Thread: Forgive me if this is answered somewhere...

So some of you may have seen the thread I posted about the antique blade without scales. I want to send it to Joe to be restored.

I was wondering, whats the process to take a cheap blade out of scales and put this antique blade in?

The thread with a picture is here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=8245

If you are going to send the blade to Joe for restoration why not also send him the razor. He will remove the blade from the scales and pin the antique blade into it.

Just a thought, if you don't have experience removing blades from razors you can easily damage the scales in the process.

Removal:
1) Take a piece of masking tape.
2) Puncture it
3) Place it with the hole over the pin (to protect the scales from damage)
4) Start filing the pin until it's flat.
5a) Drill it out (it's 1/16")
or
5b) Keep on filing until you're almost down to the scale
6) Gently pry the scale off and push out the pin.

Attachment:
You'll need a 1/2" (approx) long 1/16" piece of a brass rod (any better equipped hobby shop) as a pin, 2 #0W brass washers to go between the tang and the scales, 2 #0 brass washers to go outside the scales (microfasteners.com). Trim the pin to the right length and gently tap on a hard surface (a small 11lb anvil costs like $10) with a small balpeen hammer to peen over and tighten. By gently I mean gentle enough to hit a finger and not feel any pain.

There are better descriptions than mine, just search the restoration forum. However, make sure to get the #0W washers.

Knowledge is power

Thanks for the info. I guess I will have Joe handle it. I like to do things on my own most of the time but I don't want to damage anything.

If you're only doing one blade it's better to have it done by someone else. For those of us who re-scale a bunch of them, the DIY approach is more practical.

It seems to me that this would be a process to practice a few times first on a set of scales you don't actually want. If what you want is the razor, and you practice removing the scales, then you won't mind when you break the scales your first time through. It's like learning to shave on somebody else's face.