Thread: Joseph Rodgers - to restore or not restore?

I picked up this Joseph Rodgers a few days ago with intentions of restoring with a complete regrind and a brand new suit but ...... my bride says .... "I like it just the way it is ... kinda rustic"
So ...... the question is ..... restoration or hone & use as is?
What do you all think?
Regards,
Mike

If it were mine I would just take the rust off and preserve it pretty much as is.

Oh, I hate telling someone else what to do with their razor - it is such a personal thing. However, there looks to be some active rust on the blade which you will have to deal with regardless. And are the scales wood or bone? I cannot tell. If they were anything other that wood I would keep them, but that is just me. I like the old scales and as long as they are not broken I will always keep them as is.

Whatever you decide to do, JRs are very nice razors. I think it would look great either way - shiny or patinad.

James.

If it was mine, I'd clean the active rust off it, and run it like it is.

I like the scars and "neighborhood" that the old stuff has earned though it's life.

The few I've left alone, end up sitting unused after honing. I'm not sure why, but I prefer to shave with something shiny...or at the very least clean looking. I vote for a teardown, and scale replacement. But that's the beauty of it. It's yours! What do YOU wanna do?

I would clean the metal (preserving the original features) and treat the scales with neatsfoot oil (if they are bone) or some nourishing wax (if they are wood). It is beautiful as it is, IMHO.

Hey Guys:
Thanks all for your comments, I really do appreciate and value the input.
Sorry, I should have described it a bit better.
The scales are hardwood ... kinda look like a limb off a maple tree to me.
The blade measures 13/16" wide and is just shy of 1/4" wide at the spine.
There appears as though there is alot of hone wear but there is very little curvature to the hollow grind ... nearly a wedge.
It is as purchased ... I havent even wiped it off.
Mike

Originally Posted by regularjoe

The few I've left alone, end up sitting unused after honing. I'm not sure why, but I prefer to shave with something shiny...or at the very least clean looking. I vote for a teardown, and scale replacement. But that's the beauty of it. It's yours! What do YOU wanna do?

I have to agree, Personally I don't like shaving with rusty razors (Patina is rust to my eyes) this is the reason I started restoring razors in the first place.. I want bright shiny steel and clean scales... No I am not a germ-a-phobe it is just what I like when playing with very sharp things near my face... Think about it this way would you want a doctor perfroming surgery on you with a scalpel that looked like that???? But it is your razor and your face so it is your choice but you did ask

There is a difference between rusty and rustic, you can sand the blade down, remove the rust and make it somewhat shiny without going the mirror finish route.

My vote would be to remove the rust and keep it as is.
Red rust is active and will continue to eat your blade unless you stop it.
Brown rust is inactive and wont deteriorate your blade if left untreated, but I wouldn´t recommend shaving with it.

The best way I have found to remove rust without touching any healthy metal is using oxalic acid.
It eats only oxidised metal and leaves a natural looking patina on the blade.
When its done just scrub with an old toothbrush and soap.
Just be careful to use gloves and work in a ventilated area.