Will this polish out?

[ronwell]

I recently picked up a 40s SS on the cheap. It cleaned up pretty well with just a toothbrush and some dish soap, but there are few tiny black spots on the silo doors (see attached photo). Will this clean up with some metal polish--like Flitz or Maas--or does it look permanent?

I've read the wiki and a number of other threads on cleaning vintage safety razors, so there's no need to direct me there. I'm really just wondering if someone with more experience can look at this pic and tell me whether or not it's worth it for me to buy some metal polish (as I don't have any now) or if it's a lost cause on this razor. Sorry to ask what is probably a simple question for 90% of the people on here, but this is the first time I've messed with a vintage razor, and I can't tell if I'm dealing with patina or plate loss. Thanks in advance.

[huck1680]

Run your fingernail over the spots. Can you feel anything? If you feel a little disturbance as you run over the marks it may mean you've got a divot or a tiny bit of plate loss. It's kinda hard to tell from your pic. I'd be willing to gamble on some polish and give it a good rub down. You might also consider Mothers' Billet metal polish, it really works well. You find it in the automotive sections of wherever you shop.

BTW congrats on a nice razor...good luck

[Chester]

The only way to know is to try. I've had good success with Maas on doors just like yours. Be gentle. There's nothing wrong with polishing something lightly a few times to achieve a result, over polishing very aggressively and taking off too much plating.

Protip: put a little dab of maas on the end of a q-tip or the end of a toothpick and work it into the grooves on the safety bars. Works great to remove old dinge.

Hope it helps,
-- Chet

[mistercitizen]

I had some similar looking specs on the handle of a nickel plated Fat Handle Tech that I polished yesterday using MAAS. The plating ended up coming off along with the specs. It's hard to tell from the photos on yours, but I believe the specs on my Tech handle indicated plate loss because the brassing only showed up where the specs had been and it happened after my first application of MAAS. If the plating had not been comprimised, it would take many, many applications of MAAS to remove the plating. I guess your options are (a) do nothing and live with it the way it is (b) try to polish it to remove the specs and risk removing the bad plating in the process. If you don't want (a) and you choose (b) and you end up removing the plating in the process, then you can do (a) again or have it replated. I'm having my Tech replated since I'd rather spend the extra money and have the plating look nice and shiney rather than having specs or brassing on the razor. Some guys are okay with a little brassing or a few marks, so it's up to you.

These old Gillette Techs and Super Speeds are tough ones to know whether to fix them up or just try for a better one since they're relatively cheap. I like the idea of fixing them up if the cost is not too high since they are very nice shavers and they just don't make them anymore. I recently ruined a Super Speed like yours though by trying to put a replacement endcap on it because the original endcap had fallen off. It was a perfectly good razor otherwise and I ended up bending it by pushing too hard on the side of the head so the doors no longer shut properly. I bought another one for $15 shipped to replace it. It looks like it needs a good cleaning and polishing.... but hopefully that's it.

Ben

[fast14riot]

I would start with a Sunshine polishing cloth first. Its the least abrasive and safe for precious metals. Any brand of a loaded jewelers cloth is fine, I just have a Sunshine brand and it works great. Then try the maas if that doesn't do the trick. Always start with the least aggressive and work up. The jewelers cloth is great at removing water spots from hard water, btw.

Use the cloth in very small circular motions to start, if the plating has let go you don't want to rip a huge chunk off by going back and forth on the full length of the head with lots of pressure.


-Xander

[ronwell]

Thanks, guys. I tried running my fingernail over the spots, and as far as I can tell, it's smooth. That's what had me scratching my head.