Thread: To Clean or Not To Clean

Does restoring a razor increase its value or decrease the value? I would like clean them up, and most likely replace the scales for wooden ones. Does this effect the resale if I ever needed to sale.

Unfortunately discussions of valuations are not permitted on the open forum here at SRP. Value is subjective and an item is only worth what someone is willing to pay for said item.

I feel it depends upon the razor. Do some research on Ebay in completed listings. You will see, I believe, that "collectible" razors in original condition are more valuable than rescaled ones in wood, simply because they are collectible and original, as in an antique of any sort. You can type in completed listings for your particular blade and determine market value. If it is not especially valuable, you cannot hurt it's value by customizing it. If it turns out really nice, you might actually improve it's value.
Guys change razors to suit their taste. It's all good until they feel it will bring a certain number as they sell. Not everyone's tastes are the same, however. They are only original once! JMO

I think this discussion of 'valuation' is well within forum rules. I'm probably in the minority on this topic, but I like my razors restored even if that means rescaling in a non-original material. I don't know that doing that increases their value generally, and might well decrease it, but my reasons for having them restored are more for my own pleasure than making money off of them. I shave with them, like them shiny so that I can keep them clean and rust-free. I also like the scales to look nice (to me), and that often means replacing them, sometimes with materials that are definitely not original, like carbon fiber and wood. I'm doing this for my pleasure, not for increasing market value.

Ace makes an excellent point. After all, most razors can be had cheaply in restorable condition. They are your canvas to fix them up, as you wish. As looking as some as investments, however, some are better left alone. An example comes to mind of a fellow buying a pristine 9/8 Barber's use or a huge GB for a pile and having faux abalone scales adorn the blade with 2 pins at the wedge end. Nice, but as you see it posted here in it's glory, it shows up on the fleabay soon, as the builder/investor is needing money and is so proud of it. It does not garner half of what was originally paid. Food for thought as you proceed! JMHO

Originally Posted by Alewine

Does restoring a razor increase its value or decrease the value? I would like clean them up, and most likely replace the scales for wooden ones. Does this effect the resale if I ever needed to sale.

Like Tom said, depends on the razor. It also depends on the eye of the beholder. Show me an old Sheffield with 100+ years of patina, a full blade and scales that may have a tight crack at the wedge and a few bug bites, and if I like it I'm a buyer. Polish all the patina off it and I still might buy it if I really wanted the blade profile. Put wood or acrylic scales on it and I will pass every time.

That is me. Some guys are just the opposite.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Like Tom said, depends on the razor. It also depends on the eye of the beholder. Show me an old Sheffield with 100+ years of patina, a full blade and scales that may have a tight crack at the wedge and a few bug bites, and if I like it I'm a buyer. Polish all the patina off it and I still might buy it if I really wanted the blade profile. Put wood or acrylic scales on it and I will pass every time.

That is me. Some guys are just the opposite.

What he said! The eye of the beholder is to be considered. Good as well as bad. Everything appeals to someone, for certain. That is the beauty of this hobby. Some like new, fresh scales full of color. I am like Jimmy. Correct, or close. I have not always been that way. The glitz and all had me for a bit as well. There are razors in my collection which need "correcting" . To make them closer to what they should be is MY preference.
After all, it depends on money as previously discussed. If you can afford to buy a razor for 500 bucks and spend 250 on it to make a 350 dollar razor, it is(or was) a collectible! Not just a razor! (stranger things have happened) If you invest in it and restore/rejuvenate it as a real deal, authentic user, you can always get your money back. I have not put this into action as I want to keep all my razors and go to my grave with them! Just some observations!

I wont buy a razor that doesnt have patina on the edge, meaning I buy totally untouched condition only. My taste in razors has done a 180 since I began collecting, I now like them all original, maybe with a broken scale I can replace (to match).

You ask a tough question. There are a lot of "restored" razors on ebay, a lot of butchered attempts or first attempts with a "buy it now" price of 100-250$. Those dont seem to move too well.
On occasion you see a proper restoration and they seem to sell for higher dollars than an otherwise unrestored version (excluding prestine NOSof course).

So IMO unless you are a professional restorer, dont expect to increase the value of your blades..... (I'm no pro either dont feel bad )

I hate to look back at the couple of blades I "restored" when I first started out, lets just say that guilt will live on until you make them right lol.

Eric

My 2 cents:
There is a difference, to me, in the meanings of "clean them up" & "restore them".
Like Tom said, "They are only original once."
I would never restore or have restored a razor unless it was damaged. I look for good condition, original & NOS razors , then clean them; leaving all components original & not removed.
I do have many razors restored by Pros from SRP & they are truly beautiful; sometimes you just gotta have them.

Aside from the things mentioned above, it depends on who does what. As a rule of thumb, I stay away from any razors that look "restored" unless I know the person who did the work by reputation or, on rare occasions, I really want the razor.