Thread: Polishing gold-wash on blade - how to keep it while cleaning the blade.

Recently I picked up a beat up Hoffritz after one of you stole the mint one I really wanted on the bay. (You know who you are!) For the record, they are identical and mine has the advantage of personality and extra rust - which both came free, as the warped scales did - for a fraction of the price of the mint one. So there.

Anywhoo, it's a 6/8 blade with white scales and a red logo on the show side. The blade has etching and gold-wash that reads High Class. It looks that it could be brought back to life with a good polishing, but I was wondering if Mother's polish would take the gold-wash away, since I'd very much like to keep it.

I remember reading a thread about this some time ago. No matter how hard I tried it didn't show up in my searches; worse yet... I can't remember whether the poster warned against or recommended polish on gold-wash.


Marcos

Marcos,

I believe it will. You will need to be VERY careful if you use any kind of polish directly on the gold-wash etching on the blade. Perhaps you can polish around it.

Check with some of the expert razor restorers here at SRP to see if there is anything you can do--short of using polish--to restore the blade.

Good luck!

I think the general rule of thumb is leave gold wash alone if you want to keep it, ANY kind of abrasive will remove it. Even over vigirous rubbing may do damage

I had a similar issue with a blade of mine and put tape over the gold wash and sanded around it then, polished it with metal polish very carefully after I had finished sanding and removed the tape.
Good luck.

I have had good luck w/ one cleaner/polish being used directly on goldwash - Honda (motorcycle) spray cleaner and polish. It won't remove heavy gunk, and all the cautions about using gently apply. Heck, normal handling w/ just fingers takes goldwash off. It does clean and shine it well. I use it to wipe blades before sending them out.

I have a TIGER 49 solingen, mothers mag and alum polish (little white jar). By the time I checked it was too late, the beautiful gold wash was GONE... leave the blade as it, or accept the fact that the wash will be gone ( without serious dremel experience, of course )

Thank you all for the insight shared. I think I'll try the tape over method, as I really want to keep the gold wash on this one.

I'll take some pics today and post, so at least you'll see it, and then when I'm done - but only if the gold wash is still on. Otherwise I'll just pretend to forget to post the after pics.

Thanks again.


Marcos

Be careful with the tape. Some tapes will begin to take it off too.

I'm starting to think that is near impossible to save the goldwash.

Nelson,

Would you recommend a particular tape for the job? I had thought either blue or green painter's tape, or electric tape would work, but now I'm not so sure.


Marcos

As promised, some pictures of the Hoffritz: