bought two straights today - I just don't know...

[gearchow]

I was out today and I know I should stick to buying DEs because every time I buy a straight I don't see the right thing. I got these two for $19 a piece.

Does this Wade and Butcher have the right profile or has it been honed to death? (7/8 measured at it's widest spot). It came in a case that says "Famous Keen-Shaving 'Bow' razor". I don't think it's a Bow razor, it doesn't look like the one's I've seen on the net.

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The Taylor Eyewitness - yep, I bought it because it has an eyeball on it. And isn't in too bad of shape. The scales have a bit of a bend in them.

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What do you all think, are either one of them suitable to restore?

-jim

 

[johnmrson]

The Wade and Butcher is well worth restoring. The blade looks in pretty good condition and it's a good size. I'd probably not bother with the Taylors Eye Witness.

 

[Legion]

I reckon the W+B might come up OK. Cool new scales and a bit of a buff. Yeah.

 

[Munxcub]

That W+B looks pretty good to me, bevel is a little weird and would need some work, scales too, but overall I'd say worth putting some elbow grease into.

 

[rambus007]

$19 for a W&B chopper is a steal! These restored chopper sell for over $100 each and they take excellent edges. Because it's a wedge you will need to apply 2-4 pieces of electrical tape prior to honing to achieve an angle no more than 20-22 degrees. But even before honing you will need to sand it out using a progression of grit papers or you can use a buffer/rotary tumbler.

 

[Munxcub]

But even before honing you will need to sand it out using a progression of grit papers or you can use a buffer/rotary tumbler.

Unless of course you want to keep the age on it. As long as there's no active rust you don't HAVE to get it to a mirror finish for it to take an edge and shave.

 

[Luc]

I think the heel is uneven on the W&B but it does look like it still have some life in it. The Taylor Eyewitness, I'm not sure... You could practice with that one.

 

[rambus007]

Unless of course you want to keep the age on it. As long as there's no active rust you don't HAVE to get it to a mirror finish for it to take an edge and shave.

I concur. It's only necessary to restore if you want a shiny finish but I'm paranoid so restore all my razors lol.

 

[danjared]

The scales on the W&B look like they're horn. I would save them although would probably try filling the crack with epoxy+filler. However, if you're going to trash them, do it non-destructively and send them to me. I find nothing more horrifying than a nice vintage razor with gaudy acrylic scales, though.

 

[gearchow]

The scales on the W&B look like they're horn. I would save them although would probably try filling the crack with epoxy+filler. However, if you're going to trash them, do it non-destructively and send them to me. I find nothing more horrifying than a nice vintage razor with gaudy acrylic scales, though.

I'll keep that in mind, but one side has some - what I think are - severe bends in it.

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-jim

 

[danjared]

It's possible to straighten horn scales. I believe there's even a how-to on SRP's wiki.

 

[superbleu]

That can be fixed with some clamps and a blow dryer/hot air gun

 

[MileMarker60]

They both look like usable razor. For me, it take a lot for it to be considered unusable.
The WB will come out just fine. The bevel may not be great looking but it will shave just as nice a pretty looking bevel.
If your going to spend time and money on one, make it the WB. Just get the Taylor honed and see how she works. If it turn as out to be a great shaver that you tend to grab first. At that point, I would look to fully restore the Taylor.

If the razor sets well in the scales (even if it warped a little) I wouldn't worry about it.

What looks bad at first, can turn out to be a nice razor.

 

[mdunn]

$19 for a W&B chopper is a steal! These restored chopper sell for over $100 each and they take excellent edges. Because it's a wedge you will need to apply 2-4 pieces of electrical tape prior to honing to achieve an angle no more than 20-22 degrees. But even before honing you will need to sand it out using a progression of grit papers or you can use a buffer/rotary tumbler.

tis a steal fo sho! but i wouldnt use that much tape. 1 layer if i didnt want honewear on it, 4 is waaaaay to many imho. i wouldnt want to change the geometry that much.

 

[Munxcub]

tis a steal fo sho! but i wouldnt use that much tape. 1 layer if i didnt want honewear on it, 4 is waaaaay to many imho. i wouldnt want to change the geometry that much.

Is 1 piece enough for a wedge? I know if all you're trying to do is prevent hone wear 1 would do, but for a wedge you need to jack it up some to actually get a bevel angle, no?

 

[Troggie]

Is 1 piece enough for a wedge? I know if all you're trying to do is prevent hone wear 1 would do, but for a wedge you need to jack it up some to actually get a bevel angle, no?

It depends on how much honing is necessary and how the bevel is set currently. If resetting the bevel completely it is really how much work does one want to put into it as you can set the bevel with no tape but it may take you a year to do it .

 

[Slartibartfast]

I like the way that W&B looks as is..... I would just hone it and enjoy the shaves.