Is this simply foolish novice optimism?

[chazdraves]

Greetings and hello.

Well, I guess I've got the bug as it were. I'm going to try and keep this brief. I work a part time job which leaves me with a lot of spare time. I've recently come to really enjoy straight razors and the art that follows them. Moreover, I've always had a fascination with blades which likely lead me here in the first place. That said, I've noticed here and there a number of respectable vintage blades going for reasonable prices that are about 10 hours of hard work away from being real gems. To be very to-the-point, I'm wondering what the reality is of doing this sort of thing profitably. I realize there is a lot of learning as regards choosing a worthy restoration project, and there's a lot more to it, but are there people out there making a modest but survivable living at this sort of work? It seems like something I might really enjoy.

The second part of this question is that I would prefer to work by hand. I spent 20 hours over the last two days working on a real gem of a blade I fell in love with at the antique store. Like a complete idiot, I went on what I had seen in videos and took the blade to my bench grinder to finish buffing it out as the final step. The rest goes without saying as all that hard work was ripped from my hand and thrown straight into the grinding wheel never to shave again...

I thank you for your time and consideration,
- Chaz

[MickRussell]

I believe this happens to most everyone who works with a bench grinder at some point. I personally don't have one, but that's not by choice.

[Maximilian]

As to your first question. We recently had a very similar topic. Here's the link..

[chazdraves]

As to your first question. We recently had a very similar topic. Here's the link..

Boy, that's almost word-for-word. Thanks for that. That also makes it very clear that this may not be a full-time job for anyone.

As it sits, I'm making enough at my current job but have a lot of spare time. I was thinking I could buy quality but tarnished blades of off eBay and turn them around for $40-100 shave-ready depending on the quality of the blade. It wouldn't work out to much per hour, but I had hoped it could pull out a couple hundred a week and help pay off the tools I need to maintain my own blade.

But maybe that's ridiculous? I guess I forget what a niche pleasure straight-razor shaving is.
- Chaz

[TrilliumLT]

Restoring is truely a labour of love. Do it because you like to. Dont do it to make a profit.

[Hirlau]

I'll give you a A+ for your enthusiasm toward making money in your spare time.
As far as restoring razors to reach that goal(making money), not so high a grade.
Even if you can turn out a good product, you will probably "overprice" yourself right out of the market; for two reasons-
1. Your objective is clearly profit.
2. Your products will compete with "Masters' in this art of straight razor restoration that have spent a lot more time evaluating that cost/time ratio.

Everyone that I have seen refurbish or polish a razor, seems to do it for the love of the art. I don't believe that any one of them feeds their families with their work. Your product will reflect your feelings about the art.

IMO, there are more "profitable" endeavors to do with your time.

[chazdraves]

I'll give you a A+ for your enthusiasm toward making money in your spare time.
As far as restoring razors to reach that goal(making money), not so high a grade.
Even if you can turn out a good product, you will probably "overprice" yourself right out of the market; for two reasons-
1. Your objective is clearly profit.
2. Your products will compete with "Masters' in this art of straight razor restoration that have spent a lot more time evaluating that cost/time ratio.

Everyone that I have seen refurbish or polish a razor, seems to do it for the love of the art. I don't believe that any one of them feeds their families with their work. Your product will reflect your feelings about the art.

IMO, there are more "profitable" endeavors to do with your time.

Fair enough. I take it I came off rather wrong in the first post. I should express that I'm not merely interested in making a profit, I simply discovered that I really enjoyed this first razor and would like to continue restoring blades (sans what happened at the end). I cannot, however, justify starting a collection of razors and would need to turn them back around for a reasonable price which I had hoped would exceed the original purchase price to help fund and maintain the necessary supplies and perhaps a little on top as well. As I've said, I'm already making enough at my job, but a little extra helps justify the obsession to my wife

Thanks for all of the feedback so far!
- Chaz

[mainaman]

Boy, that's almost word-for-word. Thanks for that. That also makes it very clear that this may not be a full-time job for anyone.

As it sits, I'm making enough at my current job but have a lot of spare time. I was thinking I could buy quality but tarnished blades of off eBay and turn them around for $40-100 shave-ready depending on the quality of the blade. It wouldn't work out to much per hour, but I had hoped it could pull out a couple hundred a week and help pay off the tools I need to maintain my own blade.

But maybe that's ridiculous? I guess I forget what a niche pleasure straight-razor shaving is.
- Chaz

couple a hundred razors a week ? WOW
one blade that needs full restore takes a few hours to get buffed , scales couple of hours with the sanding, and much longer if you apply finishes.
Honing depends on the case but more blades means more hours spent on the hones.
In short several hundred razors a week can be turned out only @ Dovo factory, and not at the home shop.

[chazdraves]

couple a hundred razors a week ? WOW
one blade that needs full restore takes a few hours to get buffed , scales couple of hours with the sanding, and much longer if you apply finishes.
Honing depends on the case but more blades means more hours spent on the hones.
In short several hundred razors a week can be turned out only @ Dovo factory, and not at the home shop.

Sorry, $100-200 in currency, not quantity of razors. That would be absurd. I was hoping I could maybe do 5-6 a week based on my first crack here.

As mentioned, the money is secondary.
- Chaz

[pmburk]

I believe this happens to most everyone who works with a bench grinder at some point. I personally don't have one, but that's not by choice.

Since I took up restoring razors for my personal collection/use, I do not use any power tools, I do all the polishing by hand and elbow grease. It is for the sake of my safety and not damaging of what could have been a great shaver for me. If it takes me a week, month, or year, then so be it. I am currently working on a Real Red Point and it has taken me almost a week to reset the bevel and it may take me another week just to get it shave ready. I set small goals and not rush the job.