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Rust, Tarnish, Plate Loss?

Finally got round to cleaning up a couple of vintage razors I've bought (1958 TV Special and Wilkinson Sword Sticky). They cleaned up fairly well with dish soap and Cif foam (UK version of Scrubbt Bubbles) but there are a few spots I am not sure about and would appreciate some advice/opinions on what they are and what to do with them? Thanks in advance!

TV Special
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Sticky
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Flintstone65

Imagining solutions for imaginary problems
I would try some low-risk metal polish -- for me that's Flitz....hasn't ever removed plating (that I can see), but has helped shine it up and remove tarnished spots. That '58 looks to me like the underlying copper/brass is showing through the plating, but that's just my opinion and old eyes looking at a photo on a forum, so who knows. The inside of the Sticky (which seems appropriately named), I suspect might clean up some more with some polish and cotton swab. Be careful on your choice of polish should you choose to go that direction, some of them are harsher and may cause damage to your plating. Please keep us posted.
 
I would try some low-risk metal polish -- for me that's Flitz....hasn't ever removed plating (that I can see), but has helped shine it up and remove tarnished spots. That '58 looks to me like the underlying copper/brass is showing through the plating, but that's just my opinion and old eyes looking at a photo on a forum, so who knows. The inside of the Sticky (which seems appropriately named), I suspect might clean up some more with some polish and cotton swab. Be careful on your choice of polish should you choose to go that direction, some of them are harsher and may cause damage to your plating. Please keep us posted.

Thanks, I think you are right on the 58 and the underlying metal showing through. Having never used polish before on plated metal, I am assuming that if I use a less-abrasive polish like Flitz lightly on this it wouldn't do it any further harm?
On the Sticky, I will give the polish and swabs a go. It was shipped with an old blade in it so I don't think that has helped things!
 
R

romsitsa

Hello, it’s plate loss. Something echted away the nickel and the zinc content of the underlying brass, so it looks like copper (it actually is). It doesn’t look to be pitted, so only the surface of the brass should be affected. The spots should polish up nicely into bright brass.
 
Finally picked up some Peek polish and got around to polishing these (plus a slim adjustable) up. It's my first attempt at polishing up a razor, but I think they came out looking ok and ready to shave with (although the inside of the sticky could probably do with a bit more work).
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Finally picked up some Peek polish and got around to polishing these (plus a slim adjustable) up. It's my first attempt at polishing up a razor, but I think they came out looking ok and ready to shave with (although the inside of the sticky could probably do with a bit more work).
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Nicely done, enjoy them!
 
It feels good to bring an old razor back. You've done a nice job, they all look great! Congratulations. Now the fun starts... using them!
 
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