Thread: Can you leave pits?

I'm fixing up some old razors, and after the first one I did I find that if I use metal polish to clean off the gunk it lets me have a good luck at the worse damage on the blade to figure out what to do next.

On one of them, there are some pits that the "black stuff" is mostly cleaned out of. They're not on the edge of the blade, or the spine, just at different spots on the face of the hollow ground blade, and some on the tang. I don't think they would affect the performance of the blade, well certainly the tang ones wouldn't.

Is it safe for the blade to leave them and not sand them out? I assume so long as I can get any rust/black stuff out of them and I see shiny metal are they ok to not bother sanding out?

there are some blades that are so bad that all the pitting cannot be removed and they restore fine, and in some cases pitting can be left for style.

+1, I've got a few that have pitting and they shave fine. As long as it isn't at the bevel it is cosmetic.

It also really depends on what you are planning to do with the blade. Is it a daily workhorse? If so, pits are probably not a problem. Is it going to be sold after restoration? Then you should probably do as much pit removal as possible.

But like others have said, there is no problem leaving them.

Heh i don't think anyone's going to want to buy my newbie restore efforts, definitely keepers. Yeah I don't mind the pits personally. Kind of adds to their character in my opinion. I just wouldn't want to leave them if there's added risk of rust coming back or further deterioration if they're still there.

I haven't had a problem with rust coming back but I do dry, strop and wipe with a rust preventative when I'm done shaving.

I'm one for leaving pits as they lay, just cleaning them out is fine by me. I love the look of age (wait they are old ) it gives them. While my restorations are not for pristine pieces, I hunt down near deads and try bringing them back to usefullness.

Of all the blades I've cleaned up I have not seen rust return or the pits (once cleaned out) cause any issues, outside of visual.

Clean them the best you can and enjoy the fruits of your labor

Leaving them is fine, but you do need to be more careful about drying and keeping those areas dry. The contours add more surface area and that means greater chances of lingering water and/or condensation from the air. I have had staining come back to blades I buffed, and it seems to happen more in remaining pits. I can't say anything conscusive, other than be a little extra careful and keep an eye on it.

Originally Posted by DwarvenChef

Clean them the best you can and enjoy the fruits of your labor

That is the best thought that I have seen in the workshop area for a long time. It sums it all up for me.



Charlie

Just because we need a different point of view here...

Before I give mine though please understand it is YOUR razor and you can do whatever you want too...
This is just my opinion, Once you start with sandpaper you should finish, now if all you are doing is using some MAAS or Flitz and cleaning the razor, the scales, then honing and shaving, then more power to you, and the razor... But when that sandpaper (or the like) comes out, IMHO you crossed the line, and the razor should be brought back as far is it can structurally handle...

Also what Holli/Dylan said is true, when you expose raw steel, it is way more likely to rust/tarnish, in fact I include that warning in the letter I send back with my razors...