Coming of Age?

Hi Guys

I picked up a real junker of a blade last week - chips out of the blade, rust everywhere, covered in years worth of gunk. I was sitting looking at it on Saturday and I just finished reading the last of the stuff from the restoration forum and I decided to give it a shot. I shaved with it this morning, and now I know what you guys mean by wiping the hairs off your face. It was effortless. A real joy.

Things I have learnt;
I need more tools for the Dremel - flapwheels etc
I need to get a full compliment of sandpaper grades
I need some better Polishing compound
I am not brave enough to try re-pinning yet
I am brave enough to grind out pitted rust, and with a little finishing it will look great.
Sharpening a chipped and completely rusted blade takes patience
BUT
It isnt nearly as difficult as I thought
I am hooked

This is very much my first effort to try out various tools and methods using the things I have to hand. Now that I know what I need I hope that my next will be a better job.

Thanks for looking

Si

The blade edge is my favorite thing - it really doesnt show in the photos that well but there were two areas with almost no edge left, so I had to take the bevel back about .5mm in order to start afresh. Given it was my first attempt at really putting an edge on something it was a proud moment when I shaved this morning.

I did most of the work with a Dremel or by hand - I have no bench tools. The polishing compound was the one that came with the kit, and I need some new. The drums were OK, but I need to get some better tape.

I set the bevel using 1000 grade, then used the Tam O'Shanter followed by the coticule, 30 passes on red paste, 30 on black paste. It wasn't quite there after a test on my cheek, so went back to the TOS and did a pyramid of 2:5 1:5 1:7 to see how it went - it went just great.

Si

Very nice and a great start! Good job - J

Si, the razor looks great! Watch out Joe Chandler!! :bow

He he thanks Rick - I am not sure I am ever going to be up there with Joe and Yourself. There is a lot still to learn, but this was a pretty tall order for my first effort. Now that I know the tools I need I will happily buy more junkers and get hold of the tools.

It is horribly addictive though isn't it? I love working with my hands, but working on something where the slightest slip will take your fingers off adds a whole new dimension to the work. It was 30 degrees here over the weekend, but I don't think the heat was making me sweat...

Si