To repair or not?

[strohman]

I have Gillette Old Type Open Comb that I just picked up. It's in decent shape, but 1 tooth is slightly bent. It's on the far end, so it's thicker than the other teeth, and it's bent slightly inward. I thought about putting a thin screwdriver against it and trying to bend it back, but I'm afraid that I will just bend the tooth next to it since it's thinner.

Is there a way to fix this or should I just leave it alone?

 

[amishmotorboat]

They are very prone to snapping if you attempt to bend them back.
As long as it isn't pointed up, a bent corner tooth isn't much of a concern. You should still be able to get a great shave out of it.

 

[mblakele]

Leave it alone, or most likely you will break the tooth. I'd love to be wrong about that, but after a drop sufficient to bend a tooth, the brass tends to be work-hardened.

I have heard of some folks putting the razor in a low-heat oven to warm up the brass, before trying to bend it. That sounds promising to me, but I wouldn't risk it without more evidence.

 

[Mitts]

Straightening a tooth is a crap shoot. With proper technique it can be done if the bend is not too bad. The gamble is that the tooth may have been previously straightened to the point you see now, and the other person quit while they were ahead. You look at it and think "not so bad, I'll giver a go", and SNAP! doh...
Hint: Don't ever stick a screwdriver between 2 teeth and pry. (asking for it)
Good luck,
Russ

 

[FlatFork]

Leave it alone, I have a few open combs laying around that I tried to straighten out and I'm here to tell ya they snap off like a damn twig on a tree.

 

[johnmrson]

It depends. I've bent a few back without a problem but I have snapped a couple as well. If you can live with it the way it is, I'd leave it. The teeth at the end bend in on alot of open comb razors. Rarely does it effect the shaving ability.

 

[Darth Indiana]

if you try at all i'd heat it up first. metal will take more kindly to manipulation if heated, regardless of what kind it is.