H. Boker&Co Germany Rastus #50

[Farqual]

Was in a antique store and picked up this old Rastus. It has some pitting, it's straight no smiling, no hone wear on top edge. Thoughts on polishing it up? 0000 steal wool? 240 320 460 600 1000, 1500 sand paper, Grey paste, white, then red. I polished up a keenkutter with some success but i want to do the best I can to remove as much of the pitting as I can. What are any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[Mike H]

You're going to need sandpaper for this one. The progression you outlined looks good.
Vintage Bokers are great shavers.

 

[grump]

Looks like a fine Boker. I would take some Mothers polish to it to clean most of the rust off and the proceed with the sandpaper progression.

 

[pmaster]

I've possibly go as low as 180, way more often than not I start too high in the grits and end up going lower afterwards. You can clean up the worst of it with an SOS steel whool or something, and then sand away Should cleanup quite nicely.

Edit: what grump said. clean it up with the polish first, you'll have an idea of how much work you have ahead of you and where to start with the grits.

 

[alpster]

I like Boker blades. Their knives are quite good also. Nice find. I would love to see pictures after the cleanup.

 

[Farqual]

Ok, picked up some maas and cleaned up well enough, now i have just beginning the 180 grit.

 

[Farqual]

Well 180 was not getting to the pits after 2 hours so i went to 120, and i start again =)

 

[Slash McCoy]

You will get it. Just be sure that each stage fully removes all scratches left by the previous stage. This is important, for a good finish. Most guys try to rush through the progression and can't understand why they don't get a nice mirror finish. Of course, a mirror finish doesn't shave any better than a scratchy or wavy finish.

You seem to have a bit of frown in that blade but not enough that you need to breadknife. I would start out with something much coarser than the typical 1k bevel setter though. Maybe a 325 DMT or a 300 grit diamond hone from Harbor Freight. As soon as the frown is gone but before there is a proper bevel where the frown was, bump up to 600 grit diamond or maybe jump right up to your 1k. The final bevel you set with the 1k stone. Or 15u or 12u film.

 

[Farqual]

Well i swore a few times, i using the dremel and yep you guessed it i chipped the blade. Sooooo i recovered it a bit. It was near the heal so i put in a finger notch, also put in a barber notch since the chip ruined the "originality" of the blade. Now sand, sand, sand.

 

[pmaster]

noooooooooooooooooooo!!

That's too bad, you were really off a good start. There's no real need to use the dremel, I've done a ton of razors with old rags only. Much safer! Hopefully your next one goes better!

 

[tomjr]

ouch it has happened to all of us. the problem with education is it is expensive and it hurts in this case.

 

[Slash McCoy]

Well now every time you shave with that razor you will remember the lesson it taught you about that diabolical fiendish instrument of mayhem and destruction, the Dremel. They are ever so handy and versatile, but potentially deadly to razors. Be careful with them! And always consider alternatives.

 

[Gamma]

Nice save on the 'whoops'.

 

[Farqual]

Had to go down to 80 grit to get to the pits, just moved up to 100, sand sand sand


Ps I'm taking advise i read and switching directions between different grits.