Gold tech polishing question...

[jwhiskercut]

Ok, so I've been lurking for awhile and registered recently. RAS had already kicked in before I registered here. A few days ago, I took posession of a 1938-1945 Gold tech (has the triangles in the base of the razor mount, not the oval holes). It's in really good shape, but I decided to clean and polish it anyway.


I used scrubbing bubbles and then polished with NeverDull polish (comes in the wadding cloth). Looks great but the head plate ( I'm not sure that's the correct term. the very top piece that sits on top of the blade) is a different color gold than the rest of the razor now. Is this normal? I'm pretty sure I didn't take the gold off, because it doesn't look like brass or anything. It just looks like a different color gold.

I recently saw before and after pictures of a gold tech that look the same after polishing as my did, but now I can't find it. Any have a similar experience?

 

[amspratt]

I got a pretty dodgy looking gold tech in a lot buy on ebay, and when I went to polish it up I noticed some of the gold actually coming off. I wasn't terribly upset about this, since I only paid five dollars for the lot. Still, I think using polish on gold plated razors may not be a good thing. I'm not sure though...

 

[Stubblefield]

The gold on the older techs comes off quite easily. Best not to polish at all.

A recent related thread:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=141081

 

[jwhiskercut]

Thanks for the replies. I'll refrain from any future polishing of the gold.

 

[Omnichron]

all I use is baking soda + lemon juice and a toothbrush. cleans them real good and it is nonabrasive.

 

[Greybeard]

I used scrubbing bubbles and then polished with NeverDull polish (comes in the wadding cloth). Looks great but the head plate ( I'm not sure that's the correct term. the very top piece that sits on top of the blade) is a different color gold than the rest of the razor now. Is this normal? I'm pretty sure I didn't take the gold off, because it doesn't look like brass or anything. It just looks like a different color gold.

I recently saw before and after pictures of a gold tech that look the same after polishing as my did, but now I can't find it. Any have a similar experience?

The base material of the top plate of the head on a lot of gold plated Techs is copper. Most of the Tech bottom plates and handles I have seen are brass based. If the top plate is reddish color, then the copper is starting to show through the very thin gold plating. Since brass is more yellow, then the bottom plate and handle would be more yellow.




- Peter

 

[jwhiskercut]

The base material of the top plate of the head on a lot of gold plated Techs is copper. Most of the Tech bottom plates and handles I have seen are brass based. If the top plate is reddish color, then the copper is starting to show through the very thin gold plating. Since brass is more yellow, then the bottom plate and handle would be more yellow.




- Peter

I think you may have hit the nail on the head there. I knew the top piece didn't look like brass, but it didn't match the gold on the rest of the razor after I polished it. It does look copperish. It sounds like I removed the gold. It's a real shame, because the gold looked great and there was no pitting etc. I guess that's what happens when you spend years polish aluminum wheels on cars, then move on to delicate gold plating.

Oh well, I bought it to use, so I guess that's what I'll do. just curious though.... In terms of value, how much does this hurt the razor? I'll try to get pics up in the next few days.

 

[Greybeard]

I think you may have hit the nail on the head there. I knew the top piece didn't look like brass, but it didn't match the gold on the rest of the razor after I polished it. It does look copperish. It sounds like I removed the gold. It's a real shame, because the gold looked great and there was no pitting etc. I guess that's what happens when you spend years polish aluminum wheels on cars, then move on to delicate gold plating.

Oh well, I bought it to use, so I guess that's what I'll do. just curious though.... In terms of value, how much does this hurt the razor? I'll try to get pics up in the next few days.

Because so many were made, gold plated Techs do not sell for that much unless they are in mint condition with the original box. To answer your question, maybe a few dollars less. I would just use it and not worry about it.



- Peter

 

[jwhiskercut]

Thanks for all your replies! I'll just enjoy it and call it a lesson learned!