A Chopper of My Very Own

The W&B chopper. :rock: Oh yea.

Wanted one ever since I joined this site. Saw this on ebay a while back and took a chance.
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Once I got it, it seemed to be

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definitely worth doing a little work on the 13/16 blade, and making some new scales.

Here it is now.
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The stonite poly tortoise scales may not have turned out as bulbous as the ones that inspired them ;) but I'm happy with the overall shape.

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The pins are brass rod, with brass domed and flat washers, and the spacer is white poly MOP. The finish is not mirror, but it's "fairly shiny." :p

I can hardly wait to get this one honed up and into the rotation. At last.

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Comments, questions, critiques, helpful hints, and criticisms are always welcome. You can help me do better on future projects!

Before I say anything else, let me be clear that I'm VERY new to str8s, so anything I say, good or bad, is based on VERY limited knowledge.

Good:

That blade looks a million times better then when you started.

Looks like you did a pretty good job preserving the engraving.

Those scales are beautiful, and having seen them, I've got an ebay special that will probably get something similar when I get around to refinishing it fully. (If I can do it without messing it up)

I really like the pinning. I think people underestimate how important the little details like that are, and the domed washers and carefully rounded pins make a HUGE difference.

Bad: It may just be the photo, but it looks like there are a lot of sanding marks still on the blade. They're polished over really well, but with the rounded scales and pins and high-gloss material you used in the scales, I would have expected smoother sanding on the blade.


All in all, it's a really nice looking razor, and I'd be a happy man to own one just like it.

Personally, I quite like the finish on the blade. I think a perfect mirror surface wouldn't quite be right on a big ole meatchopper. Very nice job. :tu

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Originally Posted by Rajagra

Personally, I quite like the finish on the blade. I think a perfect mirror surface wouldn't quite be right on a big ole meatchopper. Very nice job. :tu

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+1, I really like the finish on that one.

I'm dying for one of those myself, just haven't been able to come to grips with the prices they seem to be going for now days.

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Originally Posted by VeeDubb65

Before I say anything else, let me be clear that I'm VERY new to str8s, so anything I say, good or bad, is based on VERY limited knowledge.

Good:

That blade looks a million times better then when you started.

Looks like you did a pretty good job preserving the engraving.

Those scales are beautiful, and having seen them, I've got an ebay special that will probably get something similar when I get around to refinishing it fully. (If I can do it without messing it up)

I really like the pinning. I think people underestimate how important the little details like that are, and the domed washers and carefully rounded pins make a HUGE difference.

Bad: It may just be the photo, but it looks like there are a lot of sanding marks still on the blade. They're polished over really well, but with the rounded scales and pins and high-gloss material you used in the scales, I would have expected smoother sanding on the blade.


All in all, it's a really nice looking razor, and I'd be a happy man to own one just like it.

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Thanks VeeDubb! Never be hesitant to voice your opinion! That's how I expect to learn. :D

You're right - I didn't do as much sanding as I could have given that this is a thicker blade. I'm still trying to get the nuances of hand sanding down, and for one or two other blades I've worked on, I have sanded too much and weakened and damaged them. :cry:

So I guess I'm a little bit gun shy here. I was operating on the principle of better to be safe than sorry - I've already learned that I can always take steel off, but I can't put any steel back. Perhaps I will revisit the blade surface after I understand more about what I should do.

That said, I agree with Ray that some of these old blades really do look better and have more character with a patina and without all of the battle scars removed.

Thanks for the extra love on the pinning. ;) I agree that a well pinned razor rocks! There are excellent guides on this site about how to do a good job pinning a razor. I hope to get really good at it someday.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Joeman

+1, I really like the finish on that one.

I'm dying for one of those myself, just haven't been able to come to grips with the prices they seem to be going for now days.

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You aren't kidding Joeman - I lucked out with this one. I got it for less than $20 total. I think everyone was asleep on ebay that day! :roflmao

That came out really nice .

I think it looks fantastic man! I really like the scales, I think they fit it just perfect and I love the color. the blade looks just right. and I'm sure it'll shave like a dream. Excellent work man. your pins look great too, that's the part that kind of gives me reservation about doing a set myself.

Red

Really nice looking razor. Great looking work. Enjoy the shave that beauty will give you.

I think it looks great. I too have limited experience so I am never going to criticize. I like the pins and the scales. I think you did a great job. The only thing I might would change would have been to leave like a 400 grit vertical grooves just to make the finish seem more consistent. I have NEVER created a mirror finish though as soon and I can afford a low rpm grinder for buffing I am going to make a serious effort.
I definitely give it an A and I'll bet if its like the large blades I have used the shave will be outstanding.
Great Work!

I love it! :nj

Nice job on the scales & pins & as you found out it's always better to leave a little steel on than take a little too much off.
Those choppers will however stand some serious sanding compared to full hollows. :tu