Thread: My first one. A Wade and Butcher meets the desert

I thought long and hard before posting this. You folks are a tough group but I like that. It makes you wanna do better and I'm not one to back down from the challenge of doing it better. So let me know what you think.
My before picture isn't so great but you can see the scales are broken and the blade has a fair amount of tarnish and as I'm finding out, if you have tarnish, you have pitting. The blade was hand sanded and the new scales were made from Mesquite and given about 12 coats of hand rubbed tung oil.
In the future I want to give the scales a more rounded and graceful appearance and I'm always working on making those pins look good.
It seems that guns and razors go well together here and I like that so I included that one picture. Tell me what you think.

I think you did well.

I can't tell if you used a wedge or a spacer, but I don't see anything poking out, so you probably fitted it well. That is one of the more challenging parts of the scale making process at first, so well done.

As you said, the scale shape, especially at the pivot end, it kind of rough and rudimentary, but it works. Not bad, keep it up.

Also, I'm not sure if it is just the lighting, but it looks like there are still some scratches from the hand-sanding on the tang in the 2nd picture. Hand-sanding a blade is time consuming, and you have to get all the scratches out if you want an even finish. Even so, nice job.

Many light taps with a polished hammer and a good anvil surface (mine is chrome), and finish the pins off with some metal polish at the end will really make them pop.

I've been hand sanding because I can do that inside and I usually watch a ball game while I'm doing it. The workshop (my garage) is still about 110 degrees out there. When its really warm I've found that polishing compound you put on a buffing wheel doesn't hold up to well. I never considered polishing the actual peen part of the hammer but great idea. Yea a thousand little taps. It actually is a wedge but not much of one. It's a pretty substantial blade and I wanted to make sure there would be enough room for it between the scales. Overall its very light and easy to hold in the hand.

One thing about a wedge; if you get it right, you don't have to make it huge because when you tighten the scales down, the wedge (even a thin one), will create enough space for the blade.
Just something to consider for the next pair.

I think you did well.

I've realized that. This is all so trial and error. I have no one looking over my shoulder and giving me advice as I go. I appreciate all of the advice anyone gives me. I've learned a great deal from these first few, that's for sure.

Grumpy, it looks like a great first restore. Its nice and tidy, the other things mentioned in previous posts will get better with each razor you do. Well done.

Stu

Fine job !!! Another Wade & Butcher goes back on the line.
Tung oil takes time, as I have one sitting behind me with it's fourth coat; it's been 2 weeks.

Very nice looking..

I still have so much to learn. A lot is just trial and error. I decided to go with the tung oil because its a razor that going to be used and any finish you put on wood if you use it, eventually it will have to be re finished. An oil finish is a lot easier to redo than a hard finish. But yea, if you do a tung oil finish correctly, it takes time. I've read some here about a "CA" finish and I would like to find out what that is. If anyone can offer a website or some information I would appreciate it.