Found these in my father in laws belongings after he passed. Are they useful, restorable or just trash? If useable or restorable what do I need to do? Any info or help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
All restorable in my book. Little dirty and rusty on the surface, but the blades are in decent shape without any honewear.
Isolate the rusty one with the black scales, it has cell rot! You'll need to get rid of the scales and get new ones, but I'd worry about that later and take care of the others first.
Check the guide for some basic instructions how to clean them and other things.
Once clean, think about sharpening. Either send them out to a honemeister or inform yourself how to sharpen on your own.
The scales are the handles. These old ones use a very early plastic, the first type of plastic, actually. They can get celluloid rot if for instance theyre in an air tight box. The cell rot will spread to any other ceuloud scales its near
Rust can generally be removed, yes - though depending how old/ historically interesting the blade is you may want to be conservative with the restoration. Old razors are not stainless steel, they are high carbon steel need to be kept dry to prevent rust. Once dry you can put a little vassoline or seed oil. I have a seed oil i purchased from The Perfect Edge, I forget which seed oil.
"Cell rot rust" can be removed too, but within a few days it'll look exactly the same because the scales keep emitting corrosive gas - hence you absolutely need to remove this particular razor's scales.
The others should be fine once cleaned and their "normal" rust shouldn't come back if stored in a dry place. Should the rust come back very quickly then you'll know that you have more problematic scales, which I think is unlikely.
So the cell rot (rusted) blade would be ok as long as in remove the scales? If so, what is the best way to remove the rust? And then replace the scales?
Rust is rust. You remove it for example with metal polish or steel wool if it's light, or sandpaper if it's heavier. That is up to your judgement.
Wether there's enough healthy steel on the razor with cell rot I don't know. Gotta find it out.
You can craft your own scales or buy new ones. Somewhere in the guide there are some resources linked.
That said, you have so many "easier" razors. I'd take off the scales of the cell-rot case and worry about it later with more experience from restoring the others.
Yes there are a couple in there that are definitely worth restoring. The Red Imp looks like it has little to no actual hone wear on it. Edit: looking at it closer I think it may be cracked at the edge and that would render it useless. A couple others look promising though.
No don't throw it away. Those scales are in great condition. Even if you don't have any use for it I can promise you that there's someone out there who needs (wants 😂) those scales.
Mostly they look ok from what I can see, give them a good hand polish no sandpaper and check for cracks. If there's no cracks they should be good to attempt restoring.
Oh ok. Autosol is the easiest to get for me but is there a reason you have different ones? Would autosol be enough as is and what one do you recommend?
Iberia is rare and beautifull. Belive me.
All restorable in my book. Little dirty and rusty on the surface, but the blades are in decent shape without any honewear.
What exactly are the scales?
The scales are the handles. These old ones use a very early plastic, the first type of plastic, actually. They can get celluloid rot if for instance theyre in an air tight box. The cell rot will spread to any other ceuloud scales its near
It has been removed, others seem to show some rust on the blade is that also do to cell rot and can the rust be removed?
Rust can generally be removed, yes - though depending how old/ historically interesting the blade is you may want to be conservative with the restoration. Old razors are not stainless steel, they are high carbon steel need to be kept dry to prevent rust. Once dry you can put a little vassoline or seed oil. I have a seed oil i purchased from The Perfect Edge, I forget which seed oil.
"Cell rot rust" can be removed too, but within a few days it'll look exactly the same because the scales keep emitting corrosive gas - hence you absolutely need to remove this particular razor's scales.
The others should be fine once cleaned and their "normal" rust shouldn't come back if stored in a dry place. Should the rust come back very quickly then you'll know that you have more problematic scales, which I think is unlikely.
So the cell rot (rusted) blade would be ok as long as in remove the scales? If so, what is the best way to remove the rust? And then replace the scales?
Rust is rust. You remove it for example with metal polish or steel wool if it's light, or sandpaper if it's heavier. That is up to your judgement.
Wether there's enough healthy steel on the razor with cell rot I don't know. Gotta find it out.
You can craft your own scales or buy new ones. Somewhere in the guide there are some resources linked.
That said, you have so many "easier" razors. I'd take off the scales of the cell-rot case and worry about it later with more experience from restoring the others.
Yes there are a couple in there that are definitely worth restoring. The Red Imp looks like it has little to no actual hone wear on it. Edit: looking at it closer I think it may be cracked at the edge and that would render it useless. A couple others look promising though.
https://preview.redd.it/3l3wolcnum9g1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=372af376a7a621569b46c2b2c3a198a6f9f691b8
Is this a crack in the blade on the red imp?
I’m not sure, I took the picture and put it away. I’ll check when I get back home.
Unfortunately I checked and it is cracked, right there lol. So that one is trash yes?
No don't throw it away. Those scales are in great condition. Even if you don't have any use for it I can promise you that there's someone out there who needs (wants 😂) those scales.
Thank you guys for the info, i appreciate it
Mostly they look ok from what I can see, give them a good hand polish no sandpaper and check for cracks. If there's no cracks they should be good to attempt restoring.
Have fun.. 👍
What do you recommend for polishing?
I use a 3m metal restorer and autosol, some others use Fritz products as well.
Oh ok. Autosol is the easiest to get for me but is there a reason you have different ones? Would autosol be enough as is and what one do you recommend?
Theres not much between them just get what easiest I'd say.
Ok thanks for your help