Guidance on old razor buying

Hi,

Just to save me throwing good money after bad, would something like this be OK to buy simply for the blade, bearing in mind it would need a rescale by the looks of it. Would it or does it loose potential resale value because it is no longer original assuming that the blade could be cleaned up etc.

I have been on a bit of a buying spree today and I just don't know if I'm wasting money, considering what may have to be done to them to get them back to some kind of useable razor.

Here is another I just passed on, only because the scale is broken by the hinge pin.

So what do you reckon, I just don't wanna throw money away :)

Thanks

John

Oh Well,

I let this one slide also.

John

Good. If you're just looking for a blade, you can find some excellent specimens in the $10-15 range without needing to re-scale unless you get artistic on us.

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Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Good. If you're just looking for a blade, you can find some excellent specimens in the $10-15 range without needing to re-scale unless you get artistic on us.

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I guess I have just been looking at the less expensive end of the market, realizing or hoping that some of them could come up nicely with some TLC.
But it is hard to tell from some of the crappy pictures that are posted. Makes you wonder if people do really want to sell stuff, or have something they don't want you to see too clearly.

So was it a good thing not buying those two in the first post? I'm just looking for some idea of good or bad.

Thanks

John

There are some great bargains in the $10-$15 range on ebay. One of my best shavers was $11 on ebay, and was absolutely mint until I honed it up.

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Originally Posted by mparker762

There are some great bargains in the $10-$15 range on ebay. One of my best shavers was $11 on ebay, and was absolutely mint until I honed it up.

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Ah yes there are probably lots of great finds on ebay, it's just a matter of finding them or recognizing the good from the bad.

I'm at the moment torn between buying new, or buying on ebay and hoping I can do them up. Just trying to weigh up the pros and cons of restoration. The biggest thing for me would be the personnel satisfaction of restoring something that is a bit worse for wear. I don't see a problem with rescaling etc it just may be the cost in doing it?

John

One of my best shavers cost less than $10 shipped. Not much of a looker, didn't need any serious cleanup (polishing compound and a rag was about it), the scales are just fine and it was easy to hone up. The rest of my rotation is also in the $10-20 range (closer to 10 lol) but most of them needed some work with the Dremel and a polishing compound before going to the hones. I really avoid buying new ones for that satisfaction of fixing up my own toys.

Well,
I would have to buy a dremel, but hey that is just another tool in the workshop.
Its things like Maas and Simichrome and all the other paraphernalia that is needed for these restorations. It has cost me major big money for shipping here to Oz for every individual item.

I would really love to be able to have some where to ship in the US so as a bulk package could be sent occasionally.

John

It doesn't have to be the Dremel brand rotary tool. Here in Canada we have several other brands like Motomaster and Jobmate that are a heck of a lot cheaper. The difference is mostly in the heavy duty high rpm use which we have to avoid when working on razors anyways. I'm also sure you have polishing compounds in Australia. They may be under different brands but they should give you the same results.

While it doesn't have to be dremel I would make the suggestion of variable speed. Too much speed can cause too much heat. I like to polish mine on low speed. It never gets too hot to handle that way and I know I'm not messing with the temper of the steel.

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While it doesn't have to be dremel I would make the suggestion of variable speed.

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I didn't know they made ones that weren't VS. :shrug: However that's a good point and I'd also STRONGLY suggest getting one with a flex-shaft.

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Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

It doesn't have to be the Dremel brand rotary tool. Here in Canada we have several other brands like Motomaster and Jobmate that are a heck of a lot cheaper. The difference is mostly in the heavy duty high rpm use which we have to avoid when working on razors anyways. I'm also sure you have polishing compounds in Australia. They may be under different brands but they should give you the same results.

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Have you been to Canadian Tire recently? I got my rotary tool there about six or eight months ago and it works just fine. I was stunned by the price, too: twenty bucks!

Not only did I get the sturdy case, the rotary tool and the interchangeable precision grip extension, but it came with dozens of different wheels, discs and bits. Given the cost of replacement "Dremel" bits, it'd be worth it to buy one of these sets instead and then toss the rotary tool itself in a pile with your others.

And yes, everyone seems to think that they need this "MAAS" brand. I've never seen the stuff in the stores, personally. It doesn't matter, though. Pretty much any metal polish is going to work wonders on your razors. I use a German brand called Autosol. It's amazing.

I'm totally with you on the thrifty restoration approach too. My best shavers are the ones I've purchased on eBay and then taken a bit of time to polish up a bit.

around the local flea markets I can get Nice razors for $10-$15 broken ones for less sometimes. But now that I'll be on the lookout for razors, prices will jump 2-3x :rant:

I just did a search for Autosol, and hey guess what it is available here in Aust. They have the paste & liquid version, not sure of the pros and cons on that. I suppose the paste is easier to control with less wastage. There is also a domestic version which is suited to the kitchen environment.

They also have a plastic cleaner which can be used on fiberglass also. Don't know how this would go with Bakelite or celluloid though?

I would like to know what the make up of all these different metal polishes are? and what makes one better from another.


John

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Originally Posted by Blade Wielder

And yes, everyone seems to think that they need this "MAAS" brand. I've never seen the stuff in the stores, personally. It doesn't matter, though. Pretty much any metal polish is going to work wonders on your razors..

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I'm guessing you haven't tried the junk that comes with dremel's polishing kit. It sucks big time.

No one says you have to have maas brand. There's also flitz and other's have tried different products they're perfectly happy with. Maas is the brand of choice because it's withstood the test of time. You can get maas online easily on ebay and amazon.com. It's also at most wal-mart super centers :p.

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Originally Posted by FUD

I'm guessing you haven't tried the junk that comes with dremel's polishing kit. It sucks big time.

No one says you have to have maas brand. There's also flitz and other's have tried different products they're perfectly happy with. Maas is the brand of choice because it's withstood the test of time. You can get maas online easily on ebay and amazon.com. It's also at most wal-mart super centers :p.

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Yes granted you can buy Maas online, but if I must buy online I would like to combine with other stuff like simichrome or flitz etc to at least making shipping worthwhile to me here in Oz. I have found one ebayer that does Maas and simichrome but does not ship internationally.

Unless there are any takers that would be happy for me to ship to them once in awhile, and then have a larger parcel to wrap and send for me :) I have other stuff I also want to order but the continual little orders with the $10 a pop postage really adds up after a very short time.

John