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I've got an old fashioned gentlemanly question

Posted: 13 Aug 2024, 19:21
by Hovannes
I found two straight edge razors and a sharpening stone in my garage.
One of the razors had a busted blade, so it got tossed. The sharpening stone is dark gray and looks to be in pretty good shape
except for hardened globs of something---maybe oil? I don't know.
Nor do I know what kind of stone it is, other than it was probably used to sharpen cutthroat razors, but it's a nice size to sharpen my pocketknives.
I can always use another sharpening stone, so do you have any suggestions on how to clean 'this one up?
Or better yet, what should I not use to clean it up?

I've got an old fashioned gentlemanly question

Posted: 14 Aug 2024, 06:56
by FredS
I'd try a toothbrush and a little kerosene, or gas, or diesel fuel, or whatever you have on hand. Step up to a handheld wire brush from there. Hit it with a slowly rotating wire brush in a drill motor as a last resort. Stay away from brass brushes.

I've got an old fashioned gentlemanly question

Posted: 14 Aug 2024, 07:17
by Hugo Drax
Razor hones are incredibly expensive and incredibly hard to use, Hov. My own suggestion is to send it off to be honed, but I salute your desire to do it yourself. Most men back in the day kept at least two razors, one sharp and one off to be made sharp again.

I have a delightful little dueling scar on my left cheek from that time when my cat Phred jumped up on the sink and jogged my elbow whilst I was shaving with a blade. I switched to a double edged safety razor immediately!

I've got an old fashioned gentlemanly question

Posted: 14 Aug 2024, 08:18
by Del
Hugo Drax wrote: 14 Aug 2024, 07:17 Razor hones are incredibly expensive and incredibly hard to use, Hov. My own suggestion is to send it off to be honed, but I salute your desire to do it yourself. Most men back in the day kept at least two razors, one sharp and one off to be made sharp again.

I have a delightful little dueling scar on my left cheek from that time when my cat Phred jumped up on the sink and jogged my elbow whilst I was shaving with a blade. I switched to a double edged safety razor immediately!
Beard.

I've got an old fashioned gentlemanly question

Posted: 15 Aug 2024, 19:12
by SlowToke
You could true it up with a piece of flat granite and some lower grit sandpaper glued to it with spray contact adhesive.

I've got an old fashioned gentlemanly question

Posted: 17 Aug 2024, 06:53
by Hovannes
Well, I finally got around to working on it.
A good washing in the kitchen sink with detergent and hot water and it came clean, slicker than snot as they say :D
It's a chocolate brown stone, not grey or black, so I'm wondering what kind of stone it is?
It's marked
REX
Henry Sears & Sons 1855

I've got an old fashioned gentlemanly question

Posted: 17 Aug 2024, 19:55
by Del
Hovannes wrote: 17 Aug 2024, 06:53 Well, I finally got around to working on it.
A good washing in the kitchen sink with detergent and hot water and it came clean, slicker than snot as they say :D
It's a chocolate brown stone, not grey or black, so I'm wondering what kind of stone it is?
It's marked
REX
Henry Sears & Sons 1855
Is it a natural stone? They have natural colors.

An artificial stone has artificial color. The manufacturer probably thought that the Mrs. would prefer a pretty kitchen stone over Shop Grey, something to complement the decor.

I've got an old fashioned gentlemanly question

Posted: 19 Aug 2024, 07:21
by Hugo Drax
Hovannes wrote: 17 Aug 2024, 06:53 Well, I finally got around to working on it.
A good washing in the kitchen sink with detergent and hot water and it came clean, slicker than snot as they say :D
It's a chocolate brown stone, not grey or black, so I'm wondering what kind of stone it is?
It's marked
REX
Henry Sears & Sons 1855
That's simple. How. It's a Rex made by Henry Sears and Sons since 1855. See the attached link.

https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/th ... 54/page-11

I've got an old fashioned gentlemanly question

Posted: 19 Aug 2024, 09:23
by Hovannes
Hugo Drax wrote: 19 Aug 2024, 07:21
Hovannes wrote: 17 Aug 2024, 06:53 Well, I finally got around to working on it.
A good washing in the kitchen sink with detergent and hot water and it came clean, slicker than snot as they say :D
It's a chocolate brown stone, not grey or black, so I'm wondering what kind of stone it is?
It's marked
REX
Henry Sears & Sons 1855
That's simple. How. It's a Rex made by Henry Sears and Sons since 1855. See the attached link.

https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/th ... 54/page-11
Thanks, Hugo Drax!
I've been wondering who this razor and stone belonged to, since I have my grandfather's, so I'm thinking maybe it belonged to Mrs Hov's grandfather.
I'll have to see if my brother-in-law wants it.