Can this razor be restored?

**Viseguy** · 03-19-2011, 10:33 PM

I got this Gillette razor as a throw-in when I bought my 1912. Can you help me ID it?

The head and base plate are rusted together, and the handle is cracked and comes off, as you can see in the second photo. It looks pretty hopeless to me (and it's probably beyond my abilities in any case), but do you think it can be restored?

**Mark1966** · 03-19-2011, 10:45 PM

I'd give it a go!

A good soak should dislodge the head from the baseplate and the barrel can be expoxied back on without too much trouble I would have thought.

Good luck with it

**amishmotorboat** · 03-19-2011, 10:53 PM

It looks like a ball-end old type to me.
Unless there's still a blade in there, it shouldn't be rust holding it together. It's made of brass.

It should clean up well enough to use with a soak as suggested above, followed by a treatment of scrubbing bubbles and a toothbrush.
Pretty enough to look at might take some polish.

**Viseguy** · 03-19-2011, 10:56 PM

When you say "soak", do you mean in plain water or something else?

Originally Posted by amishmotorboat

Unless there's still a blade in there, it shouldn't be rust holding it together. It's made of brass.

You know, come to think of it, I think the rust between the two pieces is an old blade. Will water work through it, or should I use something stronger?

**thick skin** · 03-19-2011, 11:41 PM

It definitely is not hopeless. I have one like it with worse cracks in the handle barrel than that. I filled the whole barrel with two part epoxy. Now it is stable and has extra weight to boot.
As mentioned, the head and base plate are not rusted together. Likely, you were just spining the top end trying to unscrew it. A good soaking should loosen it up. I have had good luck with dish detergent and maybe a little 409 in hot water (just shy of boiling water). Soak until water cools and take a toothbrush to it. Or... send it my way!

**alex2363** · 03-20-2011, 12:46 AM

the good ole college try will do it......pics pics pics after resto.

**Hex** · 03-20-2011, 06:00 AM

Yeah, what others said. Have a go at it.

You'll be surprised at how well these were made.

I had this one and it cleaned up pretty well.

**Sledgehammer39** · 03-20-2011, 07:45 AM

If you have used this type of razor before and like it. Than I would replate it.

**Viseguy** · 03-20-2011, 09:34 AM

Alright, you guys have given me the courage to go on! It's soaking in dish-washing liquid now.

I am convinced, though, that there is a completely rusted blade in there, and I don't know how that changes the game.

By the way, the razor as pictured in the OP is how it looked after I worked on it for about an hour. I should have taken a proper "before" picture, but this background shot will give you an idea of the condition it was in when I received it. (I did get the 1912 to shine pretty nicely, didn't I?

But that was in super condition to begin with.)

If I don't succeed, I'm happy to PIF to thick skin (first to ask). I'll let you know how it goes, and will post additional pix when I get to wherever it is I'm going with this....

**Viseguy** · 03-21-2011, 06:41 PM

I've taken things to the next level, as you can see from the pic.

I thought the head of the razor was a lost cause, but a combination of lubricant + heat did the trick! Basically I sauteed the sucker in a pool of WD40, then let it marinate for 24+ hours. I was able to unscrew it with the help of a Robo Grip (indispensable tool, BTW). The head and base plate were still stuck together tight, but I chiseled them apart with a hammer and screwdriver.

I believe the crud is the remains of a blade; the head and base plate themselves look to be intact. So there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. Whaddyathink?

**DunEdinRanger** · 03-21-2011, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by Viseguy

I've taken things to the next level, as you can see from the pic.

I thought the head of the razor was a lost cause, but a combination of lubricant + heat did the trick! Basically I sauteed the sucker in a pool of WD40, then let it marinate for 24+ hours. I was able to unscrew it with the help of a Robo Grip (indispensable tool, BTW). The head and base plate were still stuck together tight, but I chiseled them apart with a hammer and screwdriver.

I believe the crud is the remains of a blade; the head and base plate themselves look to be intact. So there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. Whaddyathink?

Nice job! I would soak those two pieces overnight, and if you have barbicide, just let them sit in that for a nice long time. Then hit it with scrubbing bubbles and hopefully you will have a clean razor head by then.

**akira7799** · 03-21-2011, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by Viseguy

I believe the crud is the remains of a blade; the head and base plate themselves look to be intact. So there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. Whaddyathink?

Absoultely. I think you're just going to use some good old fashioned elbow grease and a solid cleaner. I think there is not only light at the end of the tunnel, but a nice razor at the end of the tunnel too!

**Jake** · 03-21-2011, 07:08 PM

But will you still want to shave with it. Or only look at it?

**Viseguy** · 03-21-2011, 08:39 PM

Thanks, guys. Will post updates in this thread.

Originally Posted by Jake

But will you still want to shave with it. Or only look at it?

Time will tell. It's a little heavy for me, and once I use epoxy to mend the cracked handle, it will only get heavier. Maybe I'll hold a little auction on B/S/T, proceeds to benefit B&B.

First, though, I gotta apply that elbow grease.

Originally Posted by Hex

Yeah, what others said. Have a go at it.

You'll be surprised at how well these were made.

I had this one and it cleaned up pretty well.

Wow, I'm impressed! Not sure if I can get this one to look that good, but ... we shall see.

**huck1680** · 03-21-2011, 08:42 PM

One step at a time = light at the end of the tunnel

**freefallman** · 03-21-2011, 09:44 PM

Screw elbow grease. IF that really is rust (and the remains of a blade) and you wanna get it really clean you'll probably want to hit it with naval jelly. It can be picked up at any hardware store and is excellent. You may want to check to make sure it won't react with brass or whatever the base metal is though. I doubt it though.

**Hex** · 03-22-2011, 06:10 AM

Originally Posted by freefallman

Screw elbow grease. IF that really is rust (and the remains of a blade) and you wanna get it really clean you'll probably want to hit it with naval jelly. It can be picked up at any hardware store and is excellent. You may want to check to make sure it won't react with brass or whatever the base metal is though. I doubt it though.

First time I heard of Naval Jelly, and it sounds pretty powerful.

The MDS says it is phosphoric acid and I would be reluctant to use it on these old razors. Some of them are silver plated.

**MissJames** · 03-22-2011, 10:19 AM

I love projects like these. Look forward to seeing the end result.

**Viseguy** · 03-22-2011, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by freefallman

Screw elbow grease. IF that really is rust (and the remains of a blade) and you wanna get it really clean you'll probably want to hit it with naval jelly. It can be picked up at any hardware store and is excellent. You may want to check to make sure it won't react with brass or whatever the base metal is though. I doubt it though.

I may just try some naval jelly! Because elbow grease isn't cutting it, so far.

Originally Posted by MissJames

I love projects like these. Look forward to seeing the end result.

Me, too -- although I have zero experience doing this. Follow along as a newbie tries not to destroy a potentially decent razor.

**BBrad** · 03-22-2011, 06:38 PM

Nix on Naval Jelly - way too strong for underlying finish.

This is iron oxide stuck on a plated brass surface. NJ could eat the razor and leave the rust!

Soak, soap, and try to flake the chunks loose. Patience is your friend here. This is a crock-pot recipe, and it won't taste right if you try to rush it in the microwave . . . so to speak!!