Is This Duck Cooked or Can It Be Saved?

Having lost a pristine Dubl Duck Goldedge recently to an unscrupulous vendor (not a SRP vendor!!! Live and learn!) I've been hunting another. I found this one for a good price, but it has two problems.

One, the scales are warped a bit so it doesn't close right. I think I can repair that but the second is more troubling.

The blade has a little chip, and right at the bevel it has some rust. Is this edge one that can be cleaned up and used? Or should I sell it off to someone with more advanced restoration skills and keep hunting for a replacement for my purloined virgin Duck?

I am so grateful for the wisdom, experience, knowledge, and generosity of this group!

The rust spot pretty much on the edge is not a good sign IMO.
If you would clean up the rust to expose what is under , you can tell if the razor can be restored, but the bigger chances are that the steel under the rust is no good.

The rough edge in pic #2 concerns me more than the little chip at the toe, that is easy to fix..

How rough does that edge feel to your finger nail..???

Can you run the edge over a 1k for about 10 laps and find clean steel?? (Tape the spine and use a touch of pressure)

Tough call from the photos. The chipping shouldn't be that big of a deal since it looks like the largest is on the round point for some reason. My concern is the pitting on the edge. It kinda looks like the onset of celluloid rot which means that you'll be looking at new scales right off the bat.

You will probably loose the metal where the rust is shortening the height of the blade, which will bring the bevel into the stabilizer. You will still be able to shave with it but it will not be pristine.

I suggest getting a disposable single edge razor blade from the local hardware store and scrape the rust off from in a spine to bevel direction and then posting more pics. The chip on the toe can be removed with a grinder or even a course hone. This will shorten the blade a little. The warped scales can be straightened with a hair dryer. Have some wooden wedges or the like to like to fit between the scales to hold it in place. I also use a pencil eraser to apply pressure when needed. Heat until the scales are slightly pliable, insert wedges and apply pressure where needed. Cool slowly.

If you do the repairs yourself the razor should be worth the effort. If you send it out the cost may out way the finished value.

Being that it is a Dubl Duck the metal should be easier to remove than say a Reynolds.

Good luck.

You have to use a microscope or an eye loupe and after you get past the rust you'll either have clean steel at the bevel or something resembling swiss cheese. :gl:

Hone it like Glen mentioned & loup it like Jimmy mentioned...it will tell the tale. The toe is definately an easy fix...

You could even fix that toe without shortening the cutting edge. It would turn into a spike/square point.

This reminds me of a Henckels I have that has rust and pitting on the edge. As Jimmy said, it'll look a lot like swiss cheese. A sad sight

OH MY GOODNESS! That Duck is done. I'm so sorry for you. Why don't you send it to me and I'll do you a favor by making certain it gets properly disposed of. :D

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Originally Posted by komjong

OH MY GOODNESS! That Duck is done. I'm so sorry for you. Why don't you send it to me and I'll do you a favor by making certain it gets properly disposed of. :D

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That's funny...Really funny...:roflmao

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LawsonStone

Having lost a pristine Dubl Duck Goldedge recently to an unscrupulous vendor (not a SRP vendor!!! Live and learn!) I've been hunting another. I found this one for a good price, but it has two problems.

One, the scales are warped a bit so it doesn't close right. I think I can repair that but the second is more troubling.

The blade has a little chip, and right at the bevel it has some rust. Is this edge one that can be cleaned up and used? Or should I sell it off to someone with more advanced restoration skills and keep hunting for a replacement for my purloined virgin Duck?

I am so grateful for the wisdom, experience, knowledge, and generosity of this group!

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Clean the rust off with 2000 grit 3M wet/dry then hone it up for
shaving..... if the rust is not hiding serious pitting you should have
a good shaver.

The chip on the toe can be addressed once you know if the
edge is worth shaving with. If the edge is up to par
then sending it out is up to you....

Is the warp of the scales something that can be helped
by hot water and toothpicks (shims).... and cautious
opening and closing..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by komjong

OH MY GOODNESS! That Duck is done. I'm so sorry for you. Why don't you send it to me and I'll do you a favor by making certain it gets properly disposed of. :D

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Goodness ... just a bit of caution.. those folks out east
do not have the quality of recycling that we in Calif have...
I would be happy to pay postage and recycle it here. :D

PM sent...

Hey brother, I had one in alot worse wear then that and it worked out to be one of my favorites..Do what that one fella said with the hair dryer. throw it on a 1K do you circles untiil all the chips are out and work up to an 8k strop on balsa, leather, then a newspaper and you'll be good to go! Happy shaving!:beer2: Or return it to the scurve that didin't tell yo about the chips and demand repayment. :mace:

Thanks all. It' on my workbench and I will be patiently working on it to see if it can be saved.

Well I'm happy. I have been working on my Duck and I think it is going to swim, quack, and look like a nice Duck.

Starting with little hope, I used (cough) a DMT 325 stone just to get the rust off the bevel area. Then I used the various sandpapers up to 1200 before going to the Norton 1K and on up the line, you know the drill.

Shaved with it this morning and I think it is 85% there. I have no question it's a keeper and a great one. I am going to start back on the 4K for a few swipes, then 8K and 12K, strop and shave again. I think it will be just right.

Thanks all for your advice and encouragement.

Oh yes...I might keep the chip in the toe just because it looks kind of dangerous.

Glad to hear that it is a keeper!!