Thread: Average Restoration Cost?

So I tried for the first shave with the WB. It shaves, but roughly. Should I add more tape to the spine to increase the angle of the edge? If I can get the camera to work I'll post pics tonight. Thanks for any advice.

Kurt

Originally Posted by kurtlav1

So I tried for the first shave with the WB. It shaves, but roughly. Should I add more tape to the spine to increase the angle of the edge? If I can get the camera to work I'll post pics tonight. Thanks for any advice.

Kurt

I doubt adding tape will help a rough shave. Talking about 1º angle difference. Check the edge under magnification. Have you set the bevel correctly.?

Unless the bevel is seriously wide, adding more tape will not help. It's worth checking whether the bevels were set correctly during the coarse honing stage.

I think i did poorly setting the bevel. I did a little more work tonight. Going to give it a try tomorrow. The photos are not the most up to date of the razor. It currently has much more of a mirror polish but otherwise the same.
Kurt

Have you ever shaved with a straight razor before this one? Do you have any "Shave ready" straight razors to compare it to?

Jeff.

Originally Posted by Maxi

From the pictures, it looks possible. I'd grab some 3m wet dry sandpaper and give it a go yourself. Then if you don't like what you've done, contact someone who does restorations. At the very basic level, you could sand the blade a bit and polish it up before honing it.

I'm not sure those scales are horn though....I think they might be bakelite. I didn't see any grain in them, rather just a consistent lustre that's usually apparent on acrylics and plastic. I could be wrong though.

+1
sand it with some 1k or 2k 3M wet dry and see what is under the dark
places. You need to do this for sanitary reasons as much as anything.
If you have any pits I like to use a chop stick to focus on them by hand
or work them with a slip stone.

You do not need to get it 100% perfect but clean it well. After
sanding make sure you oil lightly.

A dull razor is still sharp so use care...

Next hone and shave test... If there are no pits
that impact the edge you should have a good shaver.
You will also know if more investment is in order.

I should note that I do not restore razors. I do rescue
a lot of them for my own use. An afternoon of hand sanding
goes a long way. Power tools in the right hand can do in ten min what it
takes me all afternoon and do a better job. A dremel can wreck a razor
in half a second so avoid power tools.

Unfortunately I learned the hard way how much dmage a dremel can do. I ruined a sweet shumate that I got a few months ago.

On the shave ready note, I've been shaving successfully and comfortably with a dovo 5/8 for three months now. I'm no expert, but I would have to think the issue with the W & B is one of sharpness more than technique.

I have cleaned the blade significantly since the pictures I've posted. I will post the updated ones tonight. Thanks for all the input.

Kurt

So this is where I'm at with the W&B. It cleaned up nicely, but I'm still having trouble getting it super sharp for a shave. Any thoughts on whats going on? The bevel seems to be set, but I could be wrong. I'm not sure its sharpening technique issue because I just honed the Dovo and its shaving well. Anything you can offer is appreciated.
Kurt

Just trying to be helpful, you might want to post how you honed the razor, stones used, pastes, etc, so an experienced member can try and help evaluate what steps to take to bring it to shave-ready.

By the looks of it, the razor seemed to clean up pretty good. Give it a good soak in oil.

Remember to keep your razor sharp and your mind sharper.

Originally Posted by twogun

Just trying to be helpful, you might want to post how you honed the razor, stones used, pastes, etc, so an experienced member can try and help evaluate what steps to take to bring it to shave-ready.

By the looks of it, the razor seemed to clean up pretty good. Give it a good soak in oil.

Remember to keep your razor sharp and your mind sharper.

+1

I know that when I hand sand a razor and polish it the
edge often suffers -- a lot.

My guess is that the bevel is not well set. This is one case
where a hanging hair can be used to map dull and sharp bits.
While the HHT stinks for detecting shave ready it excels at
detecting dull. A hair slides on dull and will catch a little
sometimes more on the well set bevel areas.

The other trick is to inspect the edge in sunlight. A sharp
edge does not reflect light yet dull patches do. Also inspect
the bevel in sunlight. It should reflect light the same along
its length. Some hones polish and some leave a frosty surface
but it should be identical. So reflect the bevel surface
and inspect the bevel and spine then continue rotating the
razor so you are looking at it edge on. Continue and inspect
the opposite side. Compare and contrast with a good shaver.