Thread: What are you working on?

Originally Posted by xiaotuzi

You do some incredible repairs on scales, Mike. Sheesh! I notice those have that odd "hidden" pin in the on the wedge end. I've had one or two with that, still don't know the purpose. That blade is in great shape for it's age, usually you see them honed so much the heel end dips way in.

Tom, that razor is looking great! I can't see anything wrong with it, we are our own harshest critics. Yeah, I do a lot of thicker blades for heavy restorations but I still do a good share of thinner grinds too. Just can't take away much steel from the thinner ones, I get nervous of it! And like B52 said, integrity of the geometry is key. And usually the tale of that will be told in the bevel.

Well-Said, Tuzi. I think the extra pin was to keep the wedge from rotating. That causes wear and they tried to avoid it, I suppose?
Mike will do a stand-up job, I would bet!

These thin ones bend if you sand too hard. You miss more than you get with any pressure at all. I avoided the stabilizer and belly 95% of the time. I went to 1200.
In retrospect, I suppose a much narrower sanding hose is in order.
Think I went too far. It looked better at 1000 and I could not find any 800 around.
800 might be the trick. I dunno. It shows too much crap where I am.
I might do something else. About out of blade here!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I might do something else. About out of blade here!

How about pinning it up and shaving with it? New Year's shave is almost here you know.

Meh....I have something almost practically perfect all ready!
Need to sort this a bit more.

Got the back side pretty clean.!
Steel wool,a rag, and some 3M. Plenty of pits and spit, but not bad for an ol girl.

Mike/outback,

What kind of prep are you using before the Bakelite dust and Super Glue? Also, are you building layers to fill the bug holes?

Maybe a pictorial could be made next time and see if it could be added to the Library. Just a thought

Originally Posted by cudarunner

Mike/outback,

What kind of prep are you using before the Bakelite dust and Super Glue? Also, are you building layers to fill the bug holes?

Maybe a pictorial could be made next time and see if it could be added to the Library. Just a thought

Once I have the scales separated, I start with a strong degreaser/ cleaner spray, like simple green or my favorite, Shout laundry spray. Let that soak for a few minutes then scrub with old toothbrush, rinse with hot water. Heat and flatten the scales, then wipe them down with denatured alcohol.
At this point I use really thin CA, and fix the areas that are delaminating.(Horn) Then tape the outside of the scales with scotch tape, to produce a makeshift mold of the scales, so the CA won't flow out of the bug bites.
I then fill the holes with thick CA and add a bit of Bakelite dust and stir it in with a toothpick, let dry naturally.

These scales look to be honey horn, with brown streaks.
More mottled than streaks, so a little Bakelite at a time to try and blend it to existing colors. Once dry, all gets sanded till smooth and symmetrical again, then into the oil they go. I got my fingers crossed, we'll see how well they come out, once their done in the oil and polished again.

Great method, Mike, thanks for sharing. We've seen you fix up some scales that, at first glance, you'd think they were way beyond hope. It's really amazing what you are able to accomplish to save original scales.

Originally Posted by xiaotuzi

Great method, Mike, thanks for sharing. We've seen you fix up some scales that, at first glance, you'd think they were way beyond hope. It's really amazing what you are able to accomplish to save original scales.

Probably could have saved the scales from your Greaves, if I would have seen them before you started. Holler, next time. I'm always up for a challenge. Helps me learn to do better repairs. Horn has to be the coolest material I've worked with, but the hardest to make perfect looking.

Always a spot of delamination, that the CA never reached.
Colors in the CA or epoxy are too lite or dark, it doesn't match the shine that the horn has. ect.ect. But thats the fun of it, not knowing what its going to look like, till after its oil bath, maybe a good steel wooling, and polishing.

Then you can see what you should have done.

If I don't like the outcome, of these scales, I may have to buy some hair dye. Black.! Yep...paint um, and hide it.

This is as clean as I'm going to get it, by hand.
I've spent over 6 hrs just cleaning the blade, two sessions of at least 3 hrs.

The use of steel wool and 3M for the grunt work, then a rag with 3M. I'm ready to go hitch hiking.





Being the scales are thin, and the oil has been kept warm, I might be able to pull them out sooner than I thought. Possibility it might make it for a New Years SOTD.! , or sometime next year.....

Mike I am hoping that you are going to do a faux patina on that old girl. She would look very nice all grey and black. Some bluing perhaps?