area, where it had most of the rust. That removed the rust very well. There's some pitting in that area, but I don't think I'll have the patience to sand it away. Most of it will be covered with the scales anyway.

Now I'm sure the scales are bone, sanded a little bit and it smells funny.

It's black inside the... don't know the word in english... the little lines in the tang for gripping. I don't know if it's rust or dirt. Any trick for cleaning in there?

jimps :)
little screwdriver or brass brush cleans them fine.

That's a fantastic razor! I suspect that you'll make the old chap happy just to see what you've done with his gift, he won't take it back off you!
Heirlooms like that are precious, so take your time & ask as much advice as you need. Can't wait to see it!

When you say "it smells funny", do you mean it smell like burnt hair or more like camphor.

Hola paisano!!

Tiene buena pinta, tennos informados de los progresos!!

(Hi there! Looks good, keep us posted!!)

nun2sharp: Smells like burnt hair, and it makes a very fine dust.

Mandrake: Hombre, ¡un compatriota por estos lares! Ta bien saberlo. Esta tarde sigo con la restauración, ya iré poniendo fotos...

I think I'm on the good way, and I'm very happy I've decided to make this by myself. Sanded up to P800, and I'm surprised with the results. I'm letting her rest for some days until I receive the 1200-2000-2500 paper I've ordered, with some 3m polishing compound. Meanwhile, I'll put some work on the scales.

Here are some pics...tell me what do you think. Olivia, Max, Joed... be cruel :)

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/6051/68611198.th.jpg http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/9160/97371846.th.jpg http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9488/70013918.th.jpg http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/8897/89783697.th.jpg http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/1208/35562110.th.jpg

that is fine all the way fine razor fine restore .would like to see it finished , will be nice