I kind of use different levels depending on how bad I want to shave off of the razor and how soon.
I like to evaluate things before I sink a lot of time and effort into them. So my first stage would be, if scales are intact, try to find good steel for an edge and knock off enough rust to make a working razor. Test shave if possible.
My second stage is for scaleless blades that may have potential. Clean up and re scale as needed. Not as simple as it sounds because I usually go over board on the clean up and I like to make my own scales. Possibly my most used option.....but I get a lot of mission creep.....
Then there's level three, which rhymes with OCD. As many pits gone as humanly possible, manufacturing flaws and all grind marks removed, scales by me to make it mine which may or may not have any resemblance to the originals, spilled mercury surface finish, more exotic scale material. Last razor I did at this level took 13 sanding progressions and 3 sets of ebony scales and about a years worth of labor (stolen time) before I got it right. A labor of love I guess. I never once said this is a drag. I felt plugged in and turned on, lost sleep while, lost in my project....Don't care about resale value, it will most likely be passed on in a few years and hopefully who ever ends up with, it fondles it with fascination and reverence and wonders how I pulled that off.
Note - All surfaces a sanded manually with 400 - 2500 W/D with my pointer finger. Dremel polishing on tang radius and barber notch only. Final polish is gently with loosely sewn 4" wheels at low rpm and a bit of white rouge
It worries me a bit that I don't have a level four. A true restore with all original scales and hardware etc, respect of patina and imperfections. If I ever scrounged something worthy of level four, I'd farm it out. Yes, there is a couple grail razors out there I'd like to have. Some are quite expensive. I'd rather get one I could turn into my level three, than baby a level four.
How far do usually go?
I like to evaluate things before I sink a lot of time and effort into them. So my first stage would be, if scales are intact, try to find good steel for an edge and knock off enough rust to make a working razor. Test shave if possible.
My second stage is for scaleless blades that may have potential. Clean up and re scale as needed. Not as simple as it sounds because I usually go over board on the clean up and I like to make my own scales. Possibly my most used option.....but I get a lot of mission creep.....
Then there's level three, which rhymes with OCD. As many pits gone as humanly possible, manufacturing flaws and all grind marks removed, scales by me to make it mine which may or may not have any resemblance to the originals, spilled mercury surface finish, more exotic scale material. Last razor I did at this level took 13 sanding progressions and 3 sets of ebony scales and about a years worth of labor (stolen time) before I got it right. A labor of love I guess. I never once said this is a drag. I felt plugged in and turned on, lost sleep while, lost in my project....Don't care about resale value, it will most likely be passed on in a few years and hopefully who ever ends up with, it fondles it with fascination and reverence and wonders how I pulled that off.
Note - All surfaces a sanded manually with 400 - 2500 W/D with my pointer finger. Dremel polishing on tang radius and barber notch only. Final polish is gently with loosely sewn 4" wheels at low rpm and a bit of white rouge
It worries me a bit that I don't have a level four. A true restore with all original scales and hardware etc, respect of patina and imperfections. If I ever scrounged something worthy of level four, I'd farm it out. Yes, there is a couple grail razors out there I'd like to have. Some are quite expensive. I'd rather get one I could turn into my level three, than baby a level four.
How far do usually go?
