Fat Handle Tech..."WOW"

[BigFoot]

Hey everyone,

Used my Tech for the first time this morning all I can say is "WOW". The only other DE I have used is a Slim Adjustable. I really like the Slim as well, but the tech just seemed to shave smoother than any setting on the adjustable. I was quite impressed.

Here is a question I am looking for opinions on. The Tech has some brassing on the head and handle. This razor was not bought to display it was bought to use. So would you guys:

1. Leave it as is, after all the poor guy is around 70 years old.
2. Take the rest of the plating off so it looks Brass. (If this is not an option because it would cause damage to the razor. Please let me know that.)

Thanks for any feedback and "WOW"

Scott

 

[Mike'sWorld]

I vote for removing the plating entirely. I have a NEW that actually looks quite presentable like this, but I buy my razors to use, looks are secondary to me.

 

[Blue58]

I would leave it just as it is... As you said the razor is for your use only its not for display.

The brassing shows the razors age and that it was used often, it also does nothing to change how it performs or its mechanical function.

I would leave it just as it is... it adds character to the razor.

 

[Crixus]

I had a fat handle tech with the triangular slots and the top plate had lost its nickel somewhat on both ends. It appeared to be copper underneath the plating of that piece, not brass. If you remove the rest of the nickel/gold plating, you may have a two-tone brass and copper razor. Interesting look in its own right.

 

[global_dev]

Hey everyone,

Used my Tech for the first time this morning all I can say is "WOW". The only other DE I have used is a Slim Adjustable. I really like the Slim as well, but the tech just seemed to shave smoother than any setting on the adjustable. I was quite impressed.

Here is a question I am looking for opinions on. The Tech has some brassing on the head and handle. This razor was not bought to display it was bought to use. So would you guys:

1. Leave it as is, after all the poor guy is around 70 years old.
2. Take the rest of the plating off so it looks Brass. (If this is not an option because it would cause damage to the razor. Please let me know that.)

Thanks for any feedback and "WOW"

Scott

i think i saw a tech like #2 on the BST yesterday. it looked pretty cool to me.

 

[Loric]

I also vote for taking the finish off if they are bad eyesores. Though if its just some minor brassing leaving it on as it just gives them some personality.

From this thread.

 

[MilkyLee]

Yeah that was my razor that looked that way on the BST. I just finished doing a New with the barrel handle last night and looks awesome. Any gold gillette that I get now that has some plate loss on it, I just boil it, stick it in vinegar and then polish for about an hour and a half. I think they look way better this way than how they looked from the factory. IMO of course.

 

[Loric]

Yeah that was my razor that looked that way on the BST. I just finished doing a New with the barrel handle last night and looks awesome. Any gold gillette that I get now that has some plate loss on it, I just boil it, stick it in vinegar and then polish for about an hour and a half. I think they look way better this way than how they looked from the factory. IMO of course.

There are coarse polishes that will take that gold off in minuets. Most brass polishes you find at the grocery store will take that gold and enamel off with minimal effort.

Extra polishing cant hurt the final product, but you can do it faster IMO.

 

[Zephyr]

I had a fat handle tech with the triangular slots and the top plate had lost its nickel somewhat on both ends. It appeared to be copper underneath the plating of that piece, not brass. If you remove the rest of the nickel/gold plating, you may have a two-tone brass and copper razor. Interesting look in its own right.

I think I have that tech now, I think I'm gonna remove rest of the plating , just have to get the time to do so.

 

[Crixus]

I think I have that tech now, I think I'm gonna remove rest of the plating , just have to get the time to do so.

Zephyr, I had a good idea that's where it was headed. If I recall, other than that plate loss, there wasn't really any pitting that you might expect on a 70 year old razor. Should be a great candidate for stripping. Good little shaver, too.

 

[MilkyLee]

Here is a few pictures of the New I finished last night. Sorry about the photos as it is still dark here so I can't use my light box!

 

[Crixus]

So briefly, what are your steps? You boil before you soak in vinegar, or you boil in vinegar water?

That looks nice, by the way.

 

[MilkyLee]

Yeah I boil in water for about 20 minutes then straight into a bowl of white vinegar while it's still hot. Then I let it soak for about an hour or so in the vinegar. Then I polish it with blue magic and a microfiber towel.

 

[Magic Learner]

Loving your work ML! have you got any photos with a blade inside the razor?

 

[MilkyLee]

No, but I can take some and post them here in a bit.

 

[BigFoot]

Yeah I boil in water for about 20 minutes then straight into a bowl of white vinegar while it's still hot. Then I let it soak for about an hour or so in the vinegar. Then I polish it with blue magic and a microfiber towel.

So that is what I would need to do if I wanted to take the silver plating off of my tech?

 

[MilkyLee]

It seems to work for me. Though I have never done it to a razor that didn't already have some plate loss starting. I think it was Loric who said that there were some polishes that are more abrasive and you could maybe speed up the process with that. I know we used Brasso in the Army to take the plating of our Class A buckles, so I might buy some of that and see if that gets the plating off more easily.

 

[MilkyLee]

Here are the photos Magic Learner requested. It is cloudy here today so the light box photos aren't the greatest, sorry.

 

[The Last Chimney]

!

What a great looking razor! I wonder how my orangeing Aristocrat would look with that treatment...

 

[MilkyLee]

I actually been wondering the same thing! Too bad it wouldn't clean up to look like a president