Wostenholm with MOP

I have this lovely razor which I figured you would like to see. A Wostenholm 5/8ths.

There is rust as you can see but if I recall little to no hone ware which is the main thing.
With an unusual shape to it. I'm not sure if I have seen one of these before.
This one is packed away until its restore ticket number is called.

The scales are beautiful MOP . It is so sad that a piece is missing from one scale, about 2cm at the tang/pin end , not photographed .

Happy Christmas and New Year by the way :)

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I have spare pieces of white MOP, thiner than scales but perfect if you want to try a restoration. Just tell me. ;-)

Nice find. One piece MOP scales is quite rare. Usually they are a couple pieces pinned to a liner. I'd take Thaeris up on his offer and try to restore that missing piece. That will be one fine looking razor once done.

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Originally Posted by Thaeris

I have spare pieces of white MOP, thiner than scales but perfect if you want to try a restoration. Just tell me. ;-)

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That's kind of you.
I will probably have to buy some down the line anyway but I will let you know if I need to take you up on that offer.
Cheers

You should restore it now :D Love the shape.

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Originally Posted by DNM

You should restore it now :D Love the shape.

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I'm currently restoring/customising a W&B 9/8ths.

If I ever finish it I will bump the Wostenholm up the line.

I did order some MOP so it will happen. Plus im looking forward to the challenge of the fixing the scales.

2mm is the thickest I could find . The original MOP scales are a lot thicker..

Do you think it can be glued together to make it thicker?

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Originally Posted by JOB15

I did order some MOP so it will happen. Plus im looking forward to the challenge of the fixing the scales.

2mm is the thickest I could find . The original MOP scales are a lot thicker..

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Sounds like you will have to laminate 2 pieces of the 2mm MOP together to be able to fix the broken scale. I wonder if crazy glue would bond the pieces together? It seems to work decently in repairing broken/cracked ivory.

That is going to be a very interesting project. Good luck with it and be sure to post the results.

Bob

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Originally Posted by DNM

Do you think it can be glued together to make it thicker?

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MOP doesn't glue.. :-(

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Originally Posted by Thaeris

MOP doesn't glue.. :-(

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Cyanoacrylate adhesives/super glue won't bond MOP to itself?

Bob

It didn't with mine, perhaps with bi-components ?

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Originally Posted by Thaeris

It didn't with mine, perhaps with bi-components ?

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Now that is interesting, must be one of the few materials it won't work with. Pity that.

Bob

I dug it out.

It is a 5/8ths blade and the MOP is 2mm thick.

The wedge is a bit ridiculous . Way too heavy .

More pictures:

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I checked the thickness on the MOP scales on my Dovo and they are 2.5mm thick. I believe most all MOP sold today is thin and made to be used with a liner when scale making.

Is there any taper to the lead wedge? From the photo it looks more like a spacer. That would make it really heavy.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

I checked the thickness on the MOP scales on my Dovo and they are 2.5mm thick. I believe most all MOP sold today is thin and made to be used with a liner when scale making.

Is there any taper to the lead wedge? From the photo it looks more like a spacer. That would make it really heavy.

Bob

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Yeh its a big old spacer..

I could actually use those scales on a shorter blade, then no grafting would be necessary. I will not do that but it is one answer .

It is lovely stuff and hasn't warped at all, maybe MOP isn't prone to warping ?
I have some pearlex scales that warped within a year.

Mop will not warp, also there's good reason for the spacer and not a true wedge Mop will not flex much without breaking.

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Originally Posted by Thaeris

MOP doesn't glue.. :-(

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YMMV
Actually, it does but a lot of experimentation is needed to find the right product.

Thaeris, you have had many ladies fan/umbrella handles that are feather joined MOP and on the back, they also used an adhesive product to attach the fabric.
I would guess that there was a casein or milk glue used for that, possibly mixed with fish glue.
Another probability is the use of "real" white shellac?? Looking at a couple of my handles, the shellac seems to be the best guess. It has been used for centuries as a glaze and protectant. Wikipedia. It also has an affinity for organics.
Shellac
Real shellac is in flakes and cut with pure grain alcohol to a desired consistency.

JMO till I try some!
~Richard

I have used it with real linseed oil as a gunstock finish for years. French finish process.

I had a suspicion that MOP was pretty stable stuff and fairly rigid/brittle too. The wedge on my MOP Dovo is thick with hardly any visible taper to it when compared to other razors. It all makes perfect sense now. Thanks Jamie.

Bob