B&B Confidential #4: Razor Restoration

[wizlo]

Very useful information. Kudos and thanks!

[mhensley]

Great timing! I just bought my first old DE razor at an antique shop. It is a Gillette Red Tip Super Speed. It was quite used, but the doors close solid. It had a blade in it (sheesh!), that I carefully removed and disposed of.

I'm following some of the cleaning/polishing advice in the linked threads tonight and tomorrow.

A lot of the red paint is gone from the tip. Has anyone had any luck repainting them, or is the best advice to not try?

I bought it on a whim, and at $10 paid too much, but it was the least expensive one I saw. Similar razors in similar condition were marked $35 and up. Is that just here in the San Francisco Bay area? It looks like I could have bought one already restored on EBay for about the same price. But I did want to try the restoration project.

[du212]

useful, useful useful.....thanks to group the threads about restoration

[KcHighLife]

Ok so I am not new to B&B but have been a lurker for some time.
My hobby for some time now has been to restore vintage safety razors. My preference is Gillette. I have found over the years that the most effective method starts with an ammonia bath. I prefer about a 1:3 mixture for both gold or nickel. Never vinegar for your nickel razors! Take it from me, it will produce more work. I have purchased soft denture brushes (for the angles). this does not mean scrub the heck out of em, remember what you are doing. I soak from 5 to 10 minutes and work the solution via brush as needed to scrub. I finish with good ole Brasso metal polish. Be careful with this though, not much is needed.
Not sure if this "newbie" to b&b helped but, I believe it true.

[kmwfae]

Great B&B confidential, thank you!

Kung Pao!