I've had the pleasure of picking up 3 or 4 straight razors being sold on AuctionNinja sort of locally over the past year. I've cleaned them all up with varying success, and I'm very happy with all of them.
I've been using Flitz to bring some shine back into the blades before honing, but I've been wondering if it's worth it to get a buffing wheel. My most recent razor is the nicest one yet. I'd love to take the pin out, polish the entire blade including what's hidden by the scales, and get it looking nice.
I'm hoping someone here can guide me. I have a bit of space where I could set up a buffing wheel, and already have the equipment to repin the razor (a skill which I'm willing to learn). Is a buffing wheel better or worse than Flitz on a paper towel? Of course I'd made sure to hold the razor so the edge doesn't catch the wheel, and I'd hone the razor after buffing is done. Would a buffing wheel do any sort of permanent damage to the edge which can't be fixed by honing?
3 Comments
CsXGF8uzUAOh6fqV@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 76d
I have never polished a razor. The most I have done is take some stropping compound and rub it on the surface with some paper towel. Personally I would be a little bit scared of the edge when it comes to the wheel. Maybe watch out for the mistakes in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB2Ko-u8MTk
walden@wetshav.ing · 2 pts · 76d
I have a rotary tool like that, but it's a bit too fast and loose for this type of work I think. I'd get a benchtop buffer like this one (though probably something a little nicer) .
homeawayfromhone@wetshav.ing · 1 pts · 54d
Ideally I don't polish them. I respect the patina of passing centuries and try to work with it so I'll use a wire brush and/or steel wool to get rid of active rust rather than sanding.
But sometimes they're all scratched up anyway so I may as well sand it. Sometimes I'm happy with a satin finish because I find it looks at least as nice if not nicer than the level of effort I'm willing to put into a mirror-ish one. When I get ambitious or it's already pretty shiny and I'm using paste to just touch it up, I use a rotary tool on a low speed with the razor clamped against a piece of aluminum in a vice and being mindful of the direction of rotation relative to the edge. And ESPECIALLY mindful of heat so as not to damage the temper.
I've got a hundred or so razors and I don't feel motivated to get a buffing wheel. I think if I was going to dedicate space to razor tooling it'd be a 1x30 for regrinding tired blades to put some life back in 'em and make them easier to maintain. Which'd also serve to clean them up so might fit your use case too especially as you can get a leather belt and use compound with it.