B&B Confidential #4: Razor Restoration

[Gruder]

B&B CONFIDENTIAL - #4

Hello B&B'ers and welcome to the B&B Confidential. This is a feature where you can read articles about what is going on in and around Badger & Blade. For our forth installment we present you with:

"Razor Restoration"

So, you've got grandpa's old safety or straight razor and want to get 'er cleaned up and ready for use? Have a bushel basket of flea market treasures collecting dust and begging for use? Want to know if the smile on your straight is enough to make you frown? Have a burning desire to replace those stunning sticky tan-ish 1960's plastic scales with something, well, attractive? This issue of B&B Confidential is for you!

B&B is chock full of threads and wiki entries where members share their favorite restoration techniques. Most of these tips and tricks aren't difficult. Hundreds of our members have experienced the pride of bringing an old razor back to life! Today, we're sharing some of the best of our many restoration threads with you in the hopes that you'll feel compelled to bring a remarkable piece of history back to life, and to add your own experiences to our communal knowledge base. Let's start with the safety razors!

Safety Razors

(Thanks to DoubleE!)



While a few members choose to replate*, over time, most have found time spent cleaning, sanitizing, and polishing a razor to be relaxing, cost effective, and a source of great pride. Safety razors can almost always benefit from a good cleaning, but it's very important to use the proper cleaning method. Gold-plated razors, for instance, do not react very kindly to harsh chemicals or long-term soaks.
This thread contains an excellent discussion of cleaning methods that have worked well for our members.

*Please be very careful who you choose. Look for B&B member vendors with good reviews. If they've cheated our members, or provided consistently shoddy workmanship, you wont find their name on our site.



No, you don't need an industrial autoclave to sanitize your razors, but most members do want to be certain that any creepy-crawlies have left the premises before putting razor to face. How to accomplish this is an oft-debated topic here, but one that no one thinks is difficult to accomplish, whether with a commercial sanitizer such as barbicide, plain old alcohol, or, well, less conventional means. Read more here!


(Thanks to taprater and AsylumGuido!)

You've worked hard to clean and sanitize that razor. Now it's time to bring it to a nice shine. There are plenty of products out there that can be used to accomplish this, but generally you want a compound that's as minimally abrasive as possible. Most folks find good old-fashioned elbow grease to be the way to go here, as motorized polishing tools can quickly get you into trouble. As always, though, YMMV! Several types of polish used by our members are mentioned here. Here's a nice short thread on how to polish, followed by a great thread on polishing those tricky gold razors.

Straight Razors

So, you're interested in restoring a straight razor (or at least seeing if it's worth restoration!). B&B is full of master craftsmen and hobbyists alike who are willing to lend a hand with all sorts of helpful information. A great place to start is this informative thread by our own mdunn.

This series of videos, graciously shared by member undream, takes you through his restoration process step-by-step.

Confused by the division between the "must haves" and the "wanna haves" on the restoration equipment list? This thread may help!



And, just to provide drool-worthy inspiration, here are some examples of the heights of razor restoration, done by guys who do this stuff professionally: one from thirdeye, and one from BillEllis.

Of course, many straight razors look their best with a nice polish, as well. This thread can let you know what to use, what not to use, and when.



And finally, check out our wiki section on razor restoration! Amongst the great information there you'll notice some holes to fill. That's where you come in! Simply PM a mod if you'd like to add your expertise to the wiki so that future generations know how to rescue grandpa's razor. Of course, feel free to ask questions, give feedback, and provide insight throughout all of the forums here at B&B. Our amazing community depends on members like you!

* If you would like to be a B&B freelance journalist and contribute a segment of the B&B CONFIDENTIAL please contact a member of the Mod team.

[Manco]

Great B&B confidential, thank you!

[BladeRunner001]

Even though I am not looking to get into restorations, I found a lot of the info very very useful. Thank you guys

[ouch]

I just want to know how you got that picture of Phil at the typewriter.

[MyKindOfTown]

A great help, thanks!

[surfreak]

Okay, someone over here is reading my mind.

[Kraken]

Awsome! This is perfect timing for me. I am planning some restoration projects and have been searching the threads for this very advice. Thank You!

[luvmysuper]

Great source of information all in one place!!
Tremendous read!

That picture of me at the typewriter was before I discovered the availability of properly sized tailored suits.

[johnniegold]

I just want to know how you got that picture of Phil at the typewriter.

From our "Phil" file, where else?

Great segment contribution to B&B Confidential. Nicely done.

[JdB]

Just the thread I needed!

[ddaley212]

even though i am not looking to get into restorations, i found a lot of the info very very useful. Thank you guys

+1

[ImaWestie]

while I'm still waiting on my first real straight, this is all good information to let me know what a "restored" vs "in need of restoration" straight should be worth.

[jonv]

I have inherited an old razor that has a dial to set the blade angle. It is like the razor depicted on the photograph of old razors on the restoration article (second from the right). I have cleaned it but can't get the dial to work. Any thoughts on how I can get the dial loose.

Thanks,

Jonv

[Gruder]

I have inherited an old razor that has a dial to set the blade angle. It is like the razor depicted on the photograph of old razors on the restoration article (second from the right). I have cleaned it but can't get the dial to work. Any thoughts on how I can get the dial loose.

Thanks,

Jonv

Welcome to B&B! My first thought would be a soak in dilute CLR for a while. Chances are soap scum, etc. is clogging up the works. There are some other possibilities, as well -- others can weigh in. Congratulations on the great family heirloom! Let us know how it turns out.

[wilsonent]

If you don't have CLR, white vinegar works fine. Basically an acid to dissolve the calcium and soap debris. Also, you can use the excess vinegar to season your collard greens.


Jeff

[blackfoot]

Excellent compilation of information!

[pauls51]

Thank-you for the Monday morning read!

[howardshort]

On an article about razor restoration I find it sad that the first image shows a fatboy and slim with the black ink in the numbers wiped out. Surely you could have used an image with original numbers. Too many people are destroying these classics cleaning them incorrectly. (and then trying to sell them as NOS, mint, etc). Some people don't realize what they should look like. I often by horrible uncleaned razors for this reason,I'd rather do it right myself. I know the links take you to some great information but am I the only one who noticed this?

[Gruder]

On an article about razor restoration I find it sad that the first image shows a fatboy and slim with the black ink in the numbers wiped out. Surely you could have used an image with original numbers. Too many people are destroying these classics cleaning them incorrectly. (and then trying to sell them as NOS, mint, etc). Some people don't realize what they should look like. I often by horrible uncleaned razors for this reason,I'd rather do it right myself. I know the links take you to some great information but am I the only one who noticed this?

Thanks for the feedback, Howard. It's important to note that "restoration" does not mean a complete transition back to the item's original state. That's simply not possible with these items, but our members do a very nice job of getting close. I've cleaned, polished, and passed along several slims and fatboys that arrived in my hands with no (or very little) number paint. Same with red-tips, blue-tips, missing plating on NEWs, etc. These razors can be cleaned, sanitized, and polished perfectly, but would still be missing the paint, lacquer, etc. they were missing before those steps. We think those razors are completely photo-worthy around these parts. You're absolutely right to raise the importance of not further damaging paint, plating, finish, etc. in the cleaning process. While no one process is superior in our members' eyes, part of the reason for this edition of the Confidential is to lead folks to good information.

It sounds like you buy a lot of razors. We'd love to see some pics of your collection, and to have you share your tips and techniques in another thread.

[gearchow]

What's up with that picture over Phil's typewriter? Is that a UFO in the sky or something?

I like this one slightly better:

but just slightly...



-jim