Will this polish out?

[Saxmoore]

I noticed while I was shaving last night that my razor wasn't gliding very well. It seems to me like it's not going to glide well due to the wear on the doors. Is this something that will polish out or will I just get down to the brass if I try it?

I've been considering getting this replated, but am hesitant to send it overseas since this was my grandfather's razor and I would hate for something to happen to it in the mail.

Should I try polishing? I'm hoping some of you have run into this before and have some good advice. Thanks!

 

[Austin]

It looks like it's wearing down. I doubt that polishing will improve the condition. Why not get another razor and just keep that one as a memento.

 

[Monkeydad]

Definitely should polish out, looks mainly like hard water stains.

 

[tom myers]

I would try some metal polish such as MAAS on a soft cloth. It appears to be badly corroded so it may take quite a bit of rubbing, but I don't think you can make it any worse. Even if you do get down to where brass is showing, it can still be fine for shaving; it just won't be a showpiece, but it surely isn't one now either.

Regards,
Tom

 

[Mer]

Give it a good cleaning with something like this first: http://www.jelmar.com/CLRbath.htm

You'll then be able to see how much is plating loss/wear and how much was staining. You may be surprised.

Mer

 

[T Rick]

+1 on a good cleaning, then a try at polishing. Ir should smooth up even if you've got plate loss (hard to tell if that's just build up we're seeing, or the beginning of brassing).

Is that a President? Looks like it from what I can see...

 

[Saxmoore]

Thanks for the replies. I should have given a little more detail. It is a Slim Adjustable. I have used scrubbing bubbles on it a couple of times already.

I think I'll start with CLR and see how that goes first. Should I just soak the whole razor in it for awhile?

I've seen Maas and Flitz being the suggested polishers many times around here. Is that because they are milder then silver polish? Are those products available in stores or only online?

I'll post updates as I go. I love being able to shave with it.

Thanks!

Sax.

 

[82R100]

Thanks for the replies. I should have given a little more detail. It is a Slim Adjustable. I have used scrubbing bubbles on it a couple of times already.

I think I'll start with CLR and see how that goes first. Should I just soak the whole razor in it for awhile?

I'd say go gently with the CLR. Just use it sparingly where you actually see a need.

- Chris

 

[mmack66]

What's with all the CLR talk lately? Give it a round or two with Scrubbing Bubbles and then use some MAAS polish. If it doesn't look any better after that, it more than likely won't.

 

[luvmysuper]

I noticed while I was shaving last night that my razor wasn't gliding very well. It seems to me like it's not going to glide well due to the wear on the doors. Is this something that will polish out or will I just get down to the brass if I try it?

How does the condition of the doors affect the "glide" of the razor as you use it?
The guard bars look just fine.

Just my opinion, but I'd steer clear of CLR for a family heirloom razor. CLR is very harsh.

MAAS, Flitz and Blue Magic are polishes that have fine micro abrasives in them, as such they can be hard on Silver Plate.
The Nickel of the razor holds up better than Silver, but you CAN rub the Nickel off with too much polishing.
Flitz and Blue Magic are available in fine automotive stores like "Autozone".

As it is a family razor, you could just get it replated, as you are not likely to be selling it. No need to ship it overseas, we do plating in the United States too.

 

[Saxmoore]

How does the condition of the doors affect the "glide" of the razor as you use it?
The guard bars look just fine.

Just my opinion, but I'd steer clear of CLR for a family heirloom razor. CLR is very harsh.

MAAS, Flitz and Blue Magic are polishes that have fine micro abrasives in them, as such they can be hard on Silver Plate.
The Nickel of the razor holds up better than Silver, but you CAN rub the Nickel off with too much polishing.
Flitz and Blue Magic are available in fine automotive stores like "Autozone".

As it is a family razor, you could just get it replated, as you are not likely to be selling it. No need to ship it overseas, we do plating in the United States too.

The surface of the doors seem to "grab" a little since they aren't smooth and slick.

Onotoman (in the UK) was the only person I had previously seen replating, but just found a thread that mentions Buddydog, so maybe I'll give him a PM. I definitely won't be selling this piece Thanks for the polish info.

 

[Monkeydad]

What's with all the CLR talk lately? Give it a round or two with Scrubbing Bubbles and then use some MAAS polish. If it doesn't look any better after that, it more than likely won't.

I used CLR on a razor this week after boiling it...then polished it...went from brown and ugly to shiny and new.

 

[heirkb]

+1 on a good cleaning, then a try at polishing. Ir should smooth up even if you've got plate loss (hard to tell if that's just build up we're seeing, or the beginning of brassing).

Is that a President? Looks like it from what I can see...

I thought it was a President too.
If I had a penny for how many butterfly doors I've seen in that exact condition...I'd have about 100 pennies. They always polish out. With nickel razors, I'm always elated to see that type of dullness, because I know REALLY shiny doors are just some Maas away (same way that I love to see totally black silver plated razors, because that means it's all easy to remove tarnish and no real plate loss)

The less extensive the wear, and the more you're concerned about the razor, the less you should consider Flitz polish. It's much more abrasive than Maas (in my experience). Get some Maas. Forget the CLR. Scrub the thing with a brush and toothpaste. If it's not very shiny by then, use Maas. I had a Lady Gillette I got for my girlfriend in the EXACT same condition as yours. I decided what the hell, people talk so much about toothpaste, it's worth a try. I've tried a lot of the methods and I have to say, the only ones I've come to need are the simplest and least "strange-cleaning-chemically". Soak in water with dish soap for as long as is necessary to remove soap scum. Scrub with brush and toothpaste for a nice polish and to clean those nooks and crannies (cause they're a pain to clean with polish unless you have a Dremel). Polish areas that resist to shine with toothpaste with Maas and an old shirt.
That's it...I'm no mega-vet, but I've polished a lot of razors successfully and only damaged one in the process (overusing Flitz)