I have a few very old meat cleaver style razors that have horn scales. The horn, over a period of 100 years or more, can get very dry and sometimes brittle.
Based on what I have read in the past I have restored horn scales by a light cleaning with Dawn and a damp cloth to remove any surface dirt and then air dry completely. Then I will put the entire razor in a zip lock bag with a tablespoon of Neatsfoot oil and let it soak overnight. Then I remove the razor from the ziplock bag and wipe the scales and blade with clean cotton cloths. This can revive horn quite dramatically.
Btw...Neatsfoot oil is derived from rendering the shin bones of cows. An amazing product for restoring old leather or horn.
Extreme dryness can be very damaging to horn, so be careful with dehumidifier desiccant packs and dry storage. The oil treatment I describe can prevent this from occurring. But also be mindful of very old steel and rust - a delicate balance.
I am interested in hearing from others what you do to restore horn scales.
Based on what I have read in the past I have restored horn scales by a light cleaning with Dawn and a damp cloth to remove any surface dirt and then air dry completely. Then I will put the entire razor in a zip lock bag with a tablespoon of Neatsfoot oil and let it soak overnight. Then I remove the razor from the ziplock bag and wipe the scales and blade with clean cotton cloths. This can revive horn quite dramatically.
Btw...Neatsfoot oil is derived from rendering the shin bones of cows. An amazing product for restoring old leather or horn.
Extreme dryness can be very damaging to horn, so be careful with dehumidifier desiccant packs and dry storage. The oil treatment I describe can prevent this from occurring. But also be mindful of very old steel and rust - a delicate balance.
I am interested in hearing from others what you do to restore horn scales.
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