Repair 101
Posted: Sat May 08, 2021 6:02 am
Whilst going through my wooden machinists' tool box that houses my accumulation of razors and related paraphernalia,I came across one that I had isolated in a plastic bag due to the celluloid handles outgassing. They were still active and had put quite a coating of bright red rust on the blade and discolored the nickel frame holding the blade. I decided that it was time to see if I could repair it.
The pivot pin had corroded to the point that it broke when I opened the blade.Just made it easier to repair. Finished disassembling it and traced the handle pattern onto a piece of blue Plexiglass I had used in the past to replace small knife handles. Had just enough to make the handles.I saved the rear spacer as it was intact.
Drilled the holes for the pins and bolted the two handles together using some 2-56 screws and nuts. Ground the profile using my 1x30 belt dander and 5 inch disc and finished using a file and 220 grit wet-or-dry sandpaper. Assembled the pieces for a trial fit and beveled the sides of the handles.Took it apart again and wet sanded them using 320 grit paper and polished with Mother's Mag wheel Polish.Re-assembled and ground off the excess length of the screws(about 1/8th of an inch)being careful not to overheat them and melt the plexi.A little of the heat sunk the nuts slightly into the handle and I beveled the sides of the nuts.Not perfectly smooth but no sharp edges.Still need to polish out some scratches in the Plexiglass but it's done enough for me.
This one was sort of a practice run as I have several other razors in need of handle repairs and one is ivory. I have a scrap piece of ivory that will just be large enough for handles once I slice it in two.
Here are some pictures of the finished product.I wish I had taken pics of it with the original handles out gassing.
The pivot pin had corroded to the point that it broke when I opened the blade.Just made it easier to repair. Finished disassembling it and traced the handle pattern onto a piece of blue Plexiglass I had used in the past to replace small knife handles. Had just enough to make the handles.I saved the rear spacer as it was intact.
Drilled the holes for the pins and bolted the two handles together using some 2-56 screws and nuts. Ground the profile using my 1x30 belt dander and 5 inch disc and finished using a file and 220 grit wet-or-dry sandpaper. Assembled the pieces for a trial fit and beveled the sides of the handles.Took it apart again and wet sanded them using 320 grit paper and polished with Mother's Mag wheel Polish.Re-assembled and ground off the excess length of the screws(about 1/8th of an inch)being careful not to overheat them and melt the plexi.A little of the heat sunk the nuts slightly into the handle and I beveled the sides of the nuts.Not perfectly smooth but no sharp edges.Still need to polish out some scratches in the Plexiglass but it's done enough for me.
This one was sort of a practice run as I have several other razors in need of handle repairs and one is ivory. I have a scrap piece of ivory that will just be large enough for handles once I slice it in two.
Here are some pictures of the finished product.I wish I had taken pics of it with the original handles out gassing.
