Is there a Doctor in the house?PIF

[Shantytownbrown]

I picked up this nice Gillette New-Federal in a lot off of craigslist a few months ago, I used it once and found it way too aggressive for my shaves....

I picked it up to try again, and found I had put "the crack" in it (I am 99% positive it wasn't there when i got it) but in addition, the handle came apart.

I am sure it can be rescued by one of you!

Being the lucky recipient of a replating PIF (thanks again!!)..it is now my time to thank everyone here for their advice and help along the way, you are all a great crew!


So...(CONUS ONLY)

Show me (via post link) that 1. you have the technical ability to fix razors AND 2. show me (via post link) that you are a member or the Brotherhood of The Open Comb from at least one month ago...I guess I could also accept your attestation of how you would fix it AND Your love for the open comb...

I would also like your word that once fixed, you will either add it to your arsenal or re-PIF it, and not sell it here, other sites or the bay...(on your honor of course!)

I will run this until next Friday evening, so I can ship it out on Saturday next week (Nov 16)...I will RNG a post here and will review your post for the aforementioned requirements

Good luck to all

Thanks again

Scott

 

[celestino]

Good luck with the PIF!

 

[pipskicks]

I'm not in (mechanically stupid here) but cool idea. Would be nice to see someone get a fixer upper and show the steps, although it's been done it's always interesting to see.

 

[Mr_Spiffy]

As a mechanical engineer, I love tinkering, building, and fixing things. Could be a fun project! Any chance you have pics of the crack or how the handle came apart? If it's an easy enough fix, I'd love to take a shot at it.

If I can fix it, I'd definitely document the repair, then try it out and possibly PIF it along. If I can't fix it, I'll PIF it to someone who can fix it.

I've never used an OC razor before, but I've wanted to try one. It's up to you, OP, if that qualifies for the PIF or not.

EDIT: I can almost guarantee that crack had probably started from the inside and you just didn't see it from the outside. Metal doesn't "just crack". Chances are it was a long-term stress crack. So don't feel too bad about it. It would have happened to someone eventually.

 

[pipskicks]

I decided to look at craigslist because I thought that was interesting. Found a collector selling a rocket for 100 and a GEM micromatic for 75 lol.

 

[Mr_Spiffy]

Ouch! I know they're "vintage", but that's nuts. Someone didn't do a Google search for a price comparison, apparently.

 

[pipskicks]

He said he was thinning out his collection, that's pretty malicious!

 

[Gingerbread]

This and that Toggle PIF are great. Rescue the razors!

 

[Shantytownbrown]

As a mechanical engineer, I love tinkering, building, and fixing things. Could be a fun project! Any chance you have pics of the crack or how the handle came apart? If it's an easy enough fix, I'd love to take a shot at it.

If I can fix it, I'd definitely document the repair, then try it out and possibly PIF it along. If I can't fix it, I'll PIF it to someone who can fix it.

I've never used an OC razor before, but I've wanted to try one. It's up to you, OP, if that qualifies for the PIF or not.

EDIT: I can almost guarantee that crack had probably started from the inside and you just didn't see it from the outside. Metal doesn't "just crack". Chances are it was a long-term stress crack. So don't feel too bad about it. It would have happened to someone eventually.

youre in! just for making me feel less bad about it...!!!

i cant seem to get my camera to focus on the crack, it is a small thread like crack right below the "neck" (the piece that separated from the handle)

 

[Shantytownbrown]

I decided to look at craigslist because I thought that was interesting. Found a collector selling a rocket for 100 and a GEM micromatic for 75 lol.

i got this and some techs off a guy on craigslist early on in my collection, i turned down a very minty GEM micromatic in a bakelite green case ($17), because i didn't know what it was then, i tried to get him back to sell it to me, but we missed each other and then he got pissy and wouldn't try another meetup!

 

[Mr_Spiffy]

Awesome!

No worries on the crack. There's not much that can be done to repair it, short of filling it in with metal somehow (i.e. welding it). I'm more concerned about how the handle separated, and if it can be easily repaired. Does the separated piece somehow slip inside the rest of the handle? If so, I might just be able to use some JB Weld on it to hold it in. Or I could heat it up and wick some solder in there, almost like they do with pipes. Though, I don't want to ruin the finish by heating it up too hot. Maybe I can do it in the oven, rather than with a torch..?

EDIT: Found some photos of complete New's, and it looks like the one piece slips into the handle. Is that right? In that case, my couple of options may just work. It'll be interesting, if nothing else!

youre in! just for making me feel less bad about it...!!!

i cant seem to get my camera to focus on the crack, it is a small thread like crack right below the "neck" (the piece that separated from the handle)

 

[Harry Snider]

I'm not in, sadly. I could fix that. It appears it cannot be welded.

 

[Mr_Spiffy]

Harry, how would you recommend to best fix that problem? The handle separation, that is.

I was looking into using silver solder on it, but getting the brass hot may cause it to blacken with oxidation. Not sure how to deal with that issue...

EDIT: Hmm... looks like the oxidation may be able to be removed with a mild acid solution. This is really turning out to be an education thread!

 

[Mr_Spiffy]

Oooh! New idea! I found out they make silver suspended in flux for making jewelry. Perhaps that might make it easy to apply and avoid getting silver where I don't want it! Just have to figure out that heat issue again...

 

[Harry Snider]

With limited knowledge on that handle, my best guess would be to either fab a threaded shaft or press a shaft into both sections. Epoxy is an option, soldering or welding will ruin it IMHO.

 

[Mr_Spiffy]

Thanks, Harry. I think I'd have to stick with epoxy or JB Weld to avoid the heat problems of soldering. The last thing I want is unnecessary work. I don't really have the right tools to press a shaft into both pieces. That may require a lathe for getting a proper diameter. And a threaded shaft requires taps, which I also don't have.

 

[Tonimus]

I'm pretty handy, and one of my best friends calls me a "redneck MacGyver". (Once repaired a throttle linkage with some cardboard and a zip tie.) I'd like to be in on this too. I may just be able to figure something out.

 

[Dugz]

I'm NOT in.

I think that the crack could be repaired with some silver solder. Unfortunately the heat of the torch would probably destroy the plating around the affected area, but it would be mechanically sound again. I wonder why those things always crack so much!

 

[BC1]

I'm a huge fan of open combs. I also have an orphaned ball-end handle exactly like that one in like new condition that I have been searching for a head for. So, that is how I would "repair" it. You can fix the damaged handle however, by filling the handle with an epoxy to make it functional, but there really isn't any way to make it look like new again unfortunately.

 

[michiganlover]

I wonder why those things always crack so much!

The ball end, and the collar are both simply a press fit into the tube. The tube is much too thin, and too small for this press fit. Thus the tube is undergoing constant stress from the day it was assembled. Adding to this problem is the fact that the tube was not properly annealed. Both of these issues compound to insure that nearly every one of these handles has cracked.