How best do you smooth the finish when half of the chrome is gone?

I have a nice Puma which shaves fine enough despite my lack of skill in working it, but I'd feel better if I could do something about the blotchy appearance. I tried polishing it with Noxon, which did nothing. Then I realized that there isn't any rust or stains on the blade - the issue that causes that dark grey spotting must be the inconsistent wearing away of the factory chrome! So, if I want a consistent finish (I don't think I want to get it re-chromed, just consistent and clean-looking), what are my best options?

Unless I'm badly mistaken it is not chrome plating but mirror finish polished steel. If you were to bring it back it would take sandpaper, buffing wheels with rouges and the skill to use them. Post a photo and we can tell more what options you have.

I'm fairly certain it's not chrome.....(pics please). Like Jimmy said, it's selective wear on the blade's mirror polish. If there's no rust or pitting and you want the mirror or near-mirror finish back, I'd say to hit it with (800-)1000-1500-2000 wet sandpaper (or greaseless equivalent), clean it, then work on it with Mother's Mag (or equivalent) until you get the finish you want.

What the others said. It's likely to be just the difference between the polished part and the pitted part.
The way to fix this is with different types of sandpaper, followed by buffing compounds, all done with a lot of care to prevent the blade from overheating.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Unless I'm badly mistaken it is not chrome plating but mirror finish polished steel. If you were to bring it back it would take sandpaper, buffing wheels with rouges and the skill to use them. Post a photo and we can tell more what options you have.

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I can't get a photo today, but the discoloration is light to medium grey. Considering how little I paid for it on eBay, it seems almost frivolous, but I enjoy using this one more than my Dovos which I shelled out for new, and I would enjoy it more if I didn't have to look at it like this.

So, it looks like it will take a machine investment if I wanted to try my own hand at restoring the finish? I don't suppose this can be done with a Dremel?

For moderate wear, how much should I expect to pay for a professional restoration job (don't think I paid more than $40-50 for it on ebay)?

Just a suggestion before you invest in machinery or a pro restore, try some extra fine XXXX steel wool with your metal polish and see if that works. It may take several tries with that combo. If that does not work consider your other options then. Search the site on the use of Dremel tools in razor restoration and I think you will find they are not really recommended for a number of reasons.

Bob

Like the others have said, its not chrome. No Puma was ever chrome plated, though you can find some cheap (and nasty) ones that were - I have seen several and handled a few, so it was done. I have even seen an advertisement for them dating way back.

Like Bob says, there are a number of reasons for not using a dremel - depending on the rotation you can flip the blade it may break or strike you (the rotation should be leaving an edge, not going towards it) and for the quick heat build up which might ruin the temper of the blade at the thin, cutting edge. It is also hard to get an even polishing if you are not familiar with them.

Bobs advice is sound - try something that wont have too much impact on the metal first. You could even rub in the metal polish with the XXXX steel wool. However, that grey spotting is often worse than it appears as it represents where water has oxidized a little spot, and it often travels under the surface. If that is the case you have to remove metal. You don't have to spend a fortune - hand-sanding is a viable proposition for the odd razor. There are plenty of posts here about making a jig to hold the blade using rare earth magnets, etc, and also about sanding progressions - although I work down from the finest to see the least abrasive sandpaper that has any effect. A good quality wet and dry paper is what you need, you can even use something like WD40 to aid the process.

If its not too bad and you are happy with the shave I'd be inclined to leave it alone - just make sure it doesn't get worse by thoroughly drying it and maybe oiling it after use. Be a shame to ruin it in an attempt to fix it.

Regards,
Neil

Thanks all for so much patience and useful information. Never would have thunk it could be something other than chrome wearing away, because I didn't know that rust can be grey with no red or brown showing!