6/8 VR W&B

A 6/8 'VR' W&B (e.g. Queen Victoria's reign c1837-1901).

Mahogany scales sponge-brushed with transparent blue airbrush paint then finished in CA.

Nickle-lined (to restore balance), acrylic snow-pearl wedge. Nickle pins and SS washers.

Attachment 83060

Attachment 83058

Attachment 83062

Attachment 83059

Attachment 83064

Attachment 83061

Attachment 83057

Over-ambition strikes again...

Am not 100% happy with the way this one came out. Content - yes, 100% pleased - no.

If I had found a scale material that was a shade of blue I liked in a usable size, it would have worked out great...

As it is though, trying to put a CA finish over a layer of transparent blue paint on scales with such small, angular edges turned out to be self-feeding nightmare...

If the sanding wore through the CA - which was prone near edges and corners due to slightly thinner CA coverage and/or the e of the sand paper to every so slightly conform to the edges - it would necessitate touching up both the blue paint and the CA... which would necessitate additional sanding to blend the new section of CA with the old... which would increase the odds of cutting through along another edge or corner... etc... etc.

Since everything was done by hand (I do not have any workspace for router, scroll saw, etc.) maintaining perfect sharp edges and corners along the cutouts with jewelers files and sandpaper was also long shot.

At least she balances where she's supposed to...

It might not be perfect in your eyes, but it's freakin' beautiful in mine. Great work!

That is one beautiful razor!! GREAT WORK!!

Great job, John. Hard to believe this is the same blade we saw at the meet up!

:tu
NICE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike

She's a beauty!!! Nice work!

Jon

That looks realy cool! Absolutely love that blade and those scales really make it pop! Great work:)

something I've realized in hand made work is to appreciate the minor flaws as much as the areas you made perfectly with your mitts... I think those scales looks awesome from the color to the design. The ONLY small change I would have made is to shorten the window so that only the blade edge is seen through the scales (not the open space where the tang is).

Very very Nicely done :tu

I really like the design you came up with, and to make sure it balances shows attention to details...

I think it's beautiful. And the fact that you did the scales completely by hand is amazing.

I really like the scales. Excellent execution of a tough design. Well done!
I did like the patina on the blade though...guess it wouldn't have looked right with the snazzy scales though.

It seems every time I think I couldn't be more impressed, someone proves me wrong. Flashy, and perfect in every way I can think a straight could be.

I like it - A LOT - well done.
BTW if you don't like it - I'll give it a good home.......hehehe
I narrowly missed out on a blade just like that just the other day :cry:

It's certainly like no other razor i've seen, and when you consider there's only so much you can change about the functionality and look, I think you have done a superb job of work on that beautiful looking razor.

Regards Jamie.

Sweet scales for a super sweet blade! I wish I could trip across a blade like that. Bravo!

Great work! Superb craftmanship is seen in every detail. Beauty queen!

You did the cut out by hand? Nice you should be proud.

Jeff

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TURNMASTER

You did the cut out by hand? Nice you should be proud.

Jeff

---

Thanks.

Yeah, the cut out was done with a jeweler's saw. Bevels added with a jeweler's file.

Surprisingly the cut out and beveling was pretty easy - just took a little patience to do the filing. It was the finishing that was a royal pain in the behind (and left me feeling like I hadn't quite reached the mark I set for myself).

I honestly think you are being too hard on yourself......I think it is an excellent job and looks fantastic

When I first read that you used painted wood my first thought was , "Oh that's gonna look like crap".

However, after seeing it, I like it much better than the solid colored plastics. The texture that the wood grain adds under the color is very attractive.

I'm personally not a big fan of CA as a finish. I would have use a good polyurethane with the first few coats thinned down so they soak in good. IT would have been much less of a hassle too.... but you have pulled this off and it looks good.

I even like the looks of the dogeared ends and window slot milled down the center.

Ray

Amazing restoration. The scale design is unique. Have not seen one like it. Great job!

I think there's a really nice juxtaposition going on here. The sharp corners on the edges give it a rather rigid look, which is immediately where my eye is drawn to. Then when you look at the gentleness of the curve sweeping through from the toe to heel, there's an element of grace, almost like a very proper lady sweeping into a room unannounced and unnoticed but wearing a striking dress. I think these scales are actually quite brilliant.

Nice restore. I like the original scale design, excellent work.