Thread: Need advice for restore Joseph Elliot horn?? scales

I pick up Joseph Elliot razor from e-bay couple days ago. The razor have horn scales (I do not have idea what horn is it) which are in good condition, there is no cracks or nicks but surface is little bit rough so I think about polishing them out.
Which way to do that?
Sanding with dry/wet paper (what progress to use)?
Sanding with compounds?

...or something else.

Also is it possible to varnish horn, I am not so familiar with CA and Epoxy finishes so I would rather not to do that.

Wet'n'dry sandpaper works fine, if you can get micromesh it is even better. Horn is pretty soft compared to some other materials, and in my experience it does not require coarse sanding. I'd try 800 perhaps for the first round, maybe even finer. Go as high as you can with sandpaper, (micromesh to 12000 if possible), then polish.
I like to make sure the horn is thoroughly cleaned, I use a nail brush for this, or some fine steel wool. I just worked a nice old pair of horn scales with a beautiful brown lustre. As I cleaned them, they came back to the original color - blond horn. No telling what that brown stuff was, but I do not want it anywhere near my face
After cleaning sanding and buffing a little neatsfoot oil will leave them in great condition.
Best of luck.

Originally Posted by str8fencer

After cleaning sanding and buffing a little neatsfoot oil will leave them in great condition.
Best of luck.

I can not buy neatsfoot oil here so if it possible to put linseed oil or maybe Renaisance wax.

Some oils turn after a while, they go acidic, which is not so good for steel. TherforeI would not use linseed oil.
Rennaisance wax is a product I am not familiar with, but I know many here use it so perhaps they could enlighten us.

I find some horn protection balms on royalshave.com and shaveplace.com
So, now I am intersed if someone use them?