Any BF Members restore/polish old razors?

ChrisJS1

ChrisJS1

Joined
Feb 23, 2012
Messages
132
Found this razor 2 weeks ago which, after asking my Mother, found that it belonged to her father. I'm interested in having it restored close to new as possible. I checked out some polishing methods on the web, but I think I would rather have it professionally done. I am partial to my Merkur 38c, but I do not have too many items from gramps (he passed when I was a boy.) If anyone does or knows of a BF member that does this sort of work, I would appreciate a recommendation.

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Thanks in advance,
Chris
 
Nice find, I wish I could have gotten my grandfathers razors, or even my fathers:o

There is a little brassing going on on the flare tip, but it shouldn't be too bad. The actual rust in the blade tray would be from an old blade not the razor itself. You can clean that up yourself quite easily. Start with a soak in Scrubbing Bubbles, and scrub the razor with a soft bristle tooth brush. It may take a couple of soak and scrub sessions to get all the soap scum off of it but it will come relatively easy. Using a tooth pick in the nooks and crannies will help get the stuff the scrubbing bubbles and tooth brush leave behind. Once you are happy with the cleanliness of the razor you can use a non abrasive polish like Maas to bring back the luster. If after all the cleaning you find that there is too much brass showing you could get it replated. They can be expensive and you would have to trust your heirloom to someone else and the postal service:eek: Check out Ottoman on badger and blade, there are others that replate on there too.


If all that seems too much, I would be willing to clean it up for you for the cost of shipping, but being that I am in Canada shipping can get a little dear.
 
Thank you for the kind offer and the info gumbi. I will give it a go myself and see how it turns out. I do want it to come out nice because I plan on giving it to my boy when he is at shaving age. If I am unable to get it nice and shiny on my own, I will take you up on that offer.

Thanks again!
Chris
 
I think you will be impressed with just how clean it will come for you. Remember a non abrasive polish, the plating on these razors is thin and it wouldn't take much to burn through it. It the TTO is stiff, boils some water take the pot off the stove and drop the razor into it once the water stops rolling. It may take a couple times or more to loosen up a stiff razor, but all you are dealing with is dried soap scum:barf:
 
It can be a straight forward process, just as Unki outlined. I'm willing to help if you can't do it to your satisfaction. I also have an Ultrasonic cleaner which can help get the nastieness out.


-Xander
 
The ultrasonic cleaner is the best option, I keep meaning to pick one up. Its not like they are super expensive either, I could pick up a good one for about $70 after taxes, I just keep getting side tracked with other purchases:o As an added bonus an ultrasonic cleaner can be used for cleaning jewelry too, a gift for the whole family. Just don't use it to clean car parts:p


While I worked as a bike mechanic we had a 2 bath industrial Ultrasonic cleaner, it could make old greasy grimy bike parts look brand new in about 30 minutes. 10 minutes in the cleaning solution, 5 minutes dripping, 10 minutes in the lube bath, blow it off with compressed air, and you had a clean part.
 
I use mine for bike parts during my restorations all the time! That nasty 1930's schwinn found behind a shed with the grease turned into cement will come clean eventually! I also do delicate things like my vintage fountain pens and my wifes jewelry. Rule of thumb for jewelry, if you can't see through the stone, don't put it in the sonicator! Clear stones, rubys, saphires, diamonds and gem stones are fine. Also, get some tongs or a removable tray, you only stick your hand in there once...if it has a built in heater!


-Xander
 
unky_gumbi said:
The ultrasonic cleaner is the best option, I keep meaning to pick one up. Its not like they are super expensive either, I could pick up a good one for about $70 after taxes, I just keep getting side tracked with other purchases:o As an added bonus an ultrasonic cleaner can be used for cleaning jewelry too, a gift for the whole family. Just don't use it to clean car parts:p
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Is there a specific brand of the less expensive ones that you are familiar with, which is a good one to buy?
 
If you ever need more Maas Polish , my friends family owns the business:thumbup: sorry to derail but I think I still have a box that would take 500 years to use
 
I could never find Maas polish up here, it took a lot of sear hing to find a non abrasive polish to use on my razorst
 
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