Cleaning Up an Old Razor (not a Scooter)

[baloo]

Hi guys I have using a traditional double edge razor for a while now and really enjoying the shaves I'm getting.

I recently picked up this gillette Old Type copy for not too much money, this Razor is based on a Gillette design from the 1900s

It was quite obviously in need of a bit of love.





As you can see the Razor is pretty straight and in one piece but a bit grubby and slightly tarnished.





I spent a bit of time today to try and restore a bit of lustre back into the old girl, a hot water bath with some detergent and washing up liquid followed by a stiff bristle brush and a toothbrush with some microfiber cloths and then a final polish.

It is quite a light Razor but shaves very nicely, I've only used it a couple of times but I will definitely be using it more in the future.







It is never going to win any beauty contests or be worth anything but it will last for a few years yet.



Thanks for reading.

B

[chairchild]

always loved the look and general "manliness" of the old style shaving razors....


but whenever I tried to use my dads one, I just sliced myself to bits with it

[baloo]

It has definitely taken a bit of time to get the hang of it, but it's pretty good now. Just keeping my eye open for other razors to try.

Cheers.

[TS]

Pleasantly surprised this isn't a micro scooter restoration.

[baloo]

Jan 28, 2014 23:36:11 GMT TS said:

Pleasantly surprised this isn't a micro scooter restoration.

Good point, when search online I quite often get taken to wheleled Razors, not my thing at all.

[niwid]

What a cracking little thing that razor is. I imagine it's something that most people wouldn't even think about 'restoring', just because, well, why would you? Good on you sir!

[control67]

Very nice, I use either a '59 gillette red tip superspeed or a mid 60s aluminium tech. You get a much better shave than any of the modern multi bladed stuff with a DE.

[Midas]

What metal is it made from?

[waveman1500]

Nice work! I use a modern Chinese-made butterfly-type double-edged razor. It would be interesting to try an older one. The convenience of opening doors isn't that big a deal, since I only change the blades about once a week anyway!

[smurf]

Lovely razor, i use a cut throat but I'm on the lookout for a vintage 7 day set,

Have you tried arko shave soap? They use it at my barbers and its bloody cheap too

[trekkerglenn]

oooh a safety razor thread. I got into this about a year and half ago. I bought the Merkur 34c and "carton" pack of Derby blades off Amazon. I still have approx 5 packs left from the carton and the razor is still as amazing as day one.

I must say i think its extremely difficult to cut yourself with these types of razor, the angle of the head is designed so well. They are such a rewarding experience and give a far superior shave to the gillette rubbish sold at ridiculous prices in the supermarket.

I'd recommend to anyone to move over to DE shaving, aside from the monetary gain in not buying gillettes ever again the difference in how your skin feels after a DE shave is simply amazing

and well done on the Resto, razor looks awesome now

[waveman1500]

Try Feather blades, they're the best I've tried. I got a "sample pack" with 11 different brands and have tried Dorco Stainless, Dorco Platinum, Feather, Gilette Super Thin Platinum, Astra Platinum and Lord Platinum. Derby is still to come, so I will look forward to trying them. I might need to buy more Feathers for a back-to-back comparison though. Maybe I should keep shaving notes on all these blades!

Now, you can't have all that fun with a disposable multi-blade razor, can you?

[baloo]

Jan 31, 2014 11:52:54 GMT niwid said:

What a cracking little thing that razor is. I imagine it's something that most people wouldn't even think about 'restoring', just because, well, why would you? Good on you sir!

Cheers, pretty cheap and easy to do as well.

[baloo]

Jan 31, 2014 22:49:34 GMT control67 said:

Very nice, I use either a '59 gillette red tip superspeed or a mid 60s aluminium tech. You get a much better shave than any of the modern multi bladed stuff with a DE.

I've used this a few times now and it is a very close shaving razor. I'm using a Merkur slant at the moment and it's cracking.

[baloo]

Jan 31, 2014 23:02:53 GMT Midas said:

What metal is it made from?

I think the handle and comb are brass and the top plate and post are pot metal.

[baloo]

Feb 1, 2014 5:03:20 GMT waveman1500 said:

Nice work! I use a modern Chinese-made butterfly-type double-edged razor. It would be interesting to try an older one. The convenience of opening doors isn't that big a deal, since I only change the blades about once a week anyway!

Nice one, you should give it a try if you can, even if it's just to see the difference. The old type copies and indeed the Gillette old type ate not too expensive.

Good luck.

[baloo]

Feb 1, 2014 10:06:29 GMT smurf said:

Lovely razor, i use a cut throat but I'm on the lookout for a vintage 7 day set,

Have you tried arko shave soap? They use it at my barbers and its bloody cheap too

I'm too scared of the cut throats!! I do have the arko stick just waiting till I get round to using it. It smells lovely.

[baloo]

Feb 1, 2014 19:57:28 GMT trekkerglenn said:

oooh a safety razor thread. I got into this about a year and half ago. I bought the Merkur 34c and "carton" pack of Derby blades off Amazon. I still have approx 5 packs left from the carton and the razor is still as amazing as day one.

I must say i think its extremely difficult to cut yourself with these types of razor, the angle of the head is designed so well. They are such a rewarding experience and give a far superior shave to the gillette rubbish sold at ridiculous prices in the supermarket.

I'd recommend to anyone to move over to DE shaving, aside from the monetary gain in not buying gillettes ever again the difference in how your skin feels after a DE shave is simply amazing

and well done on the Resto, razor looks awesome now

Cheers. I started DE shaving after inheriting a razor and I've really enjoyed it. I get good shaves and it is not expensive as you say. There does seem to be a bit of a revival into the traditional way.

[baloo]

Feb 1, 2014 22:42:59 GMT waveman1500 said:

Try Feather blades, they're the best I've tried. I got a "sample pack" with 11 different brands and have tried Dorco Stainless, Dorco Platinum, Feather, Gilette Super Thin Platinum, Astra Platinum and Lord Platinum. Derby is still to come, so I will look forward to trying them. I might need to buy more Feathers for a back-to-back comparison though. Maybe I should keep shaving notes on all these blades!

Now, you can't have all that fun with a disposable multi-blade razor, can you?

There is no fun in squirting out the foam then throwing the blade away.

I have a pack of feathers to try but at the moment I am using a Merkur slant with a Gillette Green blade and they are working well together. I have some others to try do will keep working away on them.

What razor are you using ?

[waveman1500]

Feb 1, 2014 23:45:37 GMT baloo said:

What razor are you using ?

I've got a Weishi butterfly-type, like this: www.ebay.com.au/itm/Weishi-9306-G-With-Case-Includes-5-Gillette-Blades-/271117578447?pt=US_Shaving_Hair_Removal&hash=item3f1fddf0cf&_uhb=1

I did want a Merkur, but couldn't decide which one to get, so I decided to try out a cheap razor first. It works fine, so I haven't gotten around to upgrading. Maybe this thread will inspire me to buy a vintage one.