Comparing Razor Plating Services(With Pics)

I just shaved with it. Solid razor, and aggressive. Zero issues.

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Back Roads Gold always has had a fast turnaround. Also, I have yet to find a flaw in any of the razors they have plated for me. I especially like that they will take apart each razor, clean it, and make adjustments as needed, without asking.
Oh, thanks for the compliment. Although my photos do not do it justice. My wife is even very impressed, and she has been indifferent to my razor projects for years.

 

it's almost like they have rows of completed razors ,ready to go,that ,or they are sitting waiting for a razor to show up and then fly at it when one does..

 

You might think that. But, the new guy mixed up razors, and they sent a picture of another razor to me, taken apart, stating it looked to far gone to refinish with satisfactory results. They corrected it and sent a retraction with a pic of mine, completed., before I was able to pull up my email. Over a few hour period.
Looking at their order lists, it seems many of the same customers are getting a lot of work done. Many Fatboys, Aristocrats, and surprisingly Big Fellows. Some 5+ Fatboys at a time. You see some for sale on Ebay, with the Back Roads Gold certification/warranty card in the pics. These Fatboys are going for $140-$160. Aristocrats even higher.

 

Username checks out.

 

I received my razor back from replating by Chris at razorplate.com today in the mail. Needless to say I am very satisfied with how it came out, as well as the excellent communication that I got throughout the entire replating process, as well as some before and after photos that he had sent me.

Without further ado, here are some photos of how it was before and after.


Before photos that were taken, courtesy of Chris:






After:

 

Nicely done. Shiny Razor Goodness.

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very cool.

 

I would like to use BRG to get a slim done in Rhodium.. The only thing i am concerned about is he doesn't remove old plating. He process is to sand/smooth/polish the doors, under the razor head inside the razor head all smooth surfaces etc. So when's he smooths those areas out he them adds another layer of nickel, so that means the handle has two layers of nickel (because the original layer of nickel is plated over top off) and if i want Rhodium then that is another coating of plating on the handle, so three coats is likely to change the knurling and its grippiness. I am not going to bad mouth this vendor,(not a good thing to do imo) but i had a razor replated by someone else and they strip old plateing off. Anyways the nickel is already flaking off one of the doors. The paint all these replateing CO. use doesn't hold up as well as Gillette's original paint, They used a catalyst hardener in there paint. Anyways the black paint came off my clicker spring on my Gillette slim i had done in Nickel. BRG stands out above other replateing Co because he actually gets the smooth surfaces to a mirror, and they look amazing. The thick plating is a deal breaker for me. Also if you want something done in Gold BRG website says its many time more thick than the plating Gillette used back in the day, so a Gold plated razor would have even less grip.

 

Your theory is just theory. I have had several razors plated at Back Road Gold, and the end product was flawless. The Knurling(Grip as you put it) was excellent., as crisp as it was when original. These were Fatboys and Aristocrat, in Nickel and Gold. Absolutely NO overplating, no peeling, or any other issues you theorize could happen.
I have had razors plated by others, who claim to do the same thickness as factory, and claim to chemically remove the old plating, so that all dimensions of the original razor are left intact. The end results were lost knurling(grip) and lost lettering and numbering.
Don't knock a plating service based on your theories on what might happen. Go with what experiences others have had.
Question: Why do you want a Slim Adjustable done in Rhodium?? They are relatively inexpensive and common razors. Also, the modern "Mirror Nickel" plating is very very shiny, looks great, is durable, and costs much less than Rhodium.
If you are still insistent on Rhodium, I would contact BRG and see what exactly their process is. From what I remember, and have had done with others, Rhodium plating is much more complicated, and requires a base coating(copper or nickel?) before Rhodium is applied.

 

That's what i said: They leave the old plating on. The only place its removed is on the smooth surfaces were they finish to a mirror finish. After this they give a coat in Nickel over top the existing nickel that wasn't buffed off while giving a mirror finish. Thats two coats already on the handle. Okay then if i want Rhodium then they coat with Rhodium, that's 3 coat on the handle. That is likely to change the texture of the handle. Also something to consider if one gets gold then BRG website says that they coat many times more thick than Gillette originally did. Will this not change the knurling?? I am grown i don't need someone putting words in my mouth, telling me what i need to do! I had nothing bad to say about Brg, infact i had nothing bad to say about anyone. I did say another replating company's (did not mention names to ruin their reputation) Nickel did not hold up and its flaking off i will explain more ( third paragraph)

I didn't knock anything about this Brg plating service. Infact i said they are above the rest as far as finish because they get the smooth surfaces to a mirror finish and they look amazing. I never mentioned something being over plated to the point to were the plating is flaking off from this BRG.


I did say i wasn't going to bad mouth another replate company, because thats not a good way to do things. Anyways But my experience with the other replating company wasn't good, because i had a slim replated in Nickel and the nickel is already flaking off one of the doors.

The reason i want a slim done in Rhodium is because a Slim is my favorite de razor!



Another thing 'all' these replateing companies their painting job on certain razors isn't as durable as the original paint. Gillette used a catalyst hardener and their paint was pretty durable. A catalyst hardener makes paint 30-40% 'more hard'/durable .These replateing companies use plain Testors enamel with no hardener. That person who i said (who did a razor that's already losing its nickel)i wasn't going to bad mouth, whenever they painted my clicker spring black on my slim it flaked off.

 

I never thought you were fingering BRG for any defective plating. But, I know of a couple Of Plating Companies who have had issues in the past. I agree, the Testors doesn't always hold up to harsh use/cleaning.



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at this point i am glad i v'e just paid more for original finish razors.gold "'new" series razors are the worst for factory finishes lasting beyond a shave or three.early u.s gold tto's also.the razors i have seen here look stunning,don't get me wrong..but if a slim or fatboy have the plating worn off they truly have many miles on them.i wouldn't bother replating.now an heirloom razor i might..or not..depending on mechanical condition.with shipping,currency exchange etc it's questionable for me..again ,every razor has a story..

 

North shore razors in Hawaii. He doesn't do traditional plating. He does like a gun coating. Nice work, but imo it ruins the traditional look of a nice Gillette adjustable.

 

What about sports shaving? Has anyone had him do anything them??

 

I spoke with the owner(Nick), on Oct 30, 2023.
Basically, his jewelry business is commanding too much of his time. But, he hopes to Take in a few jobs(plating), after the holidays.
I haven't reached out since.

 

Anyone have their razors replated? By whom? Pics?

 

Back Roads Gold Rhodium for me! I bought a razor secondhand fresh from being related and it is a real stunner!

 

Concerning Razor Emporium & my experience so far.

I picked up this Revamped 1959 Gillette Fat Boy Code E-1 from Razor Emporium finished in vintage nickel. They say this finish is exactly like the original Gillette nickel finish on a razor. I cannot tell in anyway that this razor was re-plated. It looks like a super clean new old stock razor in mint condition. It does not look re-plated in anyway like some razors that I have seen that have been redone. It works and performs flawlessly like new. I am very pleased with this razor purchase and as said it looks as original in finish as I have ever seen.

*Razor Emporium did an excellent job on this 1959 Gillette Fat Boy Revamp

* I Just Love Fat Boys & Slims they are my favorite Gillette models.

Happy Shaves To All,
Bill G

 

great pics and thanks for sharing