Thread: Razor Repair

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this kind of question. Please let me know if there is a more proper spot. I have a set of Thornhills that look like their previous owner tried to work on but ended up splitting the scales. I would like to have them fixed up but I do not know what is possible or probable to try to repair. Mostly the pins need to be a little tighter (I've been looking up how to do that myself but suggestions would be welcome too) but also as the pictures show the ivory scales are a bit worse for wear. How much can be done and who is good with ivory? Thanks.

Hmmm...this will most definitely get more attention in the Workshop.

That's a beautiful set. It would be a shame to lose that ivory. I'm kinda stymied....part of me says keep it all original, and part of me says pull off all the scales and get someone to make a new matching 7 day set.

I just don't know. ..... ah, it's agony really. It was the last pic that caused me to waver.

Originally Posted by Maxi

Hmmm...this will most definitely get more attention in the Workshop.

That's a beautiful set. It would be a shame to lose that ivory. I'm kinda stymied....part of me says keep it all original, and part of me says pull off all the scales and get someone to make a new matching 7 day set.

I just don't know. ..... ah, it's agony really. It was the last pic that caused me to waver.

1 plus to that! Exactly. I would just leave them alone. Nice set!

You could line them,,, sorta like this




This set was done with a .080 thick piece of G-10 to keep the weight and thickness inline

Originally Posted by gssixgun

You could line them,,, sorta like this




This set was done with a .080 thick piece of G-10 to keep the weight and thickness inline

I do not know what g-10 is. Sort of a film covering? Excuse my ignorance.

Is there a way I could move the thread to the workshop or should I just start over?

Originally Posted by Maxi

Hmmm...this will most definitely get more attention in the Workshop.

That's a beautiful set. It would be a shame to lose that ivory. I'm kinda stymied....part of me says keep it all original, and part of me says pull off all the scales and get someone to make a new matching 7 day set.

I just don't know. ..... ah, it's agony really. It was the last pic that caused me to waver.

+1
Wow nice set.
The steel that I can see looks wonderful.
You cannot just buy ivory to replace them.

As long as the pivot is OK hone them and use them.

I would not blindly do this to your razors but...
I have a Henkles razor siting on the shelf that has a crack
on the wedge end of the scales much worse than
yours. I plan to grab some matching black silk thread from my
fly tying kit and wrap it up smooth and tight with
some clear nail polish.

The scales on all of yours are beautiful. I would be tempted
to do little beyond honing to to the set. I would not wrap
your razors I would just use a couple and leave the
difficult ones in the box for a while.

The problem scales could be reinforced and glued to a modern material
like G10. I would leave the extra pins and cracks to show
the age and use. Nothing looks quite like old ivory.

Piano makers are in the short list of folk that know very much about
ivory -- glue, repair, etc. There may be some here too.

For now -- a light wiping of oil.

Just thought I'd add a couple pix.

Are you saying oil the scales or the steel? I keep a very thin film of gun oil on them. Is that sufficient? The steel looks much better than it did when I got them but there are still water marks and one finger print that I can't get off. Any suggestions?

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

+1
<snip>
You cannot just buy ivory to replace them.
<snip>

While I haven't bought any due to my total lack of skills at scale making, I found legal ivory for sale here:

Boone Trading Company - Elephant Ivory

As stated, I've not done business with them, but the goods are there. One day I'll buy some and treat myself to a set of lovely ivory scales... one day.



Marcos