Thread: My first! – A Renovated Pyramid

Here is my first completed renovated razor, before and after. This is a Geneva Pyramid #7 I got from e-bay a few months ago. The blade was in fair shape, so I just gave it a light sanding and a tumble, but I wanted new scales. So, after finally assembling the tools and the materials, and many hours of researching the forum and the Bill Ellis Restoration CD, this is the result.

The scales are Recon Stone – Tortoise, and the wedge is white poly imitation pearl. The pins are brass rod, and the washers are from Microfasteners.

What was really cool for me was taking Bill Ellis’s advice about making a bushing for the pivot hole – that worked great, admittedly on the second fabrication attempt.

I will never make the mistake again of trying to drill the pinholes freehand – the most stupid move I made during this exercise (but not the only one). I will probably revisit this work down the road, but it stands as it is for right now, except for a refinement session on the stones.

All of the successes are due to you guys, I own all the failures. Comments, questions, critiques, helpful hints, and criticisms are welcome.

wow that looks like a great first job!

Was the light sanding and a few tumbles all you needed on the blade?

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

wow that looks like a great first job!

Was the light sanding and a few tumbles all you needed on the blade?

Thanks!

I sanded with 400 grit for an hour or so, and then I let it tumble for a couple of days. I probably would have let it tumble more, but had tried tumbling two blades at a time, and I got a slight nick in the edge of one. That made me back off some, so I was pretty conservative with this one.

I use the pet-bedding corncob with Turtle Wax rubbing compound in my tumbler. It's pretty coarse, so I let it go longer to get to the detail areas of the blade. I have let them tumble for as long as five to eight days.

Your razor looks great! I really like the color texture of the scales. In your opinion is the tumbler better than a bench grinder with buffing wheels? I saw this kit, and am sorely tempted to order it.

Caswell Inc. - Buffing Kits

Looks good man, great job!

Way to go! Not bad for a first attempt. It can only get better.

Wow! I reallly like those scales.

Super job.

Charlie

Originally Posted by Ditch Doc

Your razor looks great! I really like the color texture of the scales. In your opinion is the tumbler better than a bench grinder with buffing wheels? I saw this kit, and am sorely tempted to order it.

Caswell Inc. - Buffing Kits

Ditch Doc:

I have that exact same kit from Caswell and a Delta variable speed 6" grinder. I also have a tumbler with corn cob and walnut medium. Now what I really need is to find MORE TIME to actually use this stuff to its fullest potential!!!!!

Since I have both and even though I've only worked a bit with both, I can state the obvious.

Buffing with the various wheels is faster. BUT: It's been said before by many others and it's so true. The buffer can be an amazingly dangerous tool. If you're not cutting or polishing on the safer areas of the wheel, those wheels can grab that blade faster then you can blink. Thankfully I only sustained a cut that went in about 1/16" on a finger but that was still a bleeder. Now I wear those kevlar cutproof gloves. I've found even with the black emery stick which is pretty coarse, you still really have to sand for heavier pitting just like you do if you tumble. All I have to say is be very careful around the buffer.

Tumbling is cool (Thanks Glen!) with its "set it and forget it" ability.

Chris L

First retore? That looks awesome!

Originally Posted by Ditch Doc

Your razor looks great! I really like the color texture of the scales. In your opinion is the tumbler better than a bench grinder with buffing wheels? I saw this kit, and am sorely tempted to order it.

Caswell Inc. - Buffing Kits

Originally Posted by Chris L

Since I have both and even though I've only worked a bit with both, I can state the obvious.

Buffing with the various wheels is faster. BUT: It's been said before by many others and it's so true. The buffer can be an amazingly dangerous tool. If you're not cutting or polishing on the safer areas of the wheel, those wheels can grab that blade faster then you can blink. Thankfully I only sustained a cut that went in about 1/16" on a finger but that was still a bleeder. Now I wear those kevlar cutproof gloves. I've found even with the black emery stick which is pretty coarse, you still really have to sand for heavier pitting just like you do if you tumble. All I have to say is be very careful around the buffer.

Tumbling is cool (Thanks Glen!) with its "set it and forget it" ability.

Chris L

A great big +1 to Chris L's message. I don't have a buffer - I have to keep reminding myself to slow down when I work as it is (note the hand drilled scale holes ) so I can't make a meaningful comparison.

Looking at the worst case scenarios with each machine, I saw the alternatives were either coming home to a tumbler-induced fire, or having someone find my bloodied razor-impaled corpse in my basement, so I chose to eliminate the possibility of the latter.

A hearty thanks to all who commented. Please keep them coming.

I really liked the scales material and color. It was fairly easy to work with, and I hope to try other patterns soon. Perhaps I'll give this one a few tweaks later, but I wanted to post it as is to see if I can make progress from here. I hope to be able to learn more from and do better with each one.