Plating on a New

[MacMitch]

So I wanted to try different heads for my Deluxe Bull Mastiff handle I got from Bob's Razors just before Christmas. Bob only had a Goodwill New head to send with my order.

I won a razor that I believe is a short comb New. When I bid on it I could tell that the finish was weird. I think at some point the razor was striped or buffed down past the original plating. My plan was to send the head or whole razor off to be re-plated.

I am hoping to get some ideas about what this razor is and whether it is a good candidate for plating. I apologize for the lousy picture. I am charging batteries on my Digital SLR and flash.

 

[billc508]

Well the experts at B&B can tell you likely what happened to the finish but I own a half dozen of these razors and I have replated two of them so far. I can tell you that if you have the replating professionally done it will come out with a beautiful sparkling gold finish. Being a take apart, it's very easy to get a nice consistent plating job and it will look better than new. bc

 

[AndyL]

Pretty much any metal can be replated...

But that comes with a caveat - of course there are always costs associated with whatever you do...

If you're looking for a brilliant like new finish, likely they'll have to build up then polish down a few times to eliminate scratches/etc. The plating itself is cheap - the skilled labour of the polisher is what gets expensive...

Pretty much you can replate just about anything - but you've generally got to keep in mind you're adding material onto the razor - so small details like the engraved "Gillette" logo on heads, and some of the knurling on the handles might not come out so crisp...

Only thing I've given up on replating was a khaki with a cracked handle - it was easy enough to tig the crack back together... Unfortunately it was 4-500$ to 'disguise' the cracked metal... And no guarantees - as it was really fine work and lets face it - the platers typically specialize in bumpers - not razors

 

[MacMitch]

Thanks for the replies,
Most of the razor is a copper color, maybe brass? There were a few places, like teeth and the groove in the head that still seem to have a little gold finish. There seemed to be a slight gritty feel to the metal surface too. I am guessing someone used some sort of metal polish to make the razor look "better." My thought was to get the razor plated with nickel to match my Deluxe Bull Mastiff handle. Nickel also seems to be one of the more durable finishes.

The Gillette trademark though still present has lost some definition. The rest of the razor appears to be in very good shape. The two head pieces seem to screw down tight and true. The teeth are shorter with less turned under at the ends. I am guessing it is a short comb. The checkering on the handle is very good providing a great grip. I am guessing the grip will not be as tacky after it is plated but I imagine it will work fine.

I actually kinda like the coppery color but I am guessing it would tarnish easily and be hard to maintain. I think the razor may have been polished to its current state to get rid of the tarnish that had begun to take over.

Can anyone suggest a good place to get plating done? I will send Bob a note but I think he sends his things out to get plated.

 

[T Rick]

Do a search on plating, you're bound to get a lot of threads, there are a half dozen or so Members here who do this to varying degrees. There's a current thread even on it, where 4 or 5 Members were named (maybe slipped balc to page 2 by now?).

 

[billc508]

Reliable Electroplating in Norton, Mass. look up the number and call, ask for Dale. This is a professional plating facility of long standing. I read with interest the comment on replating with regard to "bumpers". There are industrial chrome facilities that specialize in car bumpers and that sort but, and this is where you come in, these places do not usually get involved with small craft parts. The guys at the Mass. facility specialize in restoring antique and collectible firearm finishing in addition to industrial projects. They are well equipped to deal with small craft parts and have experience with the razors and similar objects of art and collectibles of value in small size. Not every plater is a bumper guy so you will have to find a facility that will know how to handle your part but you should not be discouraged either, they do exist. If you have any pitting or anything you can take fine sandpaper and bring the surface down to a smooth finish yourself, the plating will not mask scars on the surface, it is only a few mils thick. The plater will prepare the surface with a chemical bath and some light polishing as far as the logo is concerned it will not change much in my experience. I have had a dozen or so including NEWs, superspeeds, aristocrats and the like replated nickel and gold and all came out good and clear. With the gold finish a lacquer is applied to help resist wear just like they did it at Gillette. The cost for the replating is around $25 which is good for quality work and for something you use and will keep for a long time, not a big expense, good luck, bc

 

[AndyL]

In my case - I work with what's nearby My local places are more on the industrial side - though they do have some good guys who do work on the smaller stuff...

Copper could be done - but you'd need to do a clear finish over it like is recommended for gold...

I think I'm averaging 50-60$ on plating (of course there's an exchange in there too)

 

[RocketMan]

Reliable Electroplating in Norton, Mass. look up the number and call, ask for Dale. This is a professional plating facility of long standing. I read with interest the comment on replating with regard to "bumpers". There are industrial chrome facilities that specialize in car bumpers and that sort but, and this is where you come in, these places do not usually get involved with small craft parts. The guys at the Mass. facility specialize in restoring antique and collectible firearm finishing in addition to industrial projects. They are well equipped to deal with small craft parts and have experience with the razors and similar objects of art and collectibles of value in small size. Not every plater is a bumper guy so you will have to find a facility that will know how to handle your part but you should not be discouraged either, they do exist. If you have any pitting or anything you can take fine sandpaper and bring the surface down to a smooth finish yourself, the plating will not mask scars on the surface, it is only a few mils thick. The plater will prepare the surface with a chemical bath and some light polishing as far as the logo is concerned it will not change much in my experience. I have had a dozen or so including NEWs, superspeeds, aristocrats and the like replated nickel and gold and all came out good and clear. With the gold finish a lacquer is applied to help resist wear just like they did it at Gillette. The cost for the replating is around $25 which is good for quality work and for something you use and will keep for a long time, not a big expense, good luck, bc

Great stuff BC!! I am way too far from Mass to contact Dale, but your explanation and info is great for me. Thnx!

 

[MacMitch]

Great help, thanks again,

I did some searching and found a few close plating places. I will give the ones near me and the one Bill mentioned a call tomorrow.

I am a little irked that the razor above has a short comb, although I probably would have wanted to try one at some point. It seems that most people prefer the longer teeth. I have the Goodwill New with long teeth but I find the system for holding the blade in place to be fiddly and prone to crooked blade alignment. I see a new long tooth and maybe an improved new in my future.

I did have a little luck yesterday winning the bid for a Gillette Sheraton TTO that appears to be in very good to excellent condition. The seller apparently did not know what it was and listed it simply as a "Gillette Gold Tone Safety Razor." I am hoping it will serve as my quick shave razor.

 

[cooncatbob]

Almost every large community has plating shops.
Look in your local phone book, then if they're close give them a visit don't just call, and take your razors with you.
If you just call on the phone your likely to just get blown off for being too small of a job for them to bother with but if you go in person and bring your razors your more likely to get them interested in doing your job, it's a guy thing.
It also help if you prep the razor yourself first.

 

[MacMitch]

Bob,

Will do and thanks for the great handle, it makes shaving even more enjoyable.

I found a few places within 10 miles or so and will investigate them in the next few days.

I tried shaving with the New short comb today and got a very good, irritation free shave. Not sure whether it was my improved technique or the head but I think it was the best shave yet.

Open comb on a Bull Mastiff handle huraaaah!

 

[*King G*]

great info here- thanks for sharing.