Evaluation for Teh Newb.

[Blaine]

I had no intention of buying another razor, but I fell in love with the blade shape of this razor. Can't explain why, it just appealed to me. Auction was ending in 30 seconds. No time to research.

So... I now own it.

I can see small chips in the blade. However I don't fully understand the 'rule' of thumb. Any thoughts?

Also any caveats to restoring a frameback? I have a few very aggressive diamond hones (325 and 750) and a Spyderco Fine enroute.

Finally, I can't find a lot of info about this razor. If anyone knows anything, I'm all ears. I found one link where a similar razor had a c-clamp shaped guard on it. Don't know if that's supposed to be on this razor or not. So long as it's not necessary for usage, I don't care.

Ha ha ha. I know! I should go for answers BEFORE buying. Ignorance is not the shoppers best friend. I was smitten.

[GsSixgun]

That should be a fun one, what I am seeing (keep in mind this is from pictures add generous grain of salt) This razor has a detachable blade in fact if you look close it might even be reversible... Look at the heel now, doesn't that look like a barber's notch if you turned the blade around and of course the "reversible" stamped on the blade...

These razors are made two ways for honing, one hones like every other straight razor in the world if the frame is steel...
There are some that have aluminum or stamped metal frames and those blades were designed to be honed separate from the "handle"... not fun

[Seraphim]

I think Glenn is right--the blade may be in backwards!

Usually the etching is read with the tip pointing away towards the left as you look at it.

I would think that you could hone it in the handle, but would most definitely want to put a layer of electrical tape on there, or you will burn through that frameback quickly!

[Blaine]

This razor has a detachable blade in fact if you look close it might even be reversible... Look at the heel now, doesn't that look like a barber's notch if you turned the blade around and of course the "reversible" stamped on the blade...

I think Glenn is right--the blade may be in backwards!

Usually the etching is read with the tip pointing away towards the left as you look at it.

I would think that you could hone it in the handle, but would most definitely want to put a layer of electrical tape on there, or you will burn through that frameback quickly!

That would be awesome if it's removable. I imagine I could get a few new 'blades' made if they're just flat steel. My 7 Day Razor set might just be a handle with 7 blades, ha ha.

Should I put electrical tape on the frameback if it's aluminum or regardless?

Thanks guys!

[gugi]

There are some that have aluminum or stamped metal frames and those blades were designed to be honed separate from the "handle"... not fun

Glen, wouldn't it work with taping the spine as Tape doesn't wear off as fast as soft metal?

[leighton]

Glen, wouldn't it work with taping the spine as Tape doesn't wear off as fast as soft metal?

I was wondering the same thing when I read your comment Glen.

Agreed, blade looks backwards. Interesting design.

[Blaine]

Pictures coming tomorrow:

The blade is removable. It's supported in a brass rod. I taped up the frame and used some low grit hones to try and remove the chips. For the most part successful, but I can kinda see how the frame is worn down (I ran it a few times across the stones without the tape just to put some scratches on the parts making contact).

I really dig the razor, but it might be out of my league.

[Blaine]

Okay. So, as you can tell by the scale the blade is fairly small.

It's attached to a brass rod, the frame back is a hollow tube. When I got it there were two noticeable chips in the blade. I honed it on a 750 grit diamond stone until they were removed (60 passes, not a lot more). Took some wet emery paper to clean the blade.

What you can't see in the photos and I can't get in focus is the frame has hone wear.

I'm assuming it's hone wear. I laid it flat and ran it along my hone to put a scratch pattern to make it more visible.

I'm also assuming you wouldn't hone the blade alone, since that brass would be destroyed.

Also, there's some weird... I don't know. Levered hinge? Where the pivot is, that little arm moves free. No idea what it's for.

Thoughts?

[SavantStrike]

Heh. That arm is for the safety bar which the original owner threw out 10 minutes after trying it. If you search hard enough for "safety straight" you will see a few that aren't Durham Duplexes.

I'm with the other guys. Put the blade in and hone it with tape on the spine. It will feel like honing any other blade, provided the spine is actually designed to set the proper angle. The spine wear isn't really cause for alarm either, since the blade was worn at an even rate with the spine. I would recommend that you stop the spine wear by only honing it with tape, though. Take my advice with a grain of salt, I'm still a relative newbie.

Okay. So, as you can tell by the scale the blade is fairly small.

It's attached to a brass rod, the frame back is a hollow tube. When I got it there were two noticeable chips in the blade. I honed it on a 750 grit diamond stone until they were removed (60 passes, not a lot more). Took some wet emery paper to clean the blade.

What you can't see in the photos and I can't get in focus is the frame has hone wear.

I'm assuming it's hone wear. I laid it flat and ran it along my hone to put a scratch pattern to make it more visible.

I'm also assuming you wouldn't hone the blade alone, since that brass would be destroyed.

Also, there's some weird... I don't know. Levered hinge? Where the pivot is, that little arm moves free. No idea what it's for.

Thoughts?

[zippo]

What you have is a curley safety razor and unfortunately it appears to have the guard missing the piece that the jimps are on actually pivots and the protrusion at the end of the jimps fits into a guard that rotates on the sholder so it can be moved to each side of the blade depending which side of the face you are shaving ,firmly hold the sholder and push up under the monkey tail and you will see what I mean . They do hone like a normal straight and they shave very well
Kind regards Peter