Single ring Old types: Silver or nickel?

GentsInstinct · Jul 28, 2010

I'm assuming the single ring Old types were nickel plated considering how I just ruined the finish on my 1910 single ring. I swear it looked just like tarnished silver.. so I did the baking soda/aluminum foil trick. Horrible horrible horrible. I knew I should have left it well enough alone and left the patina on it but noooooooo, I had to be a dumb ***!

So is it nickel?

Oldguy · Jul 28, 2010

The Single Rings are silver plated. Actually triple silver plated.

The first nickel plated Gillette's, that I know of, were the WWI Bulldog and the military ball end pocket razors.

Neither the silver nor the nickel plated razors should be affected by the baking soda treatment.

Len

GentsInstinct · Jul 28, 2010

Oldguy said:
The Single Rings are silver plated. Actually triple silver plated.

The first nickel plated Gillette's, that I know of, were the WWI Bulldog and the military ball end pocket razors.

Len

Hmm. And here I thought I was crazy thinking it looked like tarnished silver. So why'd the finish go to hell?? I'll post pics in a sec.

Oldguy · Jul 28, 2010

GentsInstinct said:
Hmm. And here I thought I was crazy thinking it looked like tarnished silver. So why'd the finish go to hell?? I'll post pics in a sec.

Please post a picture. It shouldn't happen. I have used the baking soda/aluminum foil treatment on a few silver plated razors with only good results.

Len

GentsInstinct · Jul 28, 2010

I'm so disgusted. It looked better when it was solid black in tarnish/patina. Grrrrrr. :cursing:

GentsInstinct · Jul 28, 2010

It's like it's covered in a dull hard film with weird moldy black spots all over it.

GentsInstinct · Jul 28, 2010

This is what it looked like before:

Iakona · Jul 28, 2010

Wow, I wouldn't have expected to see that. I am almost certain that that one has to be (originally?) silver plated. They were still silver plating when they released the new improved style, and that is definitely an old. Maybe change the aluminum foil (seems it can become "saturated"?) and try a few more times?

_MementoMori_ · Jul 28, 2010

What a tragedy...

I'm sorry for you.

highball · Jul 28, 2010

how many times did you treat it, it sometimes takes 5 or more times to get it to look good

Iakona · Jul 28, 2010

highball said:
how many times did you treat it, it sometimes takes 5 or more times to get it to look good

Yeah, I'd do it some more just to see...

Iakona · Jul 28, 2010

I bet it'll get better... if not, send it to me and I'll send it back looking more like this:
Nothing special really, just some steel wool, followed by a buffing wheel with rubbing/polishing compound. This pic doesn't doesn't do it justice. It's basically halfway between gold and silver (color wise) and 95% as shiny.

Joe Edson · Jul 28, 2010

highball said:
how many times did you treat it, it sometimes takes 5 or more times to get it to look good

+1 the ones I've done take several treatments and scrubbing with scrubbing bubbles and a toothbrush. I would give it some more treatments.

GentsInstinct · Jul 28, 2010

It's had 6 soaks in the aluminum foil/baking soda method changing out the foil for soaks 3 and 5. Also has had 3 soaks and toothbrush scrubs in scrubbing bubbles.

I've got it back in another baking soda soak right this minute. Can't hurt it any worse now....

hometownhero · Jul 28, 2010

When I did mine I changed the foil every soak, worked like a charm

GentsInstinct · Jul 29, 2010

Well, it's been through 4 more baking soda/foil soaks, a boil in scrubbing bubbles, 2 more soaks in scrubbing bubbles.. and it's only gotten slightly better. Most of the black spots on the head cap are gone but it's still got this thick, rough, hard film. Nothing I have in supplies will budge it anymore. I guess nothing left to do now but have it replated, which I've yet in a couple months of searching have been able to find anyone around here that can or will do it.

Oldguy · Jul 29, 2010

GentsInstinct said:
Well, it's been through 4 more baking soda/foil soaks, a boil in scrubbing bubbles, 2 more soaks in scrubbing bubbles.. and it's only gotten slightly better. Most of the black spots on the head cap are gone but it's still got this thick, rough, hard film. Nothing I have in supplies will budge it anymore. I guess nothing left to do now but have it replated, which I've yet in a couple months of searching have been able to find anyone around here that can or will do it.

What do you mean by a boil in Scrubbing Bubbles? That's a bad idea and can remove the plating.

Len

GentsInstinct · Jul 29, 2010

Oldguy said:
What do you mean by a boil in Scrubbing Bubbles? That's a bad idea and can remove the plating.

Len

Well, it didn't do any more damage. I got some of the film to scrape away with my thumbnail and can see shiny silver under it. Just don't know why no cleaner or method I've used will remove that film that's coated the whole razor. Is it lacquer?

mskembo · Jul 29, 2010

These are the things that terrify me about doing anything besides shaving with my razors! Good luck Gents, if it were mine I'd send it to Iakona and have him work his magic instead of plating. That is very nice looking.

Mike

Iakona · Jul 29, 2010

If it's a film on there, hit it with some maas. The silver has to still be under there. Some *mild* elbow grease and some maas should fix it right up.

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Single ring Old types: Silver or nickel?

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Iakona

_MementoMori_

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