Restoration hardware??

I've recently made some E-bay purchases and I'm interested in replacing some of the scales the razors came with. I have found some sources for scales yet I was wondering about pins and tools for securing the pins (specialty hammers / some type of riveting press?) I was also wondering if there was some type of lining for scales a kind of moisture barrier (kind of like a teflon coat or similar).

Can anyone recommend a supplier?

I am looking for the following:

1) Pins and securing tools
2) Lining materials
3) Polishing pastes to restore razor finish
4) Does Dremel make a proper tool for razor restoration?

Thanks in advance

Go to Billysblades.com. Bill Ellis is his name. He's a very talented craftsman.

-Rob

I recommend you get Bill's CD on str8 razor restoration. If you want you can also go through previous posts in this forum. The posts contain the answers to your questions and more.

To see all the threads, go to bottom of the page in the thread listing "Display Options" and select From The "Last Year". By default it is set to "Last Month" and you can only see the most recent threads.

Here are quick answers to your questions:

1. Pins you can find at classicshaving.com. I prefer to make my own, but that is a matter of preference. The only tools you need to use commercial pins is a small hammer (tiny hammer to be exact), flush cutters, a flat file and an anvil or a piece of flat iron.

2. If you buy scales they should come ready to accept the blade, waterproofing should be already done. You only need to drill the pivot and wedge pin holes (It's in the CD). If you want to make your own scales then Bill has a blog on his site. Look in the "straights" section.

3. Simichrome, Maas, Brasso are good. You may also want to read the posts on razor restoration in this forum for those cases where polish is not enough.

4. Dremel is better than by hand and used by many. I find that having a foot pedal for motor speed control is extremely useful. Flexshaft tools (Foredom, OttoFrei) come with these. They also have more comfortable flexshafts than the dremel. You can get a cheap flexshaft on e-bay for well under $100 but be warned that it does not come with "standard" couplings so you can't interchange Foredom and other flexshaft handpieces with it. However, for the price it is a good deal.

Vlad, thanks for the tool list, I really needed to know what to get. I really want to throw a set of scales on an E-bay purchase to take it on a test drive. Now it looks like I have to go tool shopping tommorrow night first.

My biggest concern has been to find a load of pins in case I botch the job right out of the gate. I had already planned on a mild spending spree at Billy's Blades since that is where I plan on getting my scales and since I'm at it I figured getting the restoration CD and a bonzer T-shirt to boot. I'll have to ask him if there is a a section on just changing a set of scales on the CD.

I'm begining to think maybe I traded one obsession for another Oops... I mean hobby.

The CD has the info you want. It has a section on removing the scales and putting on new ones. It also talks about making your own pins and washers. That's where I learned it and added some of my own improvements to the jigs.

For the price you can't beat it to get you started.

Unless you are sure you will be doing this for a long time don't overspend on the equipment. It could be a passing hobby. I would recommend that you do as much as you can manually with minimal cash outlay. If you find you love it, then its a sure sign that with more tools you will probably enjoy it even more.

Another benefit of doing it manually is you get to feel the process. Tools tend to have a learning curve of their own and the underlying process gets lost.

The tools won't make the job easier or error proof the first time. You can, and probably will, still screw up and ruin scales and blades at least once. If you are ready for the risk and effort then by all means go ahead and tool up.

This is just my two cents worth.

P.S. If you tool up and decide later that it is not for you I want first dibs on the equipment :D.

I work in front of three computer screens all day long. I am fortunate enough to have a workbench that is a chair swivel away. I have a Foredom flex tool and lots of really fine abrasive goodies to play with. When things get a little slow, I work on a blade for a while. It's great therapy and the results are very rewarding. Go at your own pace and strive for perfection. The thing about polishing is that if you skip a step, it will show up down the road. You have to be very thorough at each stage. When you put the final buff on your work, all of your laziness will show and you will know where you failed. I am a beginner at this, but have transformed some ugly ducklings into some sparkling gems. Get Bill's DVD!!!! Be Careful!!! Go slow!!!

Sorry for the ramble.

No such thing as a ramble, I'm on a quest to know and I learn from everything I can, so I really appreciate your honesty. It's just noticable that your passion is spilling out on your post. I just got a wonderedge from E-bay and I WAS going to take a short cut just to slap on a set of scales and take it for a test drive. Now I will have to go back and REALLY make sure about how thorough I was. Thanks!!