Hello everyone. I have a 57SS and a Gillette Tech in gold, what are they made of? I ask because i want to know if I can clean them up, shine them up or would I take off the plating? My dad thinks they are simply pot metal which has been plated. He says that because of the pitting in the razors. I took 000 steel wool and lightly buffed them and that helped a great deal. I am curious, what can I do to bring out the finish? Just cleaning them does not shine them up.
What metals are DE's made of?
- Thread starter s1mp13m4n
- Start date
Most of the Gillettes are brass. Some are copper, I think. Most are plated with nickel.
All most all pre 1960 Gillette's DE's were made from plated brass the only exception that I'm aware or is the late model Tech with the embossed and beveled caps, the cap was made from zinc alloy (pot metal).
The caps on the early NEWs were copper.
Of course the black handled super speeds and super adjustable were partially made from plastic, this trend continued until now the only metal in most cartridge razors is the blades.
The caps on the early NEWs were copper.
Of course the black handled super speeds and super adjustable were partially made from plastic, this trend continued until now the only metal in most cartridge razors is the blades.
With respect, is this correct Bob? I'm sure I read very recently that the super adgustables were coated with a resin to aid grip
- Thread starter
- #5
Here is what I have. I have a 57 Gillette SS and I was told it is a 41 Gillette Tech, it is gold. Does this help?
Is it a Twist To Open or a Three Piece razor? Superspeeds are TTO and Techs are 3 piece.
Be aware that the gold plated ones are very thinly plated then coated with lacquer (or some clearcoat). Strongly recommend avoiding steel wool or any polish on a gold plated Gillette.
Some use toothpaste as a polish on the nickel plated models.
- Chris
Some use toothpaste as a polish on the nickel plated models.
- Chris
- Thread starter
- #8
The 57SS is a TTO razor and the gold played Tech is a 3 piece. I wonder how much it would cost to have them plated? I am thinking probally way more than they are worth. I know from automotive chrome plating that it can be expensive. I am not saying that I would do that but it would be neat. LOL I know it would mess up its "value" for not being origional, so I would not do it...just like the thought.
I wonder how much it would cost to have them plated? I am thinking probally way more than they are worth. I know from automotive chrome plating that it can be expensive. I am not saying that I would do that but it would be neat. LOL I know it would mess up its "value" for not being origional, so I would not do it...just like the thought. I misunderstood post #5. I wouldn't replate them since nice condition razors can more than likely be purchased for less than the cost of replating the ones you have.
With respect, is this correct Bob? I'm sure I read very recently that the super adjustable were coated with a resin to aid grip
Plastic = resin.
I think the terms are somewhat interchangeable. The Black Handled Super Speeds have metal handles that are resin/plastic coated.
Awww. Heck, let's just win the lottery and go buy some brand new ones!!! LOL!
Last edited:
With respect, is this correct Bob? I'm sure I read very recently that the super adgustables were coated with a resin to aid grip
Resin/plastic isn't that the same thing?
The later super adjustable even had plastic in the blade platform.
Contrary to popular belief the Merkur HD is made out of Awesonium. 
I do have a "stupid" question. What would keep you from getting a mild polishing compound and polishing them up. Something that is not very agressive. I know the issue is taking the plating off but if you had something without grit in it would it buff it up and make it look pretty without taking the plate off? Just a though. I dont know that much about this type of stuff.
I believe a '57 SuperSpeed would be brass as the base material with nickel plating. You might be able to buff it up without removing too much of the existing plating unless the pitting is severe. In that case the pitting could be originating from the underlying brass.
Most early gold plated Techs I have seen were plated over brass. I have seen some fat handle gold plated Techs that used copper for the base material of the top plate and a couple that had copper as the base material of the handle. The gold plating is very thin and it doesn't take much to wear it off.
I wouldn't use steel wool on any plated metal except to remove the remaining plating.
- Peter
Most early gold plated Techs I have seen were plated over brass. I have seen some fat handle gold plated Techs that used copper for the base material of the top plate and a couple that had copper as the base material of the handle. The gold plating is very thin and it doesn't take much to wear it off.
I wouldn't use steel wool on any plated metal except to remove the remaining plating.
- Peter
I don´t know, what it is in english, in german I would say the handle of the Super-Adjustable and late SS is "eloxiertes Aluminium"
Anodized Aluminum in english. And your english is much, much better than my german
.- Peter
Contrary to popular belief the Merkur HD is made out of Awesonium.
That's almost as cool as the trace amounts of Unobtanium found in vintage Gillettes.
I've got one SuperSpeed that I almost can't use because of the nickel plating.
For some reason it has an unusual strong smell of nickel compared to my other razors.
