Thread: Questions on a restoration

First, the pictures...

This razor caught my eye. I found it in an antique shop. $19.99.

My questions are about how to restore this blade. I have read the section on hand sanding and the grits to use. But this blade is flat on one side and hollowed on the other... Is this a problem? Has it been abused by the previous owner? Is a wedge/hollow mix normal? I would hate to start restoring this blade and then find out it has been ground down beyond repair. I had hoped this would be a cheap learning experience. Let me know if my investment was a good one.

Cheers,
JackofDiamonds

is the hollow side concave or more of a straight angle? could you post of picture showing the grind you're describing?

What you have is a microtomb (sp?). The grind is that way to literally slice thin cultures to look at under the microscope. Good investment? That's for you to answer. Worst case is that you have a good set of scales. If you like it, restore it & use it. I don't buy razors as investments, I buy them because I like them and want to try out another one that has peaked my interest.

Originally Posted by TwistedOak

is the hollow side concave or more of a straight angle? could you post of picture showing the grind you're describing?

I believe that it is more straight. Here are some more photos. Hopefully these will help.




This is the hollowed side.

This is the wedge side.

If this was a tool for producing slide sample cuts, is it still good as a shaver?

it's definitely a microtome as shooter said. Search them in the forum and see if anyone has actually sharpened and shaved with one? You may be able to treat it like a kamisori style blade.

The pics are not clear enough to say if it is a microtome or not. The best way is to put magic marker all over the one side you think is flat, then put that side down on some 500-600 grit sandpaper and start sanding. If it only shows contact along the edge and the spine then it is not a microtome. Any alchohol/solvent will remove the magic marker ink.

I thought microtomes were actually very slightly concave on the "flat" side

Well, based on the advice you all have given I would say it is defiantly a microtome. Looked up some of those forum topics and it -is- possible to shave with them. One member in particular has made some into those Japanese style razors. It would be very interesting to do the same with this one. Well, now that I know more about the blade I think I will hold on to this after I clean it up. Never no when it might come in handy.