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I love to take old messed up blades and make them shave better than brand new......but this one...... I was more than a little worried about this fili, worth a go or send it to its final resting place?
(patience please on the posts, ive got a few coming right up with pics to upload)
so I decided to give it a go, sanded to test the steel out a bit, see how it sounded and felt, check what there might be to work with. the steel underneath the surface was very sound but a HUGE issue was that the blade was broken down and honed right to the belly of the blade and a VERY uneven cutting edge.
Honing a damaged blade - Straight Razor Place Library
the link above describes some of the techniques I employed to overcome the issues. apart from the described techniques I reground with a plain hollow grind on a 2" contact wheel to bring the new cutting edge above the previous belly. this obviously changed the geometry substantially from it originally was but did not bring it outside the realm of acceptable geometry for superb shaving.
the heel needed a lot of attention to flow well with the reground blade. the simplest way for me is to just put a small 45* angle on the heel and then slowly round it off on an old oil stone that I shaped with a shallow groove. ill get pics of the stone at some point.
Bravo!!! I am in the works on an old Sheffield that had no life left. But low and behold a little imagination and trying is coming along great.
Question when you reground the fili, was that on a 2x72 belt grinder?
after tidying up the blade I made scales to fit the adjustments I made to the blade. black g10 suited it well.
Straight Razor Restoration Start to Finish Video Series - Straight Razor Place Library
a fantastic set of videos in the link above shows good techniques for cutting and shaping scales. the techniques used will work for a variety of materials.
this is the finished result, pardon the pics. this thread is to encourage attempting to save what may appear to be lost cause razors. there are parameters that need to be stayed within for a blade to provide a superb shave and it takes a lot of practice to acquire sensitivity to what may be going on with a particular blade you are trying to salvage. for some it may be a waste of time, for me I enjoy taking trashed razors and saving them from the scrap yard. I have many that wont get a passing grade in the end, many others that have surprised me. would a purist or collector want it when im done? maybe not. will it shave with the best razors out there? depends on what you start with and what the geometry will be in the end. does it bring me joy to see another of these old, abused and forgotten:D "gents" dancing and prancing, singing their tune with the new guys again? a resounding YES!
its a joy to see how they come out in the end isn't it? when they looked so far past saving.Quote:
Originally Posted by ncraigtrn
on my 2x72 I only have an 8" contact wheel, this one I used a 4x36 that has 2" wheels. not necessarily "contact" wheels, haha, but again, imagination is what gets them done sometimes right?
Very nice save and a good job reshaping that heel.
Bob
I feel ya! I shaped the heel of the current project on a 1x30. This is what I started with after sanding and buffing.Quote:
Originally Posted by silverloaf
Attachment 168343
That g10 is gorgeous BTW. Very subtle but nice.
Wow, great save, and way beyond my skill level!
I can already see it when done! :D do you have a way to regrind the stabilizer/shoulder? after straightening the cutting edge and possibly light regrind to remove/minimize honewear that stabilizer will be big time in the way for honing. does the 1x30 have a removable guard on top? you might be able to access the wheel. safety is the concern there though, not good to have blades in a position where they can projectile at you! if the 1x30 doesn't work for that id pick up a cheap dremel if you don't have one. the abrasive wheels and other attachments can work wonders when coupled with hand sanding and sandng with backers.Quote:
Originally Posted by ncraigtrn
Nice Save!
:tu
Dremel I do have. This one was my friends great grandfathers. So we talked extensively about how he wanted it to be when finished. I told him that it won't shave again unless I alter the blade and he told me to have at it. But just asked to keep it somewhat antique looking.Quote:
Originally Posted by silverloaf
Back on topic. The guard on my 1x30 is removable but if it tossed the blade at me I'd need to be wearing a Kevlar face mask. Lol. I'm kicking around the idea of turning my bench grinder into a buffing wheel on one side and use the other side to drive a 2x72. But that's a pipe dream at the moment. Attachment 168347
and nice shave! it was a bit surprising how well the shave was, if I remember right the blade ended up between 9/16 and 5/8 and with the plain hollow grind it shaved like one of the smaller American wedges. very happy result, smooth silent 2 pass shave that left a big smile :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Chevhead
awesome, its nice to see that smile going the same way as the spine instead of that sad frown! does look like the stabilizer is in the way of honing a bit? dremel should take it down well, ive used cutoff curtain rods, hardwood dowels, broken hammer handles, etc with sandpaper wrapped to smooth out grind marks on shoulders. what were you thinking for scales? were there originals?Quote:
Originally Posted by ncraigtrn
btw- chec out wayne goddards book $50 knife shop, great ideas for simple 2x72 grinders.
Well actually I already made scales and they are ipe with white liners and I salvaged the original washer collars so it looks antique but well maintained if that makes sense.
Attachment 168368
nice job on those scales, ipe is rather tough stuff to work! ive worked a few pieces of it from leftover decking, not the easiest to work with but takes a nice polish doesn't it? very cool, I like the contrast of the white liners :)
It means a lot considering the caliber of that fili. Guys like you are what inspire me to keep trying.
thanks man, that's no small compliment, theres huge talent all over this forum, my stuff is just whatever I can do with the castoffs no one wants! highly collectable? great shaves, happy saves, that's the name of the game! :) keep showing what you do, those scales are good inspiration for keeping a clean and simple, vintage look with a modern feel at the same time.Quote:
Originally Posted by ncraigtrn
Man! You have become quite the grinder, Sir! I have tossed better ones than that! Amazing job on it.
Duly Impressed! :tu
hahahaha...... "wind chime"..... hahahahaha, I just got your pm a few minutes ago, made me laugh! :roflmaoQuote:
Originally Posted by sharptonn
and thank you for the compliment! this one needed it, it was begging not to be given up on.
