Thread: Why did he waste his time? Scales and Razors.

I did a video tut on a restore I did and still got a ton of questions. I like most of your work but I have stopped looking or commenting for a lot of the reasons mentioned. No answers on specifics in the thread and absolutely no "Thanks". I may be wrong but it all looks self serving to me. I was reading that part of the commitment of having a vendors badge was to join in the community and add to it by helping others, joining in the conversations with tips and advice. I hope you do not think these remarks are an attack. I do not know you well enough to make judgments like that. I am just commenting on what I see. I would rather have a fine craftsman fit into the community. I am sure you would too, judging by the words of those standing up for you. :<0)

Originally Posted by mainaman

I post restorations and no one has ever said anything to me.
I also post how I do some things that have not been covered. As a matter of fact about to post a tutorial on something that has not been covered but has been asked a bunch of times.

My apologies for the misunderstanding Stefan
I was actually referring to my own restorations.
I usually forget to give the how-to and where-from when I have posted a restoration
Typically I'm just too excited to get the pictures posted.
Usually someone will post back with questions etc. and it gets kinda finished that way.
I wont be posting again without the proper narrative, for sure
I'm slow but i do learn
Respectfully, Mike

Your Gold Dollar modifications were all very beautiful ... But ... How do they shave?
My first shave with a western straight was a cheap unmodified 6/8 Gold Dollar 208 high carbon blade with plastic scales. My GD was honed by a local honemeister. Compared to my other Dovos, Bokers and vintage razors, it looks rather crude specifically in the shoulder area. But the blade and grind is well done. The honemeister honed it well because it shaves as good as my other name brand razors. The razor is very comfortable in the hand with rough but secure bottom jimping.

Here's what stands out about my GD 208 that makes it an excellent shaver. The blade is heavy with a very thick rounded top spine, with no metal removed to give it maximum weight. The grind is full hollow with a deep curvature that provides a very thin blade near the cutting edge. The very thin blade area along with its high carbon hardness actually allows the blade to "sing" when the blade tip is plucked with a fingernail. The blade tip actually emits a high pitched "ping" when plucked. This ping sounds very similar in tone to both my Dubl Duck Goldedge and Satinedge and several of my other Soligen singing razors.
The shave is also very similar. Funny but the blade's top heaviness combined with it's thin singing edge gives a light touch close shave. The blade heaviness helps to plow thru the beard with a light touch while the singing thin edge gives a very close shave.

My GD 208 cost $40 with honing fee but it has given good shaves and is still in my rotation. It have kept a good edge. I like to shave with it because it reminds me that ultimately, straight shaving is a relatively primitive act using sharpened cold steel requiring the controlled light touch of a skilled human hand.

Well said JBHoren, I know you are a fellow frequenter of the SOTD, and I myself love the custom builds and restorations gallery. I've had several razors restored by Mycarver and I can't say enough about his professionalism as a craftsman and know he would gladly give his knowledge to others. And I for one don't think he needs to keep his cards close to his vest, as with anyone the work speaks for itself.

Sir you are a talented artisan!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by JBHoren

I feel no less strongly that the negative discussion in this thread belongs -- if at all -- wholly in PMs, and not in the public realm.

We generally do keep most discussions to pm but... If some one makes a negative comment about the management of this website publicly & no reply is made publicly, what remains in view is a single sided negative comment about SRP perpetuating a myth.

The truth is that SRP is a site dedicated to helping straight enthusiasts & no one has ever been banned for posting Gold Dollar restorations.

Originally Posted by WetShaveObsession

Every single time Mycarver has ever been asked by anyone how he has done something he explains it, in depth. I have pestered the man with email after email and he answers every single one, no keeping any "secrets", not looking to keep certain tricks of the trade only to himself but freely and openly telling me not only how it is done but how to do it. Big difference. I see the same here when people ask him. Someone asks how do you get those scales so clear he doesnt say on it takes hours of elbow grease and work - the cop out answer, he says, i take 320 and sand them down more than you would ever think them i progressive polish them back. You have to take them down before you can make them clear again if that make sense.
Im not sure what the underlying issues are here , obviously there are some but I think its a damn shame I cant see the rest of the razors he posted and would have loved to hear the answers to the slew of questions by members that would have followed. I am what I would call a rookie restorer, some may see me as more, I sure dont. I would have loved to have learned in this thread, instead i see a crap storm of underlying issue coming out. The airing of dirty laundry publicly that obviously should be handled privately. Not only staff but the admin of the forum. Sadly the BSD factor is in full effect. Wish I never read the thread.

I am amazed at the troll effect that still comes out of the wood work here........

Oy!

Originally Posted by mycarver

On a recent post I showed a W&B with scales I made using Black Horn and Pearl acrylic inlays. I was asked to show other scales I've done. So here are just a few of them.

Now eventually you may ask, Why did he waste his time on these things? Well the short answer is , I learned a lot.

I learned how to build a variety of scales. To me , custom isn't cutting out some Micarta and calling it done. That's belly button material , everyone has one.
I learned to make my own acrylics. I learned how to inlay. To design. How to handle a variety of materials.
As to the razors?
Well it taught me how to handle a variety of situations. Better to learn on these than mess up someones pride and joy CVH, W&B or whatever as I'm restoring it.
Also.
I was told you can't do file work on tempered steel. It will never work. Can't be done. OK. I wanted to know just how far you can push it.Doing it on untempered steel is easy. Tempered , finished blades is another animal altogether.
Etching? I learned a thing or two. All of these blades were blank.
Here too this taught me valuable lessons in handling finished, tempered steel and just what you can do with it.
Several of these were done for a competition to see just what you can do with a finished blade. I'll tell you later what they are.
I'll probably get banned, but just enjoy them for what they represent.
Learning.

The first razor is the W&B with the Black Horn with pearl inlays that started the discussion and questions.
The rest of the photos are of a more complicated inlay with Rose wood, ivory, Brass and the modifications I did to a finished razor with the thumb notch, spine work, blade revisions etc.
It's all base on an angular perspective from the angles of the heel matching the toe of the blade, the spine bevel, the bevel off the nose of the blade, the tail has a matching bevel cut on the underside and you can see how small I was able to make the jimps on the underside of the spine ( the thumb notch wasn't there) as well as the rest of the modifications.
It was a GD.

Admiration and respect for beautiful work. You are a real artist.

Lets be honest,call a spade a spade.
Whenever a Vendor posts his work I would hope it is in part out of the pride he takes in his work.
But it is also an advertizment of sorts.I see nothing wrong with that,afterall a vendor is a purveyer of goods and or services.
Two Vendors have posted in this thread,both are the best of the best IMO.
Enough said,carry on

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Lets be honest,call a spade a spade.
Whenever a Vendor posts his work I would hope it is in part out of the pride he takes in his work.
But it is also an advertizment of sorts.I see nothing wrong with that,afterall a vendor is a purveyer of goods and or services.
Two Vendors have posted in this thread,both are the best of the best IMO.
Enough said,carry on

Can I be a vendor too? Can I huh? Can I? (kidding!)