Thread: Dead razor shaving!

OK, so I was tinkering with the dremel 'drill press' set-up the wife bought me for Christmas. It lets you rotate the dremel to a 90 degree position, which makes buffing with those fiber wheels a breeze. After a few 'no brainers' I decided a challenge (at this point all the fiber wheels look like a wreck and I can not distinguish any of the different colors of the wheels because the are such a mess).

WELL anyway, I grab a "Henry Sears and Sons' oldie (HENRY SEARS & SON, Chicago, Illinois, ca. 1883 - 1897) that is in very poor shape (see images). As I'm cleaning it up, I saw what you never want to see... A crack in the blade hiding under some gunk. At first I figured, "That's it, trash the blade, call it a day"... But then I realised that the crack is in the heel, not even on the cutting edge. This could be a 'newbies' razor if it cleans up well.

AND she did. I admit the blade could have been buffed out more, but I figured:
1. My buff-wheels are shot, and I'm not running out to the store today.
2. It has a damn crack in the heel, why go all out on the buffing....just make it clean!

I also worked on the scales. I love making dead horn come back! I renforced the splits with super glue and then sanded them flush, and inbetween each grit, I rubbed the scales down with neatsfoot. They came out translucent again!

The pivote pin is straight and tight!
I honed it up and she's hair popin' ready!

Not bad for a days work...

Do you think it's worth $30 (that's with S/H in USA already included), or is that asking too much? I mean while it does have a crack, it is not in the edge, and does not effect the way it hones and shaves...

(Sorry for the poor scans....)

C utz

How about just drilling out the crack to stop it from spreading? The principle is sound in general but how practical is it with straight razors? Just me being curious lol.

Hmm... I don't think I'd be willing to pay $30 for this razor with a known crack (IMVHO). I think this razor becomes a charity project at this point.

Good point.

I'm thinking, if you are not sure, or if this is yout first razor, It's overhauled, shave ready and made within a 15yr span of the 1800's....
Perhaps $20 shipped?

The crack is an 'old' crack and may have been there for the life of the razor. It's not a fesh crack.

Maybe I should have just trashed it. What makes me torn between throwing it away and just giving it away is that It still shaves, the crack will not effect it's performance in any capacity, and I spent some good time giving it an overhaul....

Maybe I'll ask around "Newbies Corner".....

C utz

It's a real moral crisis and I can't offer any advice on this. Just my best wishes.

Looks as though this might be heading to the 'donation' box after all....

Anyone know the address to 'The Land of Misfit Toys'?



C utz

$15 (tops) shipped is probably reasonable if it shaves safely despite the crack.

EDIT: I just saw your other posts about selling this in the newbie forum.

send PM for address

LOL!

Unfortunately, the razor has sold for $15.

BUT, on the upside, I should have more in the future. Hopefully with out any hidden features!!

C utz

DOH!

on the bright side i am looking at a nice Frederick Reynolds on ebay for pretty cheap.
Maybe I will direct my $15 that way.