Gillette Slim Score: Cleaning Help!

[bmilcs]

Evening,

Today, I scored a nice 1965 Slim at an antique shop for $13 and also a cool vintage tobacco pipe holder that I'm restoring into a nice razor stand.

Anyways, after doing several boiling water/dish soap sinks, scrubbing bubble + toothbrush scrubs, and turtle wax chrome polish wipe downs with q-tips, I've been unable to make the inside of this Gillette shine. I think it's surface rust but I need an experts advice. I do not have any MAAS but plan on picking up some tomorrow. Am I just using the wrong polish? Should I pick up some pipe cleaners and a brass brush?

Help!

 

[bmilcs]

It appears like surface rust from an old razor that sat in there for way too long.

 

[Rothman]

Just looks like brassing to me. The plating is worn through. Polish works by removing micro amounts of the surface material. If you polish too much, it will brass more. Be careful!

 

[mikelz777]

+1 on the brassing. It looks fine and you don't really see the inside much anyway. Load it up with a blade and enjoy it. It's a tool that's meant to be used.

 

[Lothar101]

+1 on the brassing. It looks fine and you don't really see the inside much anyway. Load it up with a blade and enjoy it. It's a tool that's meant to be used.

+2

 

[Cornishman]

It might be worth getting the razor replated! The old pipe stand looks great! It should make an ideal razor stand, especially if you can get a shaving bowl to fit in the center!

 

[bmilcs]

yea I think you're all right. it's uber clean at this point. for $13 I think it's a pretty damn good deal

 

[rotto66]

I agree it looks like brassing, but who cares its only on the inside and for $13 you have a darn nice razor.

 

[chrisf8657]

Yep you got a good deal! Enjoy it

 

[bmilcs]

thanks. yah it functions like a dream and looks nice too.

just a little off color.

I have a 52 55 and 57 super speed coming as well. $11 each.

question... I can pick up two more nice ones for 5 ea. should I buy them, clean them up and sell?

 

[bmilcs]

Final results (note: this is after a shave.)

Also, my new shaving den holder.

 

[Kerrplunk]

Really nice razor score! I'm really digging that pipe-now razor stand!

 

[onotoman]

Yes, that is indeed brassing inside the head. The original nickel plating (and other plating for that matter) on TTO razors is often pretty thin inside the head.

Most razors were plated fully assembled and the 'throw' of the plating machines meant that less exposed areas often received a thinner coating. Not a great problem in practice as the high wear areas are the handle and guard bar.

But unfortunately if you polish too hard, it can expose the brass - as the OP has found.

 

[bmilcs]

Hey guys. Take a look at the original post date oh how I've grown!

I just bought a replated slim on BST a week ago. Funny.