Ouch, my vintage razors turned black! :-(

Hello,

I managed to get my hands on three vintage razors. I went straight to cleaning and disinfecting them with denture tabs, soaking the razors for a few hours. I thought denture tabs were OK because, well, they are used for dentures and dentures have metal parts. Experienced members know what's happened, I know because after the fact I've found some threads talking about it: the blades turned black.

Now, is there a way to restore them? Maybe metal polish? I hope so, because, in my country, vintage straight razors in good condition are not that easy to come by, and shaving with a modern razor is a bit less poetic to me.

Thank you.

I think black blades sound pretty cool
If however you dont like it that way metal polish would be the first ting to try.
second steel wool or fine wet & dry paper if the frst dont work

Could you post pics? Do they look patinaed or black?

I would try to use some detergent to wash it off. If that fails I would use some metal polish.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by walto

I would try to use some detergent to wash it off. If that fails I would use some metal polish.

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The blackening was the result of a chemical reaction. Detergent will not remove it.

@souschefdude They look smoked.

Here follows a photo of a blackened blade. I do not own a camera, so the photo is mobile phone camera quality.

What experienced SRP members do recommend? I'd prefer avoiding further mistakes. May be a grinder can take better care of it than a noob like me?

Thanks.

egar, IMHO, your blade looks pretty sick! I'd like to try to replicate that effect on one of my blades.:D what chemicals would I need, what is the exact process, and how long does the blade need to sit? may I see more pic's of it? I'll probably do it to my wade & butcher!

As someone else already pointed out, use of a polishing material like Maas, will most likely start to remove it. The odds are good that it is only a very thin layer on the surface.

Years ago I touched up the bluing on an old shotgun. I used a solution that worked cold, and there was another solution that would remove bluing. If you know a gunsmith, check with them. I have no idea what the stuff could do to the scales, though. Maybe a gunsmith would know that too.

Whatever it is, it's only a molecule or two deep on the steel, so it's only a cosmetic crisis.

Good luck!

Try a piece of 3M 2000 grit sandpaper (available at an auto supply store), wet, wrapped around a cork to polish the stain off. Keep it wet with sprays of water. Stay away from the edge or it will need to be honed afterward. The high grit wet sandpaper will not hurt the finish of the blade under the stain.

I think it actually looks pretty good.

I would try the MAAS or other metal polish first, I have a few razors that do have some 'swirl marks' from 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper (used wet).

In experimenting with vinegar, I found that the blackening from cold vinegar treatment would wipe off with a soft cloth and Simichrome (any metal polish would work). When I started using hot vinegar, the blackening would be much deeper and would not wipe off. It still comes off very easily with a buffer.

So... I would try a cloth and metal polish first. If that doesn't work, buffing with a high grit (or sanding with a high grit) should work just fine. I wouldn't go to lower grits until it's established that higher grits don't work. (start with what does the least damage to the blade, and move down if it's not working)

Oh, and FWIW, I think the blade does look pretty good as is.

I tend to agree with HNSB...My rule of thumb is to use the least abrasive method first--that is, metal polish and a cloth. If that does not work, then move to the finest grit sandpaper you can find.