Thread: Wade & Butcher - Celebrated Fine Indian Steel Razor - Part I

What grit did you start with Seth?

Truckman, I started with 120 grit aluminum oxide abrasive cloth. It is just like sandpaper but the abrasive is mounted on a coarse weave fabric instead of paper and cuts steel like nobody's business. This product only goes up to 400 grit. So I used it at the 120, 180, 240, 320 and 400 stages of sanding.

Actually, I was planning on sanding higher than the 800 grit I stopped at, but I just got so sick of sanding using the wet/dry paper that I asked Max if he could finish it up in the state it was in. Appearantly it was all set for go.

People have mentioned that the Wade and Butcher steel is hard stuff and takes forever to sand, but I am going to have to say the Wostenholm that I am presently sanding is much harder and is maiking this W&B feel like cake walk.

In the future, I am thinking about using lapping film instead of sandpaper and see if the work moves a little quicker. Obviously a little more expensive but in my case anything that will speed up the higher grits would be welcome.

A buffing wheel with a variant speed dial would also be nice, alas no space for it yet. Maybe after we buy a house and I can build a workshop/garage to house some more tools and such. But for now it is the sanding jig I made and away we go.

hmm...thanks Seth. Where do you find that cloth? I've picked up some wet/dry down to 320 at the local automotive store. I also have some emory cloth which is marked "coarse", "medium", and "fine". But the fine seems like it may be 200, 220 tops. When I went from the "fine" to the 320....well, it wasn't good. I may be a bit impatient, too, though, and just didn't give the 320 enough time to work....

I wouldn't mind seeing pics of that sanding jig, either

Thanks Seth. Great job again, and Max, too of course.

Well, the brand is Sankyo Fuji Star and they make any number of abrasives. They have something new called mirror film and have lapping film all the way up to 20000. Take a look at their website and see for yourself. I am not sure where you will be able to purchaes it but it is found locally for me so that is what I use. I can post some pics of my sanding jig etc. later tonight.

Outstanding work Max !

I have a 6" Delta Grinder/Buffer with a variable speed dial, it's nice. It goes down to 2000 RPM's....

Wow!!

What an awesome restore

I'm speechless. Wonderful restoration. Perfection.


Chris L

Super sensational !!

Amazing as all your work!

Im curious as to where to get silver/nickel pinning material and washers?

super work...amazing