Case "Red Imp" & Kinfolks "The Ace" Cleaning & Restoration

I recently inherited my grandfather's straight razors. Both razors are in need of some TLC.

I would like some suggestions on how to properly restore these to the best working condition possible.

Thank you for your help in advance.

Cheers,

w00kw00k

Hey Wook!
Great to have you on the forum. My advice would be to check out the SRP Wiki under the Razor Blade Restoration link. Category:Blade Restoration - Straight Razor Place Wiki

This has lots of very valuable info in it about sanding, polishing and restoring a blade. Also, since these sound pretty personally important (along with this sounds like your first restoration project), you might want to consider looking in the classified section to have them restored by an experienced member. I know of a few guys on the forum that are excellent at restoration and could probably help you out. Hope that helps!
Take care.
-Sam

Hello and welcome to SRP. Nice razors. Looks like Granddad liked the Red Imp due to the heavy home wear at the top.

They are not in bad shape. As a newbie (don't know your tool experience) I would say just scrape off the gunk with a single edge razor like the ones used in box cutters and polish them up with some Mass metal polish sold at Ace Hardware or on line. Then send them out to a Honemister for proper sharpening. Look in the Classified section of this site to fine one. They may be able to bring those blades to a better shine that you can get with Mass. Depends on your budget. Good luck!

Thanks for the warm welcome and quick responses.

I would like to do as much of the work as possible. I think that there would be immense satisfaction in restoring them myself.

I am experienced with wood working and consider myself pretty handy. I have read the wiki restoration page and will give it my best shot. I still have a few questions:

Any pointers on removing the pins from the scales?

When I straighten the edge, how coarse of a stone should I use to hone the edge? I have a 4000/8000 stone, but I don't believe it to be sufficient to straighten the edge.

What is the best way to polish the blade? Metal polish or a dremel tool?

What is the best way to clean and polish the scales?

Once all that is completed, any pointers in putting the scales back together?

Thanks again for your help. I'll be sure to post updates and pictures of my work.

Cheers,

w00kw00k

If you have any value in the heirlooms and based on your questions I would suggest buying a few razors from an antique shop or Ebay to practice your restoration skills on. Make your mistakes and/or affirmations on razors of lessor value.

As to your questions, the 4k will do it but will take more time than a 1k or courser grit hone. There should be stuff in the WIKI to remove and re-pin scales. Start the blade polishing with the least intrusive method and work to more aggressive slowly.

Heirlooms are not the place to learn these skills on. Regardless of the skills people have I do not know anyone that was born knowing how to work on razors.

Good luck.

+1 to what Joed said about getting a practice razor or two. Another word of advice: If you're going to do some sanding, make sure you get some really, really fine grits, as well as course grits. To get a mirror finish you need some really fine X,000 or higher sand paper. I know that little piece of advice would have helped me out immensely when I first started! Cheers.