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

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.

Originally Posted by mycarver

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.

No, you wouldn't be banned for modifying Gold Dollars or showcasing them, or claiming they shave with the best, but it is still one of the stupidest things you've said.

What you want to note is that this site is not about promoting yourself, and saying how much you've learned but sharing that knowledge with others, not just taking from them.
You can do competitions and the self promotion elsewhere, but it is worth remembering that there were many stars before you over there, some bigger and brighter than you and now they're just black holes...

Originally Posted by gugi

No, you wouldn't be banned for modifying Gold Dollars or showcasing them, or claiming they shave with the best, but it is still one of the stupidest things you've said.

What you want to note is that this site is not about promoting yourself, and saying how much you've learned but sharing that knowledge with others, not just taking from them.
You can do competitions and the self promotion elsewhere, but it is worth remembering that there were many stars before you over there, some bigger and brighter than you and now they're just black holes...

I'm sorry.
If you feel the post should be deleted please do so. I'll delete it my self if you like.
Yes, I have learned a lot doing these. I thought there was such a variety of ideas that might be of interest to others. Many may not have been considered and if that's the case then if people arent aware of what can be done , showing what has been done might spur some questions. You can't ask questions how to do something if you haven't seen it done can you?
If anyone has questions as to how I did these ,,, feel free to ask.

I've modified a variety of razors as well as restored them. Whether they're Gold Dollars or the others I have done , to me it all boils down to the same thing. How do you work on tempered, finished steel and get it to do what you want it to.
Seeing new razors made out of untempered steel is one thing. Doing a razor that is finished is another.

But then again, maybe I do say a lot of stupid things.

Or maybe my original question was right.

They sure look great. The thing about working on hardened steel is that you can't do it with the usual tools that a common person would have in his toolbox. With pro tools, it is of course possible, but not with regular files etc.

Originally Posted by Bruno

They sure look great. The thing about working on hardened steel is that you can't do it with the usual tools that a common person would have in his toolbox. With pro tools, it is of course possible, but not with regular files etc.

I think many guys would have, or could easily get a Dremel.

Files, no. They don't work on tempered steel. But put a stone or cutting wheel you'll find at any Home Depot or Lowes sitting right next to the Dremel and off you go.

I read quite often about guys having dremels to restore razors. I didn't think it's too far out there to have one.
Then too this may be one of the Stupid Things I say. Assuming someone has a Dremel.

Originally Posted by mycarver

I think many guys would have, or could easily get a Dremel.

Files, no. They don't work on tempered steel. But put a stone or cutting wheel you'll find at any Home Depot or Lowes sitting right next to the Dremel and off you go.

I read quite often about guys having dremels to restore razors. I didn't think it's too far out there to have one.
Then too this may be one of the Stupid Things I say. Assuming someone has a Dremel.

A dremel yes. But, which kind of attachment did you use (I don't recognize the attachment shown in the picture for example) ? How did you hold the thing steady, did you use supports, did you mark the pattern first or did you freehand, how did you polish, is there a progression in tools that works best, etc. A how-to article would be very helpful to other members wanting to give this a try.

Originally Posted by mycarver

I'm sorry.
If you feel the post should be deleted please do so. I'll delete it my self if you like.
Yes, I have learned a lot doing these. I thought there was such a variety of ideas that might be of interest to others. Many may not have been considered and if that's the case then if people arent aware of what can be done , showing what has been done might spur some questions. You can't ask questions how to do something if you haven't seen it done can you?

I don't want to delete your posts, I simply think that they should be more than "look at the great work I've done", and include posts about "here is how I did this thing that I didn't know how to do before".

Originally Posted by mycarver

If anyone has questions as to how I did these ,,, feel free to ask.

I don't look much in the workshop, but the last time I saw somebody asking you that question your answer was "I figured it myself, and I'm keeping it to myself because I plan to charge money by doing it".

Your razors are not upsetting at all, what is upsetting is the lack of details about the process which seems to be systematic. Plus your public attack of the way we manage this site by implying something that's just not true.

Originally Posted by gugi

I don't want to delete your posts, I simply think that they should be more than "look at the great work I've done", and include posts about "here is how I did this thing that I didn't know how to do before".


I don't look much in the workshop, but the last time I saw somebody asking you that question your answer was "I figured it myself, and I'm keeping it to myself because I plan to charge money by doing it".

Your razors are not upsetting at all, what is upsetting is the lack of details about the process which seems to be systematic. Plus your public attack of the way we manage this site by implying something that's just not true.

I post the razors I finish on the Customs forum. I've answered questions about my work. I've submitted a tutorial about how I unpin a razor as it was questioned several times.
I'm sorry not posting with each razor I do, the exact process in how it was done. But how many times should I post,,,, Sand,, then Sand,, then sand some more, then polish?
I think it's been covered.
I've never posted these other razors so how was I to know who had questions about a specific thing?

And did some guys know this stuff was even being done?
Show what I did ,,and let the questions fly.
Why would I have posted them not expecting questions?
And then do what?
Ignore them?

And I think I missed some public accusation.
A comment about GD's? That's an accusation? That many don't care for them? That's not an accusation. That's the truth. Me included. Out of the box they stink. I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.
It was tongue in cheek.
I may be mistaken bit wasn't a GD nominated recently for shave of the week?

Originally Posted by mycarver

But how many times should I post,,,, Sand,, then Sand,, then sand some more, then polish?
I think it's been covered.

I am not talking about 'sand on X, then on Y, then on Z....' threads.
But given how excited you are about what you've learned, I don't think the following threads would be out of order
"Making custom acrylic"
"File work on hardened steel"
"Etching complex patterns on razors"
etc..

Why not use the razors as an example to illustrate what you've learned in the workshop section instead of posting the finished work in the gallery section where the replies are pretty much guaranteed to be 'amazing work'.

I'll vouche for carver here. I have pm'd him with questions on his work that made me go hmmm; I wonder if this could work? Never fails within a few days he has messaged me back with his thoughts or tips. He may not discuss every detail during a post, but he's a nice guy and pm'ing him gives him time to respond which he has with myself. Not starting an argument here just stating my experience with him. Keep pushing the envelope carver.

Originally Posted by mycarver

I'm sorry.
If you feel the post should be deleted please do so. I'll delete it my self if you like.
Yes, I have learned a lot doing these. I thought there was such a variety of ideas that might be of interest to others. Many may not have been considered and if that's the case then if people arent aware of what can be done , showing what has been done might spur some questions. You can't ask questions how to do something if you haven't seen it done can you?
If anyone has questions as to how I did these ,,, feel free to ask.

I've modified a variety of razors as well as restored them. Whether they're Gold Dollars or the others I have done , to me it all boils down to the same thing. How do you work on tempered, finished steel and get it to do what you want it to.
Seeing new razors made out of untempered steel is one thing. Doing a razor that is finished is another.

But then again, maybe I do say a lot of stupid things.

Or maybe my original question was right.