Restoring old DE

Gatorade said:

Originally Posted by Gatorade original post on ShaveMyFace.com
OK first if any are gold then don't do these cleaning steps. If any have any plastic or Bakelite then don't use these steps. These steps are for all metal nickel or brass only. Any razors you aren't sure about? Post a pic and ask.

OK for most razors this is what I do.

1. Clean with Scrubbing Bubbles or whatever foamy cleaning soap scum remover you have available. Use a tooth brush. Pay special attention to the joints where the pieces move such as the silo doors and where the stem goes in and out of the handle. If adjustable then make sure to pay special attention to the plate on the underside of the head. Debris can build up under there easily. I use cheap Q-tips to go through the plate from one side to another. I specifically use the cheap ones because the tip is smaller and will go all the way through unlike the real Q-tips which have a larger head. Give it a good scrub but don't obsess about it as you still have other steps to go through.

2. Boil it in water for 10 minutes. You can add a little vinegar to the boiling water and that will help to loosen some of the harder grunge. If you use vinegar then you may notice a brassy tint when you remove it from the water. Don't be alarmed as this will go away when you polish it. It is just a little more work when you polish because you really need to get in the cracks and crevices more. However it may be necessary if the grunge in particularly hard.

3. Remove from boiling water and cool it under cold water. Grab your Scrubbing Bubbles again and scrub again. This time work a little harder on it because you may be able to finish up the cleaning at this step.

4. Dry and polish. Any metal polish will work as long as it says nickel on the label. Many swear by Mass polish but I have never used it. I couldn't find it when I needed it and just got a bottle of regular metal polish at Ace, Novo may be the name of it. I don't have it in front of me right now. I use a clean rag and put the polish on the rag and the razor. Take your time at this step and make sure you have touched every surface on the razor with the polish. For the hard to reach spots once again break out the cheap Q-tips. This step may take the most time and labor but sometimes it is quick if the razor is in good shape.

5. After the polish step I give it another cleaning with the Scrubbing Bubbles. Some polishes are oil based and hard to get off. If you have excess polish on the razor and you shave with it it could cause anywhere from a mild burning to a serious chemical burn on your face. Make sure you get it all off with the Scrubbing Bubbles. Your razor will now be sparkling clean, sanitized and ready to shave. But you are still not done!

6. Lubrication. Sometimes the gunk or polish gets in the stem of the razor or the moving pieces just need a little lube. I take a small bowl. Open the silo doors and pour some mineral oil over the razor work the doors and the knobs and the adjustment knob as well till it feels smooth. Then submerse the razor in the mineral oil completely for a little while to make sure all the insides are lubed. Remove from the oil and wipe clean with a clean rag.

7. After the lube step you can place your piece in a glass showcase with spotlights and gaze at it for hours on end! Of course you could shave with it as well!

8. You knew there would be another step didn't you! After using your razor for a while it will get soap scum on it. Usually when I change the blade I clean the razor with Scrubbing Bubbles and it looks as good as the final polish stage above. You could do it once a month as well and that will keep your razor sparkly clean.

OK that ends my cleaning procedure and maintenance cleaning as well. If you want to post some before and after pics pleas do as this will encourage more people to try ebay and do it themselves.

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