Thread: Is this simply foolish novice optimism?

Start at one a week. This is about getting it right, not being fast and a rushed job is a crappy job.

Originally Posted by MickRussell

Start at one a week. This is about getting it right, not being fast and a rushed job is a crappy job.

Amen to that. I just gashed my finger open on my other "shave-ready" razor in an attempt to put a quick polish on it. Darn reflexes don't always function in the direction one might hope.

But, you're right. Posting this thread has actually been very beneficial for me already. I was ready to drop a lot of money and really dive into this head-first. I think this has helped me tone down the impulse and think more clearly. Even after destroying a prized blade and gashing my finger open today, I'm still interested in giving this a go. There's something really remarkable about taking a 100+ year-old blade that hasn't been used in decades and then doing your darnedest to bring it back to nearly like-new condition. I may have broke that blade today, but I'm still nothing short of amazed at what was possible in restoring it. Just to think of where it has been prior and what it's seen and then giving it a new lease on life and making it desirable again now just as it was 100 years ago to the first gent that bought it...

But I digress. Thanks for the wise words, everyone,
- Chaz

Consider all options, then follow your heart, simple as that.

Good luck, by the way!!!

tinkersd

You'll never make a real living at restoring razors on the side; some spare change, enough to pay for tools, hones, etc? Yes, not enough to pay your mortgage though.
I think we all started the same way, doing it by hand. Once you start trying to offer your services for hire, you are not playing on your own time anymore. You'll either have to sacrifice taking on more business and faster turn-arounds, or you'll move up into power tools to streamline yourself.

In my opinion, if you are going to offer restorations, you should be capable of honing. In my experience, most guys who need work would rather pay you a few extra bucks to have you hone it for them than have to worry about trying to hone a freshly restored razor.

Everyone has goofed up at least once doing a restore in the early days, so don't feel bad, BUT when people send you their prized heirloom razor, there is no room to fudge up. Keep practicing on your own razors until you really know what you're doing before you try to take on business. That would be my advice as a part-time professional restorer.