What is Restoration???

Seems that this is a catch all phrase in our "little corner of the world"..(this of course pertains to those of us that shave with these razors, not the people that just collect them)...

I am going to give some of my views first, and would love to hear about yours...

Hone: To bring the edge back to shave ready condition, the absolute minimum that can be done to make the razor usable again..

Edge Restore: A much more than basic hone, where the bevel needs to be broken down, and then carefully restored to a cutting edge then a shaving edge.. This would encompass, Chips, worn toes and heels, frowns even the actual grind geometry if needed...

Clean and Hone: The next rung up in the ladder, you use the bare minimum, to clean up the scales, and steel, then hone the razor... The only things that are removed are the active rust and built up dirt... The razor is functional but the age is left intact...

Clean, Light Polish and Hone: This would only add the use of higher grit sandpaper, steel-wool or a minimum of powered buffers to shine the steel..It would not entail digging out the pits... It would however take off patina.. You would not pop loose the scales

Vintage Restoration: This would mean popping the scales taking every piece apart, cleaning straightening and polishing the factory scales. Taking the the steel back to as close to the day it left the factory as possible, including taking out pits, if it doesn't remove stamps completly... Using as many of the original parts as possible, such as re-using those old bullseye washers..

Vintage Re-build: This would mean popping the scales taking every piece apart, cleaning straightening and polishing the factory scales. Taking the the steel back to as close to the day it left the factory as possible, including taking out pits, if it doesn't remove stamps completly... New pins and bearing washers, and locking washer, where applicable...

Custom Restore: Everything the same as a Vintage Restore only replacing the old scales with fitted new ones, the owner to pick, and design the materials used for this ...

Custom re-scale: Just what it sounds like, taking the factory scales off a perfectly good factory razor, and replacing them with custom made ones...

Custom rebuild: Same as a Custom Restore only allows for grinding, filing and modding of the steel to suit the owners taste...

All of these degrees of "restoration" would of course end in a shave ready edge, and tight, snug, centered pins...and would all start with a vintage razor...


(These terms are just what I personally use to describe these steps along the restoration path)

Nice breakdown there G Man.
Just semantics here as I know most people would define "Hone" as pretty much any edge sharpening but maybe need a term for the heavy lifting without other restoration ?.. Pretty sure I've heard you use the term "Edge restore" or similar. Those lovely razors we get that need time on a belt, DMT's or wet grinder to fix issues with geometry & other nasty edge conditions. Dunno , maybe I'm splitting hairs.

Glen, You have given a set of terms that appear to cover most if not all of the works I have seen.
It would be nice to be able to use such terms and have everyone on the same page when speaking of our works and likes.
I think that it would be a good idea to make a sticky of them.
Thanks you~
~Richard

Very clear and precise. Thanks Glen.:beer1:

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

Nice breakdown there G Man.
Just semantics here as I know most people would define "Hone" as pretty much any edge sharpening but maybe need a term for the heavy lifting without other restoration ?.. Pretty sure I've heard you use the term "Edge restore" or similar. Those lovely razors we get that need time on a belt, DMT's or wet grinder to fix issues with geometry & other nasty edge conditions. Dunno , maybe I'm splitting hairs.

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Added !!! Thanks Oz

Nice breakdown, now you have me pondering what to get done to the ones I've sent you...

Very clear and concise.

I don't necessairly think the scales need to come off for a vintage restore, but I agree with the gist of it.

Also, I would file "custom restore" under "custom rebuild" - as currently written; they are essentially the same in spirit (at least as I see it); one mods the scales while the other mods the steel.

Well said. logical,straighrforward,and concise. Even I understood it!

I see sharpening and honing as two different steps. Sharpening is getting the edge built, cleaned up, fixed what not. And honing is the refinement of that edge for shaving.

But that just me.

When I see the word vintage, I'm thinking original finishes and all spared. Scales fixed and reinstalled, collars rebuilt or fabricated to original. I know this would be under that collector moniker but thats what goes threw my mind when I think of Vintage Restoration.

Hmmmm good point Chef, lemme ponder on that a few, about how to re-word it...


Edit: I think that might have it

Lovely thread, well thought out and nicely worded. I've felt the need for a clarification like this myself but have not found the words. Hope this get stickied.

I am liking it guys, we have some pretty good ideas out there..
Sorta like the vintage car markets, you have different classifications...

Would something that allows the scales to be pulled and straightened or repaired and the blade just cleaned and honed be possible?

Some like the age and originality, the look, but like the razor to work like new.

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

What is Restoration???

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You finally broke down and decided to ask someone. I am so proud of you! It takes a lot of guts to do that after thousands of posts and tutorials :)

I think of restoration as making something like it was before. One doesn't just restore, one restores to a previous state (or as close to a previous state as possible). Eg. After I shave, I rinse the lather off the blade and then dry it and run it across a plain leather strop a few times. In doing so, I restore it (as much as possible) to how it was before I shaved. To restore it to the way it came to me from eBay would be to dull the edge, crack the scales, and let it rust for a few decades. To restore it to how it would have been originally sold in 1875 or thereabouts would mean mailing it to a resident SRP pro who actually knows what restoration is :D

These examples demonstrate what I think
of restoration as. My word in this matter
is not final until my Restoration Terminology Expert
certification is formally signed by Lynn

Thanks for writing that.

Even with that terminology guide, however, I suspect that to many people "restore" will continue to be an all encompassing, while technically inaccurate term.

I really like the breakdown of vintage restore vs. customization. I hope people start using that terminology. Taking the scales off of a 150 year old razor and putting acrylic back on, while possibly beautiful, is not restoration; it's customization.
Jeez... I am starting to sound a lot like a particular guy that used to be a member here.
I better stop before I get an overwhelming desire to read through all the cream reviews. ;)

It's a good starting point in a general way. If you are looking for an official definition it would take a lot more work w/ several drafts to get to the 'official' definition and even them there will be a difference of opinion. It's a good start. Wish I had more time to offer to this but unfortunately I don't at this time.

Makes sense to me! Thanks for putting in the time to think these things through. Very helpful!

Thanks for starting this thread Glen!
I talk with guys all the time, who come into the shop and wonder why I have straights in different conditions. (ie. some straight vintage, some with no scales, some customs)
If you don't mind, I'd like to retype your list of definitions and post them up in my shop to help folks understand what I'm talking about, and what's possible to do with a straight razor.

V/r

You'rs to use as needed John...
I was just doing some thinking one morning, after reading a scathing post on another wanna be "Straight Razor" forum, where some guy was ripping into this poor newer Restorer about what he should and shouldn't do to a razor :rant: I almost joined the forum just to refute the post :)
So I started thinking about all the different requests I get, and it started to fall almost into categories, or stages.. and of course I stated typing on here :D

Thanks for linking this thread glen, hopefully now it has a new post on it it will be dragged kicking and screaming back to the future :)

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

Thanks for linking this thread glen, hopefully now it has a new post on it it will be dragged kicking and screaming back to the future :)

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I think it just has been Ed! :D

James.

One section mentions 'modding' the steel. This one puzzles me a little and it would be helpful to have an example. Would the re-grinders of old (and new) of wedges to make hollow grinds be modding the steel? Are there less radical examples of modding the steel?
BTW, thanks Ed.

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Originally Posted by WW243

One section mentions 'modding' the steel. This one puzzles me a little and it would be helpful to have an example. Would the re-grinders of old (and new) of wedges to make hollow grinds be modding the steel? Are there less radical examples of modding the steel?

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Points, Spines, Shoulders, Tangs, and Tails tend to be the most often used targets

Changing the Point, or adding decoration to the Spine, or for instance taking off the problematic shoulders of a GD would be common examples of Modding the razors.. Perhaps making Kamisori styles out of broken razors, or changing the tang and adding a different one piece style handle..

All these have been done

A clear and concise order of operation is outlined in detail. If you could only hang said sign or perhaps Menu for all to see.
For those in the business . A Services offered and commiserate prices to go along with it.
If all members adopted said verbiage and had the skill set to meet or exceed expectations for each definition listed.
WOW the community would have crystal clear clarity of expectations and services rendered.