Vintage shaving soap bowl restoration. Anyone ever try it?

[_MementoMori_]

I was lucky enough to grab some vintage Yardley from Mr. Scruffy (Saint Scruffy) yesterday. As is common with the old Yardley bowls, it is showing its age. I'm wondering if there is a 100% gentle, safe, fool-proof way to restore the wood. I won't dare attempt anything with the sticker. I don't want to do anything that will detract from its value as a collectible, and I don't want to do anything that would cause it have something not original on it.

I was thinking perhaps just a few light dustings with a high grit sandpaper and then a buffing. What do you guys think? If this is folly, let me know. The last thing I want to do is ruin such a wonderful piece of shaving history.

 

[40boy]

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=122655&highlight=restoration

 

[Ruger Packer]

If its dried out a bit, treat it gently with a few coats of vegetable oil.

 

[Iakona]

Won't vegetable oil go rancid at some point?

 

[_MementoMori_]

Thanks for the responses, guys.

I appreciate the link provided in this thread, and there's no question that it's beautiful work, but that's exactly what I don't want to do. That bowl looks different than it would have when it was brand new. I want 100% authenticity.

 

[Uncle Erik]

I'd treat it with a nice beeswax. Keep in mind that wood changes as it ages and develops a patina. Patina is almost universally considered a good thing with antique furniture buffs.

 

[Mako72]

From doing rifle stock one of the best is linseed oil. It offers good protection to moisture and has a rich look and feel without the fake looking gloss of most varnishes and urethanes.

Jay

 

[_MementoMori_]

Linseed oil, huh? I used to have some of that. I used it to condition my classical guitar fretboard. Maybe I'll look into getting another bottle. All I have here now is tung oil.

And the soap came today, by the way. Harry said it had lost all of its scent, but I can still kinda smell it. I couldn't be happier.

 

[Mr. Scruffy]

David,

I have used mineral oil to restore vintage bowls, but none of them still had any soap remaining. Don't know what the oil would do to the soap.

 

[_MementoMori_]

David,

I have used mineral oil to restore vintage bowls, but none of them still had any soap remaining. Don't know what the oil would do to the soap.

Point well taken, Harry. And now that it's in front of me, it has a kind of dingy charm about it anyway.

 

[Ruger Packer]

Won't vegetable oil go rancid at some point?

You don't want to drown it in vegetable oil. Just rub the oil into the wood and let it soak in. Use sparingly. I use it to treat the wood handles on kitchen knives that get dried out from being washed so often. It restores some moisture and color. Like I said, use sparingly.

Someone else mentioned beeswax. Good idea. Start with veg oil and then finish with beeswax it will help it to not dry out.