How much patina is too much?

[spolct]

What's the crustiest looking razor you've used? Looking for pics if possible. I have a couple of finds that I don't want to go to heavy on the spit/shine (so to speak) spectrum but I don't want to be using a total rust bucket either. Unless the rust bucket is safe to use then fine.

I have 2 soaking in hot water/Dawn right now that I'll take pics of here in a bit.

 

[nemo]

There's a difference between patina and crusty looking. What type of razor are you referring to, spolct?

A tarnished silver plated single ring has patina, a disgusting Slim that looks like it spent a decade underwater is crusty. I don't shave with crusty.

You'll need a tetanus booster for this one, mine won the ugliest adjustable in 2011. Parts only razor.
The Ugliest Razor We Have Ever Seen Contest! Winners in Post #174

 

[Lightcs1776]

Personally, I would prefer to get my strarazors to be spotless and shiny. My vintage Gillettes, on the other hand, just need to be clean. No amount of scrubbing them will make them look like new, only like brass.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[spolct]

There's a difference between patina and crusty looking. What type of razor are you referring to, spolct?

A tarnished silver plated single ring has patina, a disgusting Slim that looks like it spent a decade underwater is crusty. I don't shave with crusty.

You'll need a tetanus booster for this one, mine won the ugliest adjustable in 2011. Parts only razor.
The Ugliest Razor We Have Ever Seen Contest! Winners in Post #174

Right now I have a PAL Injectomatic that's pretty brown. The other one is a 20s Old type. It's got a bit of green that needs to come off but isn't exactly shiny. This was after the last soak a few months ago and it's been hanging out off to the side ever since.

IMG_20190108_201911

• spolct
• Jan 8, 2019

IMG_20190108_222611

• spolct
• Jan 8, 2019

IMG_20190108_201729

• spolct
• Jan 8, 2019

 

[nemo]

Yeah, I'd use that. It's got a later Tech handle you know.

 

[spolct]

Yeah, I'd use that. It's got a later Tech handle you know.

Yeah I had posted it a while back (the pics were already in my media gallery thing) and someone had indicated that it had a Tech handle. I fully plan on using it, I just need to scrub off the green bits in the comb that were left over from my first cleaning.

The SE is my main question - I'll post pics here in a bit.

 

[spolct]

After 1 soak I was still getting brown on a paper towel so it's going in again. Near boiling water + dish soap is what I've been going with. The Gillette is green bits free and ready to go.

IMG_20190421_192935

• spolct
• Apr 21, 2019

IMG_20190421_192802

• spolct
• Apr 21, 2019

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• spolct
• Apr 21, 2019

 

[THall]

Regarding patina and not the crusted ones, I guess it depends on the user.

I like bright finishes and like to keep my raw Old Type and Bronze looking new. Some prefer the patina. If you prefer the patina, life is easier, but if you give a light polish and or homemade brew monthly, option 1 isn’t too bad.

 

[gvw755]

My favorite is my Matador Diplomat. I call it my Kermit razor and for very good reason.

before:

after:

It is also one of my best shaver.

 

[Gryffindor]

This is the worst condition razor I have. The Blue Tip in the mug was mostly green on the razor head. I’m still working on saving it.

My razor with the most actual patina is my finest.

 

[John Rose]

Here's a '46 Aristocrat (missing end caps) that I rescued from the Salvation Army Thrift Store.
I boiled it to soften up a lot of soap crust inside, and much verdigris came of with it. The finish on the top was so far gone (with pits and deep scratches too) that it was unpleasantly rough to shave with. I can't imagine how it got that way.

1946 Aristocrat end_before_6801

• John Rose
• Jan 24, 2019

Note the grey spots of solder where the end caps used to be.
Determined to be a 1946 model...

1946 Aristocrat top_before__6794

• John Rose
• Jan 24, 2019

Note the scratches and pits. These were noticeable (as dragging) during shaving.

The highlights are what was left of the plating.

1946 Aristocrat top_before_6789

• John Rose
• Jan 24, 2019

Shiny edges are what's left of the gold plating.

Having nothing to lose, I sanded the doors, centre bar, and the ends with grits from 240 to 1200 down to the bare brass and then very cautiously polished it on a buffing wheel with some (blue, I think) buffing compound.

1946 Aristocrat polished_6878

• John Rose
• Jan 24, 2019

Sanded to get most of the pits and scratches out, then buffed.

1946 Aristocrat polished_6877

• John Rose
• Jan 24, 2019

Sanded to get most of the pits and scratches out, then buffed.

This also got rid of the grey solder spots where the end caps used to be.
I didn't touch the handle.

Bear in mind that it was the extreme wear that convinced me to sand and polish the top. If it was simply a bit tarnished or had a bit of plating loss, I would have just settled for getting the soap crust and verdigris off.

It's perfectly fine for shaving with now.

 

[BigJ]

There's a difference between patina and crusty looking. What type of razor are you referring to, spolct?

A tarnished silver plated single ring has patina, a disgusting Slim that looks like it spent a decade underwater is crusty. I don't shave with crusty.

You'll need a tetanus booster for this one, mine won the ugliest adjustable in 2011. Parts only razor.
The Ugliest Razor We Have Ever Seen Contest! Winners in Post #174

+1! Wisdom!!

 

[spolct]

Not so worried about patina/crustiness anymore on the PAL. Scrubbing bubbles + a good stiff brush FTW.
Before:

IMG_20190421_192740

• spolct
• Apr 21, 2019

IMG_20190421_192802

• spolct
• Apr 21, 2019

After:

IMG_20190422_224934

• spolct
• Apr 22, 2019

IMG_20190422_224855

• spolct
• Apr 22, 2019

 

[Northstonehill]

I love my vintages to be as pristine as possible - and I only acquire great condition specimens.

This is my only crusty razor, unsable, I bought it for restoration but it turned out to be unable to tighten up. Kindda like it for the comparison pics

 

[romsitsa]

This is my only crusty razor, unsable, I bought it for restoration but it turned out to be unable to tighten up.

View attachment 974773

Hello, if you didn't already try it, swap caps/tubes. Sometimes a worn out thread will work with a good condition screw.

Adam