Horn scale cleanup and restoration

[Seelector]

I’ve had this pair of horn scales sitting in my drawer forever. No idea where they came from LOL.

They’re in pretty good shape except at the pivot end where a lot of black grime has stained them. It looks like over the years it’s soaked right into the scales so it’s not like they will clean up with some sanding. Is there a way to get it out? A simple green soak or something?

Once I get them as clean as they’re gonna get what’s my next step?

 

[driftwood]

Hey!

You can try simple green (great stuff!). Not sure if it will get it out of the horn laminations though. But try it and see.

After that I generally do a wet sanding procedure. Start at 600 grit snd wet sand, then 1000, 2000, 2500, then mothers polish.

If you have access to buffing wheels you could use those in place of hand sanding. I'll generally do 600 grit by hand if the scales are in bad shape, then move to chromium oxide then jewelers Rouge (red) to finish.

 

[Seelector]

I’ll give the simple green a try. I don’t have a buffing wheel so all all the sanding will be the old fashioned way.

I figure they should probably get a neatsfoot oil soak, does it matter if I do it before or after sanding?

 

[alpster]

Soak them in neatsfoot oil for a couple of days, then sand with fine paper. JMHO

 

[Darth Scandalous]

If you have a card scraper, try that. Easier than sanding and makes for a smooth surface on horn.

 

[H Brad Boonshaft]

Try some Oxalic Acid, Barkeepers Friend, soak in a slurry, probably overnight. It may take repeated treatments to remove most or all. Vinegar also may work, but keep an eye on them, they are acids, mild but still acids.

Once clean and dry sand the inside of the scales with 220-400 over a cookie sheet to collect all the sanding dust, you don’t need much. Save the dust, it comes in handy.

Then make all your repairs, with a drop of thin CA glue in holes, flakes and dents and sprinkle the horn dust on the wet CA to over fill the holes.

Spray on CA kicker. If you use Kicker, it dries in a few seconds, and you can apply a bunch of layers in a few minutes.

Soak the pin holes with thin CA and fil the chipped areas. Its ok if you fill the hole, you can re-drill with a 1/16” drill in a pin vise. The CA will harden the holes.

Sand outside and inside, with 220 and a progression 400, 600, and 1k. Use a backer to make a flat even surface. From 1k you can easily go to any good metal polish and polish with paper towels to a high gloss.

Once repaired, soak overnight in a plastic zip lock bag with Neets Food oil. Allow to dry over night and re buff with metal polish and paper towels.

You don’t need a buffer, but you can get a nice polish after hand sanding with one.

But hand buffing works well also.

 

[2bit_collie]

Soak them in neatsfoot oil for a couple of days, then sand with fine paper. JMHO

That’s where I always start - a neatsfoot oil soak. Then try to sand down the gunk and smooth out the surface. I usually put a little oil on the sand paper as well.

These particular scales look pretty dried out. A lot of the graininess visible in the photos should disappear with a good soak.

 

[Seelector]

I decided to do a neatsfoot soak before doing anything else. I’ll check them in a day or two and see how they look.

 

[H Brad Boonshaft]

If you are going to make repairs with CA and horn dust it is better to make your repairs first, then soak in neatsfoot or you will need to wait a few days after soaking for the oil to penetrate so your glue will stick.

I have soaked scales and even whole scaled razor in a bag of neatsfoot for weeks at a time when I have forgotten about them, but usually a 2-3 days is enough. The oil will not hurt the steel if you soak the whole, pinned razor.

CA and horn dust makes an invisible repair and is as strong or stronger than the original horn material. CA will harden the pin holes.

Horn is one of my favorite scale material for razors, and come in a variety of colors some with accents and wild streaks. Easy to work, finish, repair and inexpensive.

 

[Frank Shaves]

They look to be in pretty good shape. I would soak in 100% neatsfoot oil and then light sanding with fine wet/dry sandpaper (1200 to 2000). You might need to go a little lower. If you don’t have a buffing wheel, you can polish with Mothers or Fitz with a paper towel.

 

[Seelector]

I’ve got the scales cleaned, neatsfooted, sanded and polished. They’re ready to go on a razor now.

They turned out a little rougher looking than I hoped but not too bad for my first time working with horn.

Here’s what I did:

1. Neatsfoot oil soak for a couple days
2. Sanded 600-800-1200 then metal polish
3. Decided to try and get the gunk at the pivot ends out. Soaked in bar keepers friend solution overnight then scrubbed with a toothbrush. It didn’t do much.
4. I think the soak caused some swelling and opened up fissures and cracks all over the place. I filled these with CA and horn dust as best I could. It took 4 or 5 layers of dust and CA to fill a tiny divot on the edge.
5. More sanding to get rid of the excess CA
6. Thought they looked dry so back in the neatsfoot for another 2 days.
7. Sanded AGAIN starting at 400 and working up to metal polish. Finally done!

I might have missed a couple steps in there, I feel like I sanded these things 10 times. I learned a lot and next time I hopefully don’t have to repeat things so many times. Thanks for the all the advice guys

 

[Frank Shaves]

^
They look pretty darn good. Next time you need to fill a divot, try applying super thin CA and then immediately sprinkling baking soda on top - magical how well it works.

I recently did this after tens of rounds of CA by itself going nowhere. Couldn’t believe it took me so long to try.

 

[Seelector]

^
They look pretty darn good. Next time you need to fill a divot, try applying super thin CA and then immediately sprinkling baking soda on top - magical how well it works.

I recently did this after tens of rounds of CA by itself going nowhere. Couldn’t believe it took me so long to try.

Thanks Frank! I’ll try the baking soda trick next time. Time to pin this razor!

 

[Seelector]

Done! Pretty happy with how it turned out. The scales are maybe a touch too long but that’s getting picky.

 

[H Brad Boonshaft]

Baking soda dries white, horn dust dries invisible. Baking soda is also harder to sand, use CA kicker/accelerator you can do sever coats in a few minutes.

Use a metal file to rough sand any over filled spots quicky to shape. Glue 220 sandpaper to a paint stir stick or tongue depressor to make sanding easier.

Sand your wedge so it will show smooth on clear/translucent scales. Lots of vintage horn scales were a bit long.

Clear PETE thrust washers will prevent rust and dark spots at the pivot and are near invisible. There is a thread on making them from a water bottle.

Nice work.