First Razor restore - $10 ebay special, almost

Want to share in my first attempt at a vintage Straight Razor restore
This restore will be in segments as I get to do each job

First the Razor, it's a Klauberg & Bros Masterpiece 9/16"
It was an ebay special I got for $11.25 AUD,
Photos from the ebay advertisement
Not a difficult looking restore, one scale broke when they were unpinned
Below photos are the Razor before I started on it

Since I got the Razor I have cleaned off all active rust
And started sanding with 400 grit wet/dry

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAwWDgwMA...6vIw~~60_3.JPG

http://irishhillpostcards.com/img/0917/299b-0917.JPG

http://irishhillpostcards.com/img/0917/299c-0917.JPG

More photos coming soon when I upload off my phone
Hope this is of some interest to our members

Ricky, looking forward to seeing some of the progress pics.

Good luck.

Stu

Me too, Rick.
Let me know if I can help

Looks like a decent and simple resto candidate. Like the others, let me know if I can help.

Remember to save a scale for a template to go off of when you remake the scales. Good idea starting with 400 grit. It doesn't look like there is enough rust to warrant 220. If you use windex or wd-40 above 800 grit your sanding will go easier and the blade will look more even. I like windex, no real smell.

Thanks for the offers of support gents
It's really amazing how much help seems to be available here
Just ask and and it seems to happen
No wonder I like coming here

To Stu

Thanks for the support and pm mate
Hope we can catch up sometime
reply sent

To Havachat

Thanks for the offer to help mate
May visit you and learn pinning basics when the time comes
Or just talk razors and all other things related

To Medicevans

I agree this looked a simple restore
Certainly no issues so far except the broken scale
That's not too hard to fix
Rust came off easily with 400 grit
Thanks also for the tip about WD 40 and Windex
Definitely will try this out

Have a great day everyone
More pics coming
Rick

We want pics!! Lol

Have to admit, the wd40 I heard from Glen, and the windex came from Nick Wheeler at bladeforums. Seriously though, both are a vast improvemen for me over water.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by medicevans

We want pics!! Lol

Have to admit, the wd40 I heard from Glen, and the windex came from Nick Wheeler at bladeforums. Seriously though, both are a vast improvemen for me over water.

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Progress pics posted ... lol
Just a lite more time needed at 400 grit to get the finish I want
Then it's up to 600 grit and so on to 800, 1000, 1500
Hope to have progress pics at each stage
Enjoy

Attachment 86207Attachment 86206Attachment 86205Attachment 86208

Rick

ps

sorry about the pics quality
waiting for swmbo to resize them for me
Have better pics later

Better pics after my better half wave her wand
and edited & resized them
Should be clearer pics now

Stamps on each side have been enhanced by swmbo
I lost part of the stamping during the early sanding process
You live and learn

Here's the pics

Attachment 86212Attachment 86213Attachment 86214Attachment 86215

Looks fantastic! What a fun process, huh?

Looks really good so far! Be careful, very careful. Those edges bite and bite hard the further you get into sanding. Google or search this site for a blade holding jig for sanding. Worth the time to make one. I dot know how many cuts I've gotten while restoring razors. My hands are torn up all the time!

Restoring ebay razors can be fun if you do the work yourself and expensive to the point of exceeding the razor's value if you sent them out for restoration. I have restored many a razors but this one reminds me of the work you are doing: http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...o-8-razor.html

Be sure to enjoy the time you spend on your restorations. Many of my personal restorations are a family project mostly with my son who is not 17 and even sometimes CarrieM. They mostly work on finishing the scales but it may be time to get Jr into the metal work.

One day, I'm going to try a true restoration...but let's get honing down first. Looking forward to seeing your finished product.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by medicevans

Looks really good so far! Be careful, very careful. Those edges bite and bite hard the further you get into sanding. Google or search this site for a blade holding jig for sanding. Worth the time to make one. I dot know how many cuts I've gotten while restoring razors. My hands are torn up all the time!

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I hear you on that score
Got a blade jig already, and it really has made things easier
Sliced sandpaper several times already, but no fingers ... yet
Thanks again for the useful tip

To Joed

Nice looking restore in your thread
I don't think I will get to that level on my first time out
It's slow and tedious sanding by hand, but I can see some results for the effort
The scales will be decided on soon as sanding is finished

To eflatminor

This is my very fist try at a restore
I have done a lot of reading and asking questions
And decided to tape the plunge
Honing will be another challenge for me

The journey is half the challenge

Off to start on the next stage now
Sanding with 600 grit and maybe move to 800 time permitting

Have fun
Rick

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RickyBeeroun222

... To Joed

Nice looking restore in your thread
I don't think I will get to that level on my first time out
It's slow and tedious sanding by hand, but I can see some results for the effort
The scales will be decided on soon as sanding is finished ...

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Thank you for your kind words regarding my restoration. We all have to start somewhere. Here is my first restoration: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...o-co-str8.html My son wants me to leave it as is since it was the first we did together. Keep at it if you like doing this type of work. SRP's members set some high targets in restorations but they are not unobtainable. Good luck.

Very nice work. I believe that hand working the first one gives a better idea of what may work better in the future. I usually do over 50% of any blade by hand.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RickyBeeroun222

Want to share in my first attempt at a vintage Straight Razor restore
This restore will be in segments as I get to do each job

First the Razor, it's a Klauberg & Bros Masterpiece 9/16"
It was an ebay special I got for $11.25 AUD,
Photos from the ebay advertisement
Not a difficult looking restore, one scale broke when they were unpinned
Below photos are the Razor before I started on it

Since I got the Razor I have cleaned off all active rust
And started sanding with 400 grit wet/dry

---

I was wondering if one of you guys got that. I was looking at it earlier.

Hi again
Time to update this job
Got to near finishing 600 grit wet/dry and decided I was not happy with the finish
Too many scratches I couldn't get rid of
So went back to 400 wet/dry and used window cleaner on the paper
Got a better finish this time, sorry didn't stop long enough to take pics at this stage
Carried on to 600 grit and got some progress pics to share
Not re sized this time


Attachment 87853

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Looks good......I think........:)
You need to get a bit closer with the camera mate;) don't be shy.

Stu

Thanks Stu

Yeah the photos are a bit hard to see without re sizing

Got some more of similar quality pics after 800 grit
This one used wd40 to see what difference it made
Seems the sanding time was shorter and a nice glow to the blade is a bonus

Starting on 1000 Grit now using wd40 sprayed on the paper
Have more pics up soon
They will get re sized

Loking at downloading GIMP program to help out
Does anyone know about this one, good or bad


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Thank you so much for sharing your step by step.

Damn you for making me hit antique stores before I pick up my kids for the weekend!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by greasygreaser

Thank you so much for sharing your step by step.

Damn you for making me hit antique stores before I pick up my kids for the weekend!

---

Oooops my bad
Hope you can get some nice restorers
Have a great weekend mate
Hope to have some more pics up soon

Rick

Looking good, I think you have inspired me to get started on my first restoration.:tu

Take your time mate
Read all the info you can find

It can be done ... enjoy

New pics new pics.. apologies for the long delays :(
Work commitments and other life issues keep me busy

Anyways on to the restore
I'm liking how this razor is coming along
It's now at 1500 grit finish
I'm waiting to get my order of metal sanding pads
Then my aim is for a nice satin finish to the blade


Attachment 89733


Attachment 89734

Working out what scales to use
and I will probably need to make a wedge
The original is a bit the worse for wear

Have a good weekend

Rick

Tip for a nice satin: go high then step back. Say, if you want an 800 grit scratch pattern, go up to 1000 or 1500 like you'd normally do, then then sand with 800. It will give you a much cleaner base to work from.

Well at last I have put this one together
I know its been a really long break between posts on this one :(
Short version of the story - I broke a scale putting it all together back in Feb
so I made another set up and they got damaged when putting the razor together
So I put it all aside and decided to leave for a few weeks
Time dragged on and I finally got my act together
And now have my razor put together
Just got to hone and shave test it now, pics below


Attachment 107986
3rd set of scales in the making

Attachment 107986
Scales shaped and trial fit the wedge

Attachment 107989
Mock razor fitted and checked (thanks to Glen aka gssixgun for the tip)

More to come

Just a couple of pics now to show to razor put together

Attachment 107990

Attachment 107991


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That looks amazing. My eyes are playing tricks on me in the last photo - the blade appears to be about a foot long!
Could you explain the benefits of sanding with windex and wd40? I've used wd40 when sanding but haven't given it any thought... besides it's wet and I don't have a sink nearby.... Again, excellent work on the restore!

Beautiful restoration well done! and thanks for sharing!

A very nice job of work there! Now, enjoy the blade as a shaver!
~Richard

looks awesome. very classic look which I like! enjoy it!

Thanks for the positive comments everyone
Got a honing issue but I will take to the honing forums
Next restore should be a quicker one to do
Its a 6/8 Frederick Reynolds in bone scales I picked up from one of our Aussie members
I will make a new thread for that one
Thanks again for the support and encouragement

Rick

Hey Ricky, nice work mate. Good to see her all put together at last. It is always nice to finish one off.

I think we are having a Get-together later this month, why don't you bring it along and get some of the blokes to have a look at the honing for you?

Looking forward to seeing your next one :)

Stu

Nice job Rick - I look forward to seeing it in person, so to speak

RickyB --

That's a really great restoration. Very clean and looks like an excellent first go. I'll hopefully be posting up some restoration pics soon as well.

Did you have any issues with your first repinning? This is the part that makes me a little nervous, although there seem to be a number of useful videos and how-tos.

Per Rubicon's inquiry, I do all of my wet sanding with Tri-Flow lubricant, largely because I'm a bicycle mechanic and have it laying around, but also because it doesn't get tacky when it dries, like WD-40 does. The benefit of using a lube like this or WD-40 (I'm not sure about the Windex, I'll have to try it) is two-fold. The simple lubrication makes the sanding/cutting process much smoother. Like using a cutting fluid when tapping/chasing. It acts as a flushing agent and extends sandpaper life. By suspending particles in the lube you're not A) jamming up your paper or, B) rubbing the already removed metal back over the blade/paper as often.

The second component of a lubricant over water is... water displacement. By using Tri-Flow or WD-40, any number of other things, you're displacing water and fighting humidity, building in a rust inhibitor if you will. If I wet sand through, say 600-grit, with a lubricant, I can just drop the project for a week with absolutely no maintenance work on the blade. The lube keeps all the water off.

Update: Geezer hit me with a PM that was definitely relevant, so I thought I should edit, per his advice. The aforementioned is not a solution for long term storage. I find that wet sanding with a lubricant does buy me a week or so if I should drop the project temporarily, but is by no means a true rust inhibitor or blade protector for any sort of real long-term storage. Thanks for the correction Geezer!

@ falingore

Thanks for your kind words

In regard to repinning I had a few tries before I got a satisfactory result
I found a trial fit with a micro fasteners adjustable screw and nut made life a bit easier
Several tries later I thought I had it about right and broke a scale putting it together on my first pinning attempt
Put it all down as a learning experience

Watching the tutorial videos really helps too
Some of the notable contributors on the subject are gssixgun and Lynn Abrams

The Windex does a similar job to WD 40, provides a bit of lubricant to the sanding paper and helps stop clogging up

Best of luck with your future restore