Item Won:

tazz · 08-21-2008, 04:21 AM

Ok so I won this the yesterday, now lets see what I can do with it.
FREDRICK REYNOLDS F R SHEFFIELD ENGLAND STRAIGHT RAZOR - eBay (item 370077166484 end time Aug-19-08 15:54:29 PDT)

Utopian · 08-21-2008, 04:34 AM

Congratulations on what was clearly a very hard fought battle. It certainly has the potential to be a very nice razor. If you want it to be pristine, you have a lot of work ahead of you. If you want a great shaver, not a showpiece, you still have a bit of work. Regardless of which direction you take, once it's hone up, you will have a very nice shaver.
Nice catch!

tazz · 08-21-2008, 04:48 AM

Well being a mechanic by trade I have everything here to get the job done. The only things I don't have are pins but I might not go that far, anyways it will be my first try at restoration on a razor.

Detach · 08-21-2008, 05:21 AM

nice grab!

holli4pirating · 08-21-2008, 05:42 AM

Just make sure you take off the rust before you start honing. That way you won't have to worry about sanding close to the bevel and dulling an edge you just put on her.

clrobert60 · 08-21-2008, 01:30 PM

Nice one! I have a couple of F. Reynolds and they're my best shavers.

tazz · 08-25-2008, 09:40 PM

Today the postman was very nice to me, I got the razor. I immediately went down stairs and fired up the dremel and cleand off the heavy scaled on corrosion. Not too bad, I did a little sanding and got the major stuff. There is still some staining and the pivot pin is shot but not a bad razor. As it will be a few weeks before I can invest some more money and time to it I put the hones to it and I believe it will be a great shaver. I will wip out the camera as soon as I learn to take some macro shots, guess I have to read the manual for that.

timberrr59 · 08-25-2008, 10:06 PM

Look in your toolbox junk. I'll bet you have some brazing rod leftovers. They are everywhere and they work OK., and come in many small sizes. Be carefull when you peen the ends and not break the scales (handles).

tazz · 08-26-2008, 08:05 PM

Ok, I spent a few more hours sanding and polishing last night and here's what I came up with. The razor was rougher than I thought. Don't forget this was my first try. It did take an edge very well, I will try to shave with it tonight. I sanded with several different grits and then used this polish called MET-ALL POLISH, it worked great.

mrbhagwan · 08-26-2008, 09:12 PM

That looks nice!

You put a nice shine on that blade, and I'm a sucker for tortoise-shell scales.

What grit sandpaper did you go down to?

Let us know how she shaves!

tazz · 08-26-2008, 09:20 PM

I started with 180, 240, 320 and 600 thats all that I have on hand. The polish that I used really brought out the shine though. There were some really deep scratches and pitting that I couldn't get out, it looks likes someone before me did some work.

leadduck · 08-27-2008, 03:24 AM

Looks great! Too bad there are no before pictures. Where do you get MET-ALL POLISH?

tazz · 08-27-2008, 03:41 AM

If you check my first post you will see an Ebay link' here are the pics from that. The polish I had from working int the aircraft industry, I'm sure if you do a google search you will find it. I had this polish kicking around for some time and I never new it would work so well ona razor. i have the 16oz. can and that will be more than enough for a lifetime or two.

blueprinciple · 08-27-2008, 09:15 AM

A great effort - pity the blade engraving suffered but with the amount of rust to come off it was hardly surprising. The only bit I thought might be a 'killer' was that area on the front side at the edge - I have seen so many where the edge just crumbles and takes a good depth of blade with it! Yours seems to have survived that though pitting is evident. If it's not going to be a showpiece I wouldn't worry too much - removing the pitting there totally may well peforate the blade

and that's not good! I think you have done very well, first razor or not. Now get an edge on it and attack the stubble!

tazz · 08-27-2008, 03:38 PM

No its not going to be a show piece and for the price that I paid I figured it would be a good piece to practice on. I have three other razors a newer Dovo 5/8 with the tortoise scales, Gotta 120 6/8 and a Henckels 401 platinmum. The Dovo I bought new and I really don't like the shave it gives. It was my first razor. The Gotta was the second razor I bought just recently and I am much happier with the shave it gives, I seem to like the English steel and bigger blade. The Henckels is not shave ready yet, I might send that one out for some blade repair. Now I have this Reynolds and I'm about to go upstairs and give it a try.

davisbonanza · 08-27-2008, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tazz

Now I have this Reynolds and I'm about to go upstairs and give it a try.

Well?.........

nun2sharp · 08-27-2008, 04:30 PM

I thought that I might bid on that myself, but I usually wont bid against someone if the razor is a fixer upper. Looks like you fixed 'er up good though. So how does it shave?

tazz · 08-27-2008, 05:01 PM

Well the smiley says it all. The best shave yet.

I only have a Norton 4/8 k stone and a strop. I must be doing something right!!!!!! I'm very happy right now, no pulling just a nice glide across the face and the closest shave ever. Words can't describe it. A little more work on the pins and scales and it's a keeper.

tazz · 08-29-2008, 04:40 AM

Just a quick update. I shaved with it again tonight and ouch, I must change my technique some with this razor. I have been using full hollow ground razors since I started with a straight a couple of years ago and this one seems totaly different to me. It feels much heavier and I don't get as much feedback as with my others. I got alot of razor burn on my neck tonight, I know that has alot to do with the angle at wich I was using. I have been getting sloppy and not paying attenion. I also have a heavy hand with this razor, not a good thing. I still like the razor, it just needs some getting used to. The other thing is I've had a goatee forever and a day and I recently decided to go naked there so that is really bothering me when shaving, I don't have alot of practice in that area. So the razor is a keepre anyways I just feel like a newbie with it

Dan