I have a red tip and a blue tip that I’d like to re-paint the tips on. Does anyone know what the correct colors are or the paint model numbers or codes or specific identifiers?
Krylon Harvester Red is very close to an exact match for the Red Tip. Because of the paint's durability it should stand up to every day shaving use. There are some articles on the web that describe how to heat cure the paint. Oven bake at 200 degrees F for an hour, etc.
try soaking it in mineral spirits for awhile. I forgot what I used - maybe acetone. Didn't seem to hurt the plating. I also used 0000 steel wool to help in the crevices and crannies but I was careful not to damage anything. Careful when using solvents - make sure you have a well ventilated area you you give yourself an unintentional buzz. Not healthful either.
If you go to the Dollar general and look in the nail polish ... one bottle and you'll have paint for dozens of razors. If you goof up, they have nail polish remover. Yes, they even have blue.
Brass brushes are usually pretty easy on chrome as long as you don't push really hard. Chrome is harder than brass, so the brush will flake off the paint. As for the paint color - Gillette didn't appear to be that careful with their colors. Get close, and you're as good as the factory!
Just something about painting a nickel plated surface and then having it chip off over time. I have reconditioned some Red Tips and then painted the tips. I have seen some replated with various metals and the owners have either had the tips painted or left them unpainted. Just my sense of aesthetics but I like the unpainted ones a little more than the painted ones. I'm not saying that I dislike them painted though. Plus I can tell that the unpainted versions are Gillette "Heavy" models w/o the red tip.
Purple Power, or any concentrated degreaser, will remove any enamel after an overnight soak with no harm to the razor itself (unless any of it's aluminum, then it'll dissolve). Come to think of it, would clean out any razor gunk too.
I forgot to mention that I really like red tips. My 1956 red tip could be my everyday shaver but I also love my Aristocrat.
I’m a big fan also. My red tip could be my everyday shaver, but part of what I enjoy is the novelty of using different setups.