Remove scales or not?

**taffy** · 08-02-2011, 12:24 AM

Do you guys remove the scales on a razor your cleaning up, or not, pretty short question

**Legion** · 08-02-2011, 12:27 AM

Depends.

Pretty short answer.

**Legion** · 08-02-2011, 12:32 AM

OK, a longer answer.

If the scales are in good shape, and I am keeping them, and I can get to most of the corrosion with sandpaper, and I am only going to wind up with a razor only worth $50 anyway.... I'll leave them on. There is always a chance you will break them taking them off, so if it is avoidable it is probably worth leaving them there.

If the scales are not much good anyway, or there is too much gunk underneath that I cant live with, off they come.

You have to factor in possibly an extra hours work, carefully removing scales, making new pins, and peening it back together. There is no hard and fast rule. You just need to decide if the razor is worth it.

**Balcmeg** · 08-02-2011, 02:05 AM

Ill keep it short too and just agree with legion on this :)

**Legion** · 08-02-2011, 02:46 AM

I should also add, if the razor is really old, or in any way historical, I will always leave the scales on if humanly possible. Those pins are part of the original artefact, and deserve preservation as well.

But I come from a museum background, so that is probably a YMMV thing.

**Balcmeg** · 08-02-2011, 02:52 AM

Thats what my brother who get my restores for me in Sweden also says. He is marine archeologist and been connected to museums for the last 10 years.

I notice a pattern...

Originally Posted by legion

I should also add, if the razor is really old, or in any way historical, I will always leave the scales on if humanly possible. Those pins are part of the original artefact, and deserve preservation as well.

But I come from a museum background, so that is probably a YMMV thing.

**johnmrson** · 08-02-2011, 03:09 AM

It depends on the condition of the razor. Some you can clean up with the scales still on and others you really need to take out the scales to do a proper job.

**taffy** · 08-02-2011, 06:25 AM

Cheers chaps.

**thatsilverguy** · 08-02-2011, 12:49 PM

I like the thought of keeping things original. On my future restores I'm trying to figure out ways to remove corrosion without destroying the original grind marks. I will at least do that for my personal collection - kinda like "mint luster" on original coins. You don't see that everyday on vintages.

**king1976** · 08-02-2011, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by johnmrson

It depends on the condition of the razor. Some you can clean up with the scales still on and others you really need to take out the scales to do a proper job.

+1 but in most cases untill now I have to move scales down.....

**honed** · 08-02-2011, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by legion

I should also add, if the razor is really old, or in any way historical, I will always leave the scales on if humanly possible. Those pins are part of the original artefact, and deserve preservation as well.

But I come from a museum background, so that is probably a YMMV thing.

Listen to this Aussie brute folks. He say's the wisest things