Buffing advice for my 1948-50 SS?

[misterrachel]

I received a late 1940s SS from fleabay that was pretty gunked up. It had a very gross Wilkinson Sword in it. I removed that and there was old blood & gunk on the inside of the head. The handle & knob were nearly black in places from years of gunk and green in others.

I've scrubbing bubbled it a few times. Gave it a barbacide bath. Then, I started working on it with MAAS. I can tell the handle is noticably nicer-looking...it's no longer black. However, it's not really getting shiny. I can tell that this one should look nicer and shinier, but not sure how to get it all the way there. I've been buffing with just a cloth. Should I be buffing with something different?

Also, on the knob (the horizontal lines) is some of the green gunk. I can't quite get it with my cloth. Is it okay to use a toothbrush with MAAS to get in there?

On the plus side, the head is already looking pretty shiny after Scrubbing Bubbles/Barbacide.

 

[danek]

I have a couple of 40's SS razors and they aren't particulary shiny. Especially, the handle is quite dull, almost like aluminum.

I've had good luck cleaning razors with CLR and a toothbrush. It''ll take care of that green gunk in no time.

 

[vitaman]

Hit the whole razor w/ a soft toothbrush and some toothpaste. Try a toothpick in the hard to get places and finish up w/ some Maas. Pics? Good luck.

 

[billc508]

You can try a number of methods like for instance: (A) toothbrush and comet. Make a little paste of comet and water, this will remove about anything that grows in the crevices of the razor, flush with running water after brushing, like cleaning your teeth. (B)Soak the razor in white vinegar for an hour or so and again use the toothbrush routine, flush with water. (C)toothbrush with the metal polish poses an issue, on the one hand the toothbrush represents an abrasive element to remove something from the surface, the metal polish is a polish and works against the use of an abrasive. After you are done with the cleaning, put down the toothbrush and use the metal polish or jeweler's rough with a cotton ball or felt cleaning wheel or tip, the idea with polish is to polish not to abrade, it is the last step after all the cleaning. bc

 

[raisindot]

I think you need to exorcise the thing. It may be possessed with the spirit of Sweeney Todd. Yuck!

Jeff in Boston

 

[gollum83]

I have a couple of 40's SS razors and they aren't particulary shiny. Especially, the handle is quite dull, almost like aluminum.

I've had good luck cleaning razors with CLR and a toothbrush. It''ll take care of that green gunk in no time.

Are you sure they aren't aluminum handled? At least some of the 40's styled Super Speeds with the black tips have aluminum handles.

 

[danek]

Are you sure they aren't aluminum handled? At least some of the 40's styled Super Speeds with the black tips have aluminum handles.

I didn't know that 40's were offered with black tips; I know 50's were, but that's a different razor. I'm pretty sure they're not aluminum, they certainly don't feel like it, and they are quite heavy. I havn't tried serious polishing with a felt-tipped Dremel bit. Maybe I should...

 

[mkevenson]

http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Razor_cleaning_and_restoration

Check out this wiki. I just purchased some of the Metalwax product and cleaned an old type that I had made black by wrong cleaning methods. This stuff works and seems safe for gold plating. They got a Christmas special running now. Give them a call these folks are good people.

 

[*King G*]

good old fashioned elbow grease. no chemicals/brushes can make up for that. expect to spend hours on it- the results are worth it!

 

[misterrachel]

Thanks all! I'll keep working at it and post some pics.