Restoring an Old Rusty Straight Razor - [NLH 8] 

Thank you for passing on your considerable skills and knowledge, sir. My dad still uses a straight razor well into his 80's. The strop served a... ahem... double service... when we were kids.

Still have 3 straight razors and I use them. But I just use them to trim around my beard mostly. I don’t know anything about those synthetic stones, all I have is just the natural ones, been using those for the last forty years at least. Worked as a butcher for my father since I was little before he finally retired then passed a few years later. Anyway thought I’d write in here and tell you that was a really nice job you did on that razor. I didn’t realize people were just out throwing them away, so sad. Anyway have a great week just found your channel so I’ll be checking back in from time to time. Greetings from West Texas.

I've had straight razor shaves I think four or five times in my life; Some of the most expensive times I've been to the barber too. Believe me, it was worth it; It's actually slightly sharper than the already very sharp throwaway safety razor blades. Although a little dangerous and you need to learn how to shave correctly with them, they are better for the skin because they don't touch the skin (same for safety razors) than modern day Cartridge Razors and Disposables which are disgusting, those things cause ingrown hairs and I've found are more often than not more likely to cut you than straight and safety razors because half the time they're blunt and the other half the multiblade set ups nick the skin.

Here’s a photo of Tenk Hardware in Quincy Illinois and a bit of info on the founder: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/qpl/id/746

I tried to sharpen my straight razor once. I got it incredibly sharp and it looked good. Then I tried it. You probably heard the scream from where you were. I have a lot more to learn.

Nice looking razor, I've done the restoration on my razors for donkeys years, I would say the pinging part` surprised to see your pinging like that knowing your a knife maker. The way you did this you run the risk of bending the pin on that razor witch may feel tight but will become loose and tight soon due to the bent pin, if it has been bent, My advise would be to use a lighter hammer and lot more lighter tapping so it works the ends of the pin not send the force to the inner centre running the risk bending the pin, as I have found on many old razors, If you want rounded ends use the ball end of the hammer , witch rounded pin ends are found more on lot of vintage style razors, A good way ,is to get a steel or brass or bronze block depending on the pin then get a carbon Dremel round cutter end or diamond coated and drill into the block leaving a nice small half round scoop looking in the block, but make sure its slightly shallower than the end depth you want to the finish of the pin and make sure the hole is not to deep you don`t want the scales touching the block, or they will crack , Start the pinging with the ball end of the hammer lighter tapping around the edge and if want more width tap more the centre then work back around the edges, once done turn the razor over and place that side in the hole of that block , now ping the other side, this then will not damage the other rounded pinging you did on the first side, as it is sitting nicely in its half round if going to do rounded ends,, if you want the look of flat ends the same goes with using lighter taps to effect the end of the pin rather than the half way down centre and run the risk bending the pin, The cut end of the pin will easily deform than than half way down to get the shape as long as its not being hit to hard or not to much weight, I have had many razor that had there holes deformed due to well bent pins that repairs over years have deformed the hole through opening and closing motion , I had to use a piece of brass rod or bronze to fill the hole and predrill a new hole, this works very well to fix deformed holes, I was a fabricator with brass and copper in my younger days and a sheet metal worker on my other job witch learnt me a bit, I , in know way saying you don`t know this info above ` I was just surprised the size of hammer and the force you gave it, for how quick you flattened that pin I would be surprise there is no deformity to the centre pin that goes through the hole of the handle on the blade. But nice to show newbies how they can replace handles if need be, rather than they think throw the razor away, So glad you covered the stones its so important when buying a straight razor its more important buying and learning how to use the stones or else they won`t be able to use there straight razor , even new razors might not be good enough for there first shave,

I’m 73 y.o., the other day my 97y.o. Mom gave me two razors, a Red Imp 133 and a Puma Solingen 9. They were my grandfather’s who was a barber in Ocoee, Florida, then my father’s who was a barber until he joined the Marines during WWII. Both are a little tarnished, however the blade edges are in perfect condition. Including a Black Superior Russian No6 razor Strop.

Awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!

You sir get +1 engagement points. Loving the content. Just found you today. 6 videos and a sub later. Keep it up.

I shave with a straight razor but a "modern" version that uses replaceable blades. I also use a soap cup and boar brush. I don't mind doing this myself but I don't think I would have the nerve to let someone else shave me with a straight razor (like YT's "Haircut Harry"). I might have to hit some antique shops and see if I can turn up some old razors. If nothing else, it would be an interesting collection.

what a great shave straight razors give. And the companies trying to sell me blades? hah! No, thank you!

You’ve got some amazing skills you can be proud of. Great job all together. Greetings from The Netherlands.

I am just curious as to why you would not buff the blade and tang before sharpening? Is there an underlying reason or did you just not see a point to it?

discovered straight razors while I was in the army. daily shaving gave my really bad ingrown hairs on my neck and a sergeant recommended them. now I have a few different styles and can shave almost as quickly as cartridge users

One of my favorite songs is called Noteworthy and Piercy and it’s about 2 fisherman from Newfoundland

For those that don't know, CA glue is just fancy superglue. Lol

19:15 Try doing the flip on the back to avoid putting any pressure on the edge. Same as for the stropping

Great work! I recently got one of those 'bamboo' style razors in an antique shop. 1st straight razor. Stamped August Kern, St. Louis MO. Internet searches for any info have pretty much come up empty. Would love to find out how old it is.

I have one my grandfather brought back from the Philippines after WW2. A million dollars wouldn't buy it, it's priceless to me.

i now have a job for tomorrow

Loooool sitting here in Solingen Germany watching this video and you pull out a "Böker Rasiermesser" , knowing the factory is 1 kilometre away !! Elite!!

Good job on the restoration. Seen a few straight razor restoration videos and most look ok, but weren't honed properly and give a bad shave, if they shaved at all. I have a few (20 odd) straights from which I select a different one for my daily shave. When they need a touch up on the hones, I find lapping film with a flat base (marble in my case) works for a "poor man's" honing system. I hone down to 1 micron film then a few hundred laps on the leather.

I believe Tank Hardware was a Hardware chain but I'm not positive. A lot of the razors sold in the United States were manufactured in Solingen Germany and stamped with the corporate name of the buyer for resale. I have several strait razors from the 20's stamped with American Company names, with Made in Germany underneath. 1 example I have is a Spear Wedge No.6 for the Buckeye B.S. Co. DAYTON , OHIO with Made in Germany underneath. Many were manufactured in Sheffield England. Searching the History of a particular razor is just as much fun as using a piece of History for its intended purpose. Straight razors have been around for a few thousand years. They have discovered razors in Egypt dating back to the Pharaoh's. Razors in China, Japan and many other Countries. My oldest razor is a Warranted razor made between 1840 to 1845 denoted by the shape of the tail. You have a nice little set there. Happy restoring and shaving. 👍

I remember landing in Newfoundland in a Royal Air Force plane because of mechanical problems. An old guy in dungarees came along , opened an engine cowling and started knock the snot out of something in the engine with a hammer. We were then told to get back on the plane to continue to Belize 😳.

Made me nervous on the blade polishing power tools. Even a dull straight razor will do quick damage if it grabs... you're obviously adept. Where to get the peens/pins?

Tenk Hardware started in Quincy, Illinois in 1865, started by the sons of German immigrant Henry Tenk. Oh, your restoration was super nice!

I have had great success with a CA glue trick and masking tape trick. Basically just apply masking tape to the two surfaces before gluing them together. It has great shear strength but comes apart with a chisel quite easily and doesn't damage the wood. This trick is thanks to Ben Crow of Crimson Guitars UK

It might be hard for some viewers to see, but when stropping, you're orienting the blade for trailing strokes (away from the apex).

I suspect the term "cut-throat razors" was put into play by companies selling safety razors, back when they first came out. My grandfather was a barber at Pearl Harbor during WWII (but he tended to not mention that he wasn't sent there until after the attack). After he died, I grabbed three or four of his straight razors...but one turned out to have been stored under a roof leak for years; I don't believe it's possible to restore it, due to the degree of rusting. I haven't watched much of this video yet, so, maybe you'll show me it isn't too late. Ah, yes, compared to my rusty razor, yours are like new. Mine reminds me of knives that have sat in the ground for a thousand years.

Amazing video. I never knew how to sharpen a straight razor if I let it go too long, thanks for this! I shave exclusively with a straight razor. If you're ever in the mood for a new one, check out Naked Armor razors. They are top notch and their customer service is amazing. I have prolly 4 or 5 of their razors ranging from basic to shavettes and Damascus.

This comment is brought to you by... WTF video's, where commercials are your entertainment. 😜

I'm 15 right now but I've been around stuff like that my hole life a lot of old things like I didn't know kids my age didn't know anything about that stuff 😅 but I like being different in that way because I can tell my friends about them and I'm a fellow Canadian to just not from Newfoundland

Oops sorry i was wrong!!! Only 2 sponsors in the first 3 or 4 minutes. Who tries to shove that many sponsers into one video? Nobody's going to believe anything you say about these company's when your doing that many sponsors in one single video. You'll say anything just to have the sponsors.

Where are you at in Newfoundland my friend? If I dropped by with a straight razor could you sharpen it up (for a fee of course) ? I'm in Torbay

What's the maker on the thumbnail pic. For this video? Great videos .. inspiring

Beautiful straight razor. I find it amusing that you have a "collection" when you wear a beard.

One trick for CA aka super glue: if you put your pieces in the freezer, the glue becomes even more brittle. A trick I learned from my hobby working with miniature models. 😄 Found your channel and loving the content choices, attention to detail, the love for craft, and the quick and sensible ad spots.

Many an asswhoopin' came from some strops. I remember the one my my grandfather had on the back of his bathroom door. My Dad would talk about some tannin' from that 3 foot beast.

Amazing workmanship as always! Beautiful result!

I would have a f#ckin field day polishing that whole box of razors to a mirror shine. Nice scales.

When i take a dump i want to have the softest silky experience on my bottom, a ripping of the paper experience like no other and coverage of the affected area like no other the newfoundland hobbist is sponsered by Charmin toilet paper

Holy smokes, that is next level sharp.

It turned out fantastic, that being said, no offense to you, in my opinion it would be more impressive to me if one detail was taken into consideration and that is the fact that the pattern of the scale is opposite of each other. I noticed it immediately when you glued them to cut the shape. It bugs me to no end. I could not in good conscience buy, use or give this as a gift to some one with the pattern upside down, or downside up or opposite sides of one another. I know its very nit picky. I apologize, its just me.

Rust and pitting has remained! 😢 thats why Just professionals should do that!🙄

I’m so glad I paid for Ad free RU-vid to watch a whole ton of commercials anyway.

I realize the razor you just restored probably isn't for sale, but if you were to sell one of these restored straight razors, how much would you ask for?

You can actually hear the hair “pop”. I guess that’s where the term “ hair popping sharp” comes from.

I need to find people's old stones... I can't afford to buy stones.. for good money...

The accent is so interesting. I'm listening to a Canadian, then all of a sudden I could swear you're Irish.

Great content, but WOW I’ve never seen so many ads in a single RU-vid video. You lost me man.

Tickle trunk! Only Canadians will get that reference!

I think the scales are made from celluloid, not bakelite.

This is more a refurbishment or maybe even conservative repair than a restoration. Perhaps you can call the work done on the blade a restoration. But the piece you've created is substantially different than the original. Hence not really restored.

This video answers my 'where are you from' question lol

me watching this while drinking coke that smells like gasoline

Nice job. I like the shape you chose for the scales. I make mine a very similar shape.

We call them straight razor or strap razor in Mississippi

This here is quality content. Love it. Thanks Kyle!

I like sharpening knives. It's relaxing

That scale is Absolutely Amazing 👏 😍

That’s some beautiful work indeed , piece of art

wow! thats some serious sharp you put on that razor!!

Is that Corn Pop's old straight razor?

I've never used one to shave before. It kinda freaks me out. That thing is real sharp. Thanks for the vid!!

Just exactly how many ads do we need?

Nice work Kyle. Turned out to be a very nice razor.

Now that's what I call razor sharp

How fine is the finest stone you used for this?

Im really impressed bro

2 sponsors in the same video?

Nice video Kyle great job do you know what they would have sharpened the razors with back in the day I’m assuming they wouldn’t have had access to wet stones I wonder what they used ?

Beautiful job. ✨

Please do more of these

Never knew these actually had a name of there own! I also hadn’t heard “Cutthroat” before, I always thought they were called “barbers razors” cause of the old barber shops back in the day. So awesome to learn something new about something I thought I already knew! ❤️

That razor restoration turned out amazing! Love the scales. The level of sharpness you achieve is incredible. I have my grandfather's straight razor. It is in pretty good shape, but I don't care for the bakelite scales, especially after seeing your wood scales!

😯

I got my great uncle’s leather covered set including 1800s straight razor in horn or ivory, pre-plastic comb, and lots of scissors. Some have a touch of rust, except the Wustoff Germany sterling silver scissors.

Very interesting show Kyle....so many of these razors in hiding throughout our province im sure.

Wonder what wire-size is your "roughest wheel"? Bandsaw blade-guards?

awesome stuff

impressive

From Oww to Wow.

It was pretty hair-raising watching you sand down the bakelite scale. Bakelite often had asbestos added to it as a filling agent, so I'd be very wary of doing that to something I don't know what has been added

Watching this content reminds me of another of my favorite content creators @Wranglerstar Keep up the great content!

At the end, it's easier to hear the hairs being cut than it is to see them. So that's what "razor-sharp" is supposed to look like...

Omg.. that's special to me... I'd love one of those .. so beautiful.. I sorta like the bamboo look

How in the world are there more than 6 sponsors for this vid

Is this straight razor available for sale…. 🤠 I am located in Canada

Another way to stick two parts together is to use making tape on both parts then superglue them together. I saw it on a Luthier’s channel here on RU-vid.

Wow, What A Wonderful Transformation On This 1, Thanks Kyle ! ATB T God Bless

Wow!!!! I'm absolutely blown away at these! What kind of wood are you using on them?

Nice hobbie! I'll have to look around. I always see them in antiques shops!

Beautiful - thanks for brightening my day :)

Very cool job on the straight razor. Impressive.

Very nice work good to see a fellow canadian doing razor work cheers

I would love a razor that looks like that I used to only use a straight razor but I lost it after I started growing out my beard but I would love to start using a straight again!!

61K+

Is the Spectra glide that you used for the scales a water proof material?

My grandad vas a professional barber, he only had one stone to sharpen his razors on!

Great work! Watching from Ohio.