Thread: First restore in progress--Dubl Duck Perlduck

Please be gentle as this is my first restore, my first post on SRP, and once I get this razor finished and honed, my first straight shave.

I've been shaving with a SE for quite sometime now, but really thought it would be fun to try a straight. I love making old things look new again, so why not try to restore a razor? Here's what I have so far.......

Bought this razor in a group with a Shumate Barber and a Gem OCMM SE for $25. The scales were completely busted up (falling apart in my hands), so it became my first victim, er restore, I mean.

The picture shows the blade as I purchased it. The baggie is what's left of the scales.

This is after 400 grit w/d. I am only hand sanding. I have a dremel, but really I enjoy hand sanding. No, honest. I really do. It's very peaceful.

I love the satin look, and thought about keeping it here, but decide to go all out with my first restore.

After 800 grit. Getting closer...

All I had access to is 400, 800, & 1000. I would have liked more options, but ya uses what ya hases.

Ouch, crap. That hurt. Even not shave sharp, it's still sharp enough. I later got a cut on my thumb that was deep and hurt like heck. It bled seemingly forever.

Final, after 1000 grit wet sand and Mother's brand mag and wheel polish buffed with a cloth diaper. In the first picture, my daughter was about four feet from the razor. The last one shows the ability to read newsprint in the reflection. If I had 1500 or 2000 grit, I could have done even better, but I can't find it around here, even at auto shops.

I'm going to use red oak for the scale material. I love working in oak, and it should be fun for this project. I'm a little worried about using such an open grained wood though. Maybe I should order a piece of leopard wood or something different instead. Hm.....

I also will mix the color a little darker. I'm pinning with a single wedge pin and both the pivot and wedge pins will be nickel. Dark wood against nickel pins will look nice.

Also, playing around with scale shapes. I thought I had it almost figured out. I was going to go with a traditional pattern, but then I saw some custom scales cut from Sintra over at Whipped Dog. A little different look, but very cool.

And here's that shape. Again, it's based off a picture from Larry over at Whipped Dog.

Wow, that blade is printed up! Just noticed that.


So, that's all I have done right now. It took me around 6 hrs to get the blade clean and another hour or so for the scale pattern. Not too bad so far I wouldn't think.

Still undecided on the wedge. I am kicking around in my head using the same wood as the scale and lining it with nickel or stainless plate! That would look beautiful. We'll see though. That might be a tall order for hand tools.

Comments, suggestions, critiques are always requested and appreciated. Help me learn.

Brian

Nice...
Very nice....

Congrats! Sounds like you got bit by the restore bug, and haven't even had the joy of the straight shave yet.

You have a fine little razor there.

Since we all have opinions, I'll share mine about the scales. I would recommend if wood scales/wood wedge desired, not to use metal liners. Will be difficult to final finish due to differing hardness. As sanding, too easy to sand away more wood than metal.

If want wood, I would do a contrasting color wood instead, without the liners.

Lastly, although attractive, the scales may be a little awkward when stropping as a new user. I would consider taking away the notch. Think when holding fully open, dragging down the strop, and then flip it, the scales will be moving to hold firm. If they were straighter where you grasp when open, it will be easier when you flip it. Easier means you wont be prone to nick your strop due to the razor geometry. You'll just have your learning skills to blame. Everyone is slightly clumsy at the start, no reason to add a disadvantage.

Stropping is a lifetime habit, so best to learn 'Plain Jane" from the beginning I feel.

Niftyshaving, thanks!

DirtyChrome, thanks for the opinion. It's definitely food for thought. I'm still very undecided on the scale material and the wedge material. Most likely I will just have to wait and see what stands out to me when it comes time. As far as the scale shape, I will be restoring a Shumate Barber next and a member over at Badger and Blade is honing up another razor for me right now. I'm keeping the Shumate's original scales and the other razor has it's original scales too. So if I have to keep this one for a while and not use it until I get a little bit more experienced, then that's ok.