Almost everything you read about antique restoration will tell you not to over clean, ie restore but don't refurbish.
Is cleaning an antique razor, removing all patina and sometimes replacing the scales heresy?
From what I can gather, some people collect razors but don't use them, and they tend to leave them alone rather than clean them up. Seems a waste.
Personally, I love seeing the photos on this forum that show an old rusty razor that has been restored to be as good as, or in some cases better than, new.
It's the way the manufacturer intended it to look, and the way it looked when the original purchaser bought it.
I'm pretty sure that razors are the only antique that I have ever seen (apart form Japanese swords) that are worth more after complete refurbishment.
In another thread, Sticky mentioned that he doesn't mind stains on a blade because they gives it character, which whilst not for me, I do understand.
Is cleaning an antique razor, removing all patina and sometimes replacing the scales heresy?
From what I can gather, some people collect razors but don't use them, and they tend to leave them alone rather than clean them up. Seems a waste.
Personally, I love seeing the photos on this forum that show an old rusty razor that has been restored to be as good as, or in some cases better than, new.
It's the way the manufacturer intended it to look, and the way it looked when the original purchaser bought it.
I'm pretty sure that razors are the only antique that I have ever seen (apart form Japanese swords) that are worth more after complete refurbishment.
In another thread, Sticky mentioned that he doesn't mind stains on a blade because they gives it character, which whilst not for me, I do understand.