View Full Version : Set of dirty super speeds
Short time lurker, first time poster. Anyway, so I bought what appear to be three old super speeds, maybe a tech, and a couple of gold razor heads for like 18, 19 bucks. I did some very cursory research and it looks like there's a 40s style, a 50s style, and a 70s style. I'm not holding out hope for the fourth razor, which appears to have been recovered by Alvin from the Titanic. But my thinking was that if even one of those super speeds comes out all right after the cleaning, I've broken even. And if I don't break even, I guess maybe there's some educational value.
So what do you think? Will scrubbing bubbles or whatever get the job done?
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Go West Young Man
01-02-2012, 11:23 AM
From left to right you have a fat handled tech, a flare tip superspeed, a 40s style superspeed and a black handled superspeed.
Very nice haul! I can't tell what the heads are with that cardboard in it, probably and Old Type and a New, based on the teeth?
Anyways, the usual cleaning routine should make those shine -
Long soak in hot soapy water.
Scrubbing Bubbles and old toothbrush.
Very gentle metal polish.
If the plating is gone nothing can bring that back, but that's strictly cosmetic.
eastomjac
01-02-2012, 11:26 AM
sweet shavers all.a good cleaning and presto.
dgilman
01-02-2012, 11:46 AM
From left to right you have a fat handled tech, a flare tip superspeed, a 40s style superspeed and a black handled superspeed.
Very nice haul! I can't tell what the heads are with that cardboard in it, probably and Old Type and a New, based on the teeth?
Anyways, the usual cleaning routine should make those shine -
Long soak in hot soapy water.
Scrubbing Bubbles and old toothbrush.
Very gentle metal polish.
If the plating is gone nothing can bring that back, but that's strictly cosmetic.
+1. You'd be surprised at the crap that a simple soap-and-water soak will loosen up and allow you to remove. I very rarely even need to use any polish on a razor, after the soapy water soak and some Scrubbing Bubbles and the toothbrush. If you want to try out metal polish after that, double triple-check the metal you're dealing with: an old razor sans plating may be simply brass, which doesn't respond well to every kind of polish.
Sledgehammer39
01-02-2012, 11:59 AM
Sweet Haul!
Copierguy
01-02-2012, 12:29 PM
1904, Welcome to B&B.
A Super Speed is a great way to start the day.....Congrats.
Thanks, guys. I felt like it was a pretty good find, and was surprised I was the only bidder. I guess I thought that even if there was a ridiculous amount of damage or something, I'd be making up for quality with quantity. And hopefully, I can just do as dgilman says and spare myself a few bucks on metal polish.
So as you've probably guessed from my username, I use a 1904 right now; it's my first. (It's not a great username. Kind of like calling yourself Honda Elantra.) And I'm just spitballing here, but am I right to be skeptical that TTO has any genuine utility? I mean, it looks cool, but the invention of TTO way back seems more driven by the fun factor (or more cynically, market differentiation) than anything else. It doesn't seem there's all that much danger of cutting one's self with a 3-piece, and I can't imagine swapping out the blade is much faster.
Anyway, it's fun stuff. I'll let you know how it goes.
flutewhistler
01-02-2012, 03:01 PM
A lot of people will use scrubbing bubbles, but if your have any brassing, it will turn the brass and ugly bright orange. I've now stopped using scrubbing bubbles and go with regular toothpaste and a toothbrush, and pip cleaners for the small crevices. I've done all the polishing with a rouge cloth. Excellent results - and it makes your hands and fingers stronger!
duokun
01-02-2012, 09:59 PM
i like the TTO on my 40's Super Speed. it works rather well. as long as there is no damage it should open smoothly and when closed should hold the blade nice and snug.
i have seen some amazing before and after pictures on here as far as what a soak in hot (not boiling) soapy water and then some scrubbing bubbles and a bit of elbow grease will do. most people seem to recommend MAAS as the metal polish of choice, if you wanna go that route. Be sure to post pictures after the cleaning!
Mako72
01-03-2012, 08:54 AM
Believe it or not one of the prettiest razors of your bunch may end up being that cruddy looking Fat Handle Tech, with a little polishing...
This is a picture from an old thread but it shows you what you can do if you take all the old finish off. This is a NEW but, iirc, the Tech should shine up just as good.
210112
Here is the THREAD (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/173786-Fat-Handle-Tech-quot-WOW-quot) it came from but there have been many of these. Best of luck with your new finds!!
Jay
Believe it or not one of the prettiest razors of your bunch may end up being that cruddy looking Fat Handle Tech, with a little polishing...
This is a picture from an old thread but it shows you what you can do if you take all the old finish off. This is a NEW but, iirc, the Tech should shine up just as good.
210112
Here is the THREAD (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/173786-Fat-Handle-Tech-quot-WOW-quot) it came from but there have been many of these. Best of luck with your new finds!!
Jay
That's pretty interesting. I may have to look into some of these coarse polishes that can remove plating. I'm such a novice at this that I don't even really know what brassing is. I suppose that once I get these guys in the mail I'll find out in short order.
kingfisher
01-03-2012, 09:27 AM
Brassing is when the plating has worn off, showing the underlying brass.
mos6502
01-03-2012, 09:28 AM
Brassing is when the nickel, chrome, or other surface finishes wear down exposing the metal (brass) underneath.
Edit: beat me to it. O:
On that note, brassing on vintage cameras is common too: http://www.flickr.com/photos/summicron/218022247/
Brassing is when the nickel, chrome, or other surface finishes wear down exposing the metal (brass) underneath.
Edit: beat me to it. O:
On that note, brassing on vintage cameras is common too: http://www.flickr.com/photos/summicron/218022247/
Guess it doesn't get much more intuitive than that. Thanks!
Hey, so they came in, and I've done scrubbing bubbles, soap, even the baking soda thing. The three super speeds all look good, especially the 54 flared tip, which is actually really shiny. (The 40s style is a 53 and the black handle is a 78. As for the tech, the tarnish was extreme, and by the time I got it off of the head, I didn't see much plating. So I soaked it overnight in the scrubbing bubbles and just exposed the brass. I'll post some photos after I do the polish.
Oh, and it looks like those heads that came with the batch are NDC old models. Is there such a thing? I was thinking of trying those heads out on the tech fat handle. I need to be careful experimenting too much, though, because I'm still learning this stuff.
I'm surprised to find how much heavier the Merkur 1904 is than all of these. I always thought that was supposed to be kind of a light one.
Let's not forget the post-cleanup pics now! :hand:
I'll definitely put them up after a bit of polish.
So here's a pre-polish picture. Apologies for the picture quality. I use my phone because I don't have a camera.
211234
eastomjac
01-07-2012, 04:56 PM
cleaned up nicely.bobs razor works could fix you up with handles for the two old types.he does sweet work
Huh, so he like makes his own handles? Interesting. What do you think of combining it with the fat tech handle?
eastomjac
01-07-2012, 06:01 PM
it would work as long as it screws on the head.bob does custom handles and other restoration work.hes in the forums if you search him out.here i found a link to one of his postings.http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/80472-Bob-s-Razor-Works-New-Items?highlight=bobs+razor+works send him a pm hes a good guy.
Huh, so he like makes his own handles? Interesting. What do you think of combining it with the fat tech handle?
That won't be a problem, done it a few times myself.
That won't be a problem, done it a few times myself.
Good result?
Go West Young Man
01-07-2012, 10:11 PM
Just fyi, an overnight soak in Scrubbing Bubbles is a BAD idea.
Just leave it on long enough for the bubbles to break down and liquify, anything longer than that and you risk damaging the finish.
Just fyi, an overnight soak in Scrubbing Bubbles is a BAD idea.
Just leave it on long enough for the bubbles to break down and liquify, anything longer than that and you risk damaging the finish.
Yeah, I basically did that knowing that the razor wouldn't ever be the same. Does damage to the finish affect performance at all? The surface does have a pretty dull feeling to it.
BBrad
01-08-2012, 05:28 AM
Yeah, I basically did that knowing that the razor wouldn't ever be the same. Does damage to the finish affect performance at all? The surface does have a pretty dull feeling to it.
Looking at your original pictures I see green on the top cap of the Tech. That is from the copper under the original nickel plate, and indicates that the plating was shot anyway. The only thing to do is polish it off and go for the "naked" look.
The plating is not what makes the razor smooth . . . it is the polishing prior to plating that does. Plate a rough surface and all you get is a plated rough surface! The "dull" feeling that you question is due to the process of corrosion causing the surface to erode and become rough again. Use an abrasive polish, like Brasso, and you can get the smoothness back, along with a mirror-like shine.
Removing the plating does not affect the razor's ability to shave as long as the top cap is polished smooth again so the razor does not drag. I have a de-plated NEW that shaves like a dream when polished!
I am also a fan of the Tech fat-handle and have used one with both Old-Type and NEW heads. I like the diameter and the fact that it is hollow, which gives the razor a little head-heavy feel.
Looking at your original pictures I see green on the top cap of the Tech. That is from the copper under the original nickel plate, and indicates that the plating was shot anyway. The only thing to do is polish it off and go for the "naked" look.
The plating is not what makes the razor smooth . . . it is the polishing prior to plating that does. Plate a rough surface and all you get is a plated rough surface! The "dull" feeling that you question is due to the process of corrosion causing the surface to erode and become rough again. Use an abrasive polish, like Brasso, and you can get the smoothness back, along with a mirror-like shine.
Removing the plating does not affect the razor's ability to shave as long as the top cap is polished smooth again so the razor does not drag. I have a de-plated NEW that shaves like a dream when polished!
I am also a fan of the Tech fat-handle and have used one with both Old-Type and NEW heads. I like the diameter and the fact that it is hollow, which gives the razor a little head-heavy feel.
Nice. I'm excited to try out the Tech. Somehow, I think I'm drawn to the three-pieces. Now, I would think Flitz would work well, right? Or is there something special about Brasso in particular? I thought that was one to steer clear of.
Mako72
01-08-2012, 08:44 AM
Nice. I'm excited to try out the Tech. Somehow, I think I'm drawn to the three-pieces. Now, I would think Flitz would work well, right? Or is there something special about Brasso in particular? I thought that was one to steer clear of.
See, there is something about the ugly duckling being the best of the bunch!
As to your polish question, Brasso is courser than Flitz. If you have both I would start with brasso and then after you have a decent even clean look move to the Flitz to get the hi-gloss finish. As to the other razors I would just stick with the Flitz if they are pretty good already.
You should like the Tech, I have a Pre War Fat Handle and love mine, its my daily driver. Oh, and was said, there is no problem using the other heads on the Tech handle. Of the rest of your bunch you will probably like the 40s Style Super Speed best, those are a favorite around here and get lots of love. No matter what you have a decent spread to start yourself off with!
Jay
See, there is something about the ugly duckling being the best of the bunch!
As to your polish question, Brasso is courser than Flitz. If you have both I would start with brasso and then after you have a decent even clean look move to the Flitz to get the hi-gloss finish. As to the other razors I would just stick with the Flitz if they are pretty good already.
You should like the Tech, I have a Pre War Fat Handle and love mine, its my daily driver. Oh, and was said, there is no problem using the other heads on the Tech handle. Of the rest of your bunch you will probably like the 40s Style Super Speed best, those are a favorite around here and get lots of love. No matter what you have a decent spread to start yourself off with!
Jay
I'll try it out, though I have to say, I'm starting to like the grubby look of the Tech! By the way, are these fat handle Techs all NDC? I couldn't find any date code on it, and for that matter, I couldn't find a serial number on the Old Type heads, either.
Really surprising how fun this stuff is, isn't it?
duokun
01-08-2012, 01:09 PM
glad to see they cleaned up well.
BBrad
01-08-2012, 06:05 PM
Nice. I'm excited to try out the Tech. Somehow, I think I'm drawn to the three-pieces. Now, I would think Flitz would work well, right? Or is there something special about Brasso in particular? I thought that was one to steer clear of.
Yes, normally one should steer clear of Brasso on most razors, and certainly NEVER use it on a gold-plated one. But, in this case, with the plating severely damaged, you need the more aggressive nature of Brasso to smooth the surface of the copper which has been pitted by the corrosion. As Mako72 noted, you should use the Brasso to polish it smooth and then use a product like Flitz or MAAS to really make it shine.
Sad part, however, is that copper is quite reactive. My de-plated razors require constant attention with the polishing cloth to maintain their good looks . . . or they quickly become ugly again!
Yes, normally one should steer clear of Brasso on most razors, and certainly NEVER use it on a gold-plated one. But, in this case, with the plating severely damaged, you need the more aggressive nature of Brasso to smooth the surface of the copper which has been pitted by the corrosion. As Mako72 noted, you should use the Brasso to polish it smooth and then use a product like Flitz or MAAS to really make it shine.
Sad part, however, is that copper is quite reactive. My de-plated razors require constant attention with the polishing cloth to maintain their good looks . . . or they quickly become ugly again!
I thought I'd see what I could do with just the Flitz. Tech's definitely not as shiny as the others, but it looks pretty good to me. I'll probably try out the brasso one of these days but I'd have to pick some up. Anyway, here they are:
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Mako72
01-09-2012, 09:03 PM
Very nice, good job!
Looks like a pretty good go for your first batch! Hit that Tech with your flitz and a real soft cloth again and it ought to shine up some more. Now... Try 'em out!
Jay
dgilman
01-09-2012, 09:34 PM
Very nice, good job!
Looks like a pretty good go for your first batch! Hit that Tech with your flitz and a real soft cloth again and it ought to shine up some more. Now... Try 'em out!
Jay
+1. Now that you've got 'em, don't forget to shave with 'em!
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