Polishing Restored Razors

[bmc1979]

I've got a few razors coming that I'm probably going to have to clean and make pretty (SS Flare, Single Ring, Tech, New, Fat Boy). I know the recommended polish is Metalwax but I can't find that up here and I'm looking for a good substitute. I found the following two and was looking for some input before buying:

Silvo Metal Polish (for older silver/gold plated razors):
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...BMetal%2BPolish%252C%2B142%2Bml.jsp?locale=en

Brasso (for "newer" razors):
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...2BMetal%2BCleaner%252C%2B8%2Boz.jsp?locale=en

I'm worried these may be a little harsh especially if I want to actually use these razors. Thanks for any input or any suggestions for alternatives. Or should I just bite the bullet and get some Metalwax shipped up here.

 

[johnmrson]

I wouldn't use either Brasso or Silvo on a razor. Both Magic Blue and Maas are good for polishing razors.

 

[bmc1979]

I wouldn't use either Brasso or Silvo on a razor. Both Magic Blue and Maas are good for polishing razors.

I'll see if I can find either of those around here. Thanks.


Does Wally Mart carry these? Also, if I can't find these, any fellow Canucks out there with a good alternative. Thanks.

 

[tom myers]

I would suggest that you don't use any polish on a gold plated razor. The gold plating is very thin and is protected by a thin coat of lacquer. Any abrasive polish will tend to wear off the lacquer and the plating will be very close behind. If the plating on the razor is intact, it shouldn't need polishing anyway, inasmuch as gold doesn't tarnish. I suggest you simply clean such razors with something like Scrubbing Bubbles to get rid of the old soap scum.
An old soft tooth brush may come in handy to help with the hard to get at areas of the razor. and then just a good rinse and dry with a soft cloth should clean these razors up nicely.

Silver plated razors should have a very mild polish used on them. Later model razors are often nickel plated and these can withstand a little harsher polish such as MAAS. This polish is also good for brass. I would tend to stay away from Brasso for anything other than brass, as it is a fairly harsh abrasive polish.

Regards,
Tom

 

[DESkydiver]

I got my small tube of Maas at Ace Hardware... Wally World and the French boutique store Target` did not have Maas. I also use a pipe cleaner to get those tight spots around door openings and between the bottom plate and adjustment plate on a Fatboy or Slim.

 

[Golden Ears]

Check out Canadian Tire/Home Hardware, they carry a couple different metal polishes. There's also Mothers mag and rim polish that a bunch of folks use to polish knives and razors, just watch that it doesn't cut too fast you might take off the plating.

 

[ghostknife]

...I found the following two and was looking for some input before buying:

Silvo Metal Polish (for older silver/gold plated razors):
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...BMetal%2BPolish%252C%2B142%2Bml.jsp?locale=en

Brasso (for "newer" razors):
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...2BMetal%2BCleaner%252C%2B8%2Boz.jsp?locale=en

I'm worried these may be a little harsh especially if I want to actually use these razors. Thanks for any input or any suggestions for alternatives. Or should I just bite the bullet and get some Metalwax shipped up here.

I've recently used Silvo (Australian version which comes in a different bottle but is probably the same thing) with no ill effects whatsoever and infact it wasn't harsh enough at all, it removed any tarnish and some stains but removes no metal at all. This is evidenced by the fact that the yellow cloth I using had no black on it. I used it on the doors, nothing happened and i had to resort to a heavier polish probably similar to MAAS. After using that (cloth blackened) I then used Silvo to finish off which removed the remaining black and polished the surface nicely. Brasso is a little harsher than silvo and you could probably use the 2 in combination, I really doubt it's going to harm the razors

EDIT yep it's the same stuff, you can find it on http://www.rb.com
Silvo: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Greece, India, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Phlippines, South Africa, Thailand, UK, USA, Venezuela

You could also try this stuff which I wanted to use but couldn't find any locally at the time, i've used it before om all sorts of things and it works great

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...0370 Silvo+Metal+Polish++142+ml.jsp?locale=en

Cheers

 

[wilsondude]

Mine cleaned up beautifully after a couple dips in baking soda/boiling water/aluminum foil suggested here. I did polish them up after that, but the soaking really does a nice job of getting the major stuff.

 

[amishmotorboat]

Don't use brasso on ANY plating. It's too harsh, and doesn't polish to a nice shine anyways. I would only use brasso on razors that are down to brass already, and even then only to get rid of the black and/or any scuffing on the surface - then follow up with MAAS.

 

[ghostknife]

OK, Don't use Brasso then, I stand corrected on that one

 

[ISilva]

Autosol, has proven results over here and elsewhere (do a general search for it and you'll see), and you can find it in Canada (first hit on google.ca, many more sources available in Canada).

On gold razors as suggested don't use metal polishes, and definitely don't boil them. Ideally (if you have one or know someone who does) use and ultrasonic cleaner with warm water and a bit of Scrubbing Bubbles or any other equivalent to it (CIF etc.). If you can't find an ultrasonic cleaner or the razor is really dirty and the ultrasonic cant remove it all, Scrubbing Bubbles + soft brush and an microfibre cloth for the finishing touch will do fine!

 

[ghostknife]

Whoa, I tested out Autosol and nearly ruined a razor, that is Waaaayyy to harsh a polish. I used it to get the solder off the sides of my Red Tip where the endcaps were lost and it easily took the plating off in just a very short time. Unless we are talking the Autosol Gold & Silver Polish which is a different story, don't use the plain Metal Polish version
http://www.autosol.com/metal-care/

 

[ISilva]

Whoa, I tested out Autosol and nearly ruined a razor, that is Waaaayyy to harsh a polish. I used it to get the solder off the sides of my Red Tip where the endcaps were lost and it easily took the plating off in just a very short time. Unless we are talking the Autosol Gold & Silver Polish which is a different story, don't use the plain Metal Polish version
http://www.autosol.com/metal-care/

I'm talking about the "normal" one, people seem to get good results from it here (and on other places):
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showpost.php?p=1998602&postcount=1
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showpost.php?p=1595651&postcount=1
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showpost.php?p=1091072&postcount=28
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showpost.php?p=961955&postcount=8
etc.

Not sure about your case but, that particular area where you used it did have solder and heat applied to it during manufacturing, that could make it weaker. And you where essentially removing metal (solder) from metal, so, depending on how rough you where... Your case was a particular one, it's not the same as polishing an already cleaned surface, polishing is (should be) the final step, after the surface is perfectly cleaned.

 

[Don]

I'll see if I can find either of those around here. Thanks.

I've seen Maas on eBay and Amazon.

 

[bmc1979]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I just received the SS in the mail today so I'll see what I can do for it. I'm thinking I might try that Nevr-Dull that ghostknife suggested and maybe pick up the Autosol that ISilva suggested as well.

 

[bmc1979]

I've seen Maas on eBay and Amazon.

Thanks I'll look at that as well.

 

[BBrad]

I have had great results on nickel-plated razors using Simichrome. I purchased mine at an antique shop that carried restoration supplies. I have also heard that it can be found at motorcycle shops as well.

MAAS comes well-recommended by many members, although I have not used it personally.

On silver-plated razors, I use Wright's Silver Cream as a finishing polish. It is very mild and leaves a protective coating. It also works wonders if applied with a toothbrush to knurled handles.

I "killed" a couple of razors some time ago using Brasso. Way too harsh!!

Gold-plated razors are best cleaned with Scrubbing Bubbles, since gold does not tarnish and only needs surface cleaning. Be sure to use the genuine SB product produced by SC Johnson - the "Dollar Store" imitations don't produce the same results.