Thread: What are you working on?

Hard Ark? Would that be a translucent? Sure looks fine?

Some old scales I thought were plastic. But then sanding they have a rubber smell but not very strong scent. Now I'm done sanding them and making them look good again and I think they are vulcanized rubber. Maybe. They feel like it anyway and have a nice black color to them.

Got a little reflecting going on.

Some gentle buffer with the white stick will make em like glass!

This is just sanding to 2000 grit, rubbing compound and wax by hand. Just to show them off. I will try and break out the buffer next week as I got a couple aluminum scales from Mike T. that need a little buffing too. I had a Crown razor and picked up another identical one they both need a little more polishing and then to the stones but this is what I got so far on the set. Oh, and I ordered a cheap wood box for them. Hoping it shows up before too long.



Hope I'm doing the scales, Justice Mike!

I just finished up this Ern Ator in sea-green acrylic scales, a malachite wedge made from necklace beads, stainless dome collars and brass pins. The blade had some deep pitting and scratches, and hours of hand-sanding was putting my tang stamps in danger, so I just tried to give it a nice satin finish. As I told Tom, I'm an Ator whore lol! Here' a couple of quick phone pics:


Oh, some of you may know that malachite is dangerous to work with, and a respirator and washing up afterward is absolutely necessary due to the released copper compounds. I read some scary stories on the jeweler's forums.

That is a very pretty razor. How’d you get the acrylic so clear?

Oops, just saw Sharpton’s post. Is that how you did it?

David-That acrylic comes in a clear 1' square 1/8" thick sheet. The trick is to get it all back to glass-like after you are done contouring and beveling the edges (or rounding the whole thing as I want to do on my next set). Also, keeping the glassy areas unscratched while working is a challenge, I'm finding.

After cutting them out with a band-saw, I further shape them on a 50-grit hogging belt on my 2X72" grinder, then start smoothing and contouring, usually on a 400-grit J-flex belt, then a 1k and 2k belt. At this point, I'll really work those edges over on a flat 2500-grit wet-sanding pad on my granite counter. After that 1st hogging belt, I spray my belts with water to cut down heat or any chances of burning or melting, especially with acrylic. And the malachite MUST be worked wet; the dust is very poisonous!

And yes, then I buff them out with a white stick. I have a stick of Fabuluster, so that is what I use. It put an instant polish on the malachite, too, I was pleased to discover

Neat! So how did you make the wedge from necklace beads?

Scouthikerdad, that is amazing work. Didn't know malachite was so toxic. Thanks for including the warning. I have a piece of recon turquoise I want to use eventually.
Scales look like beach glass. You really found a great combination or colors/finishes for that blade.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Hard Ark? Would that be a translucent? Sure looks fine?

Box says hard ark, but it looks like what Dan's might classify it as a trans. Thicker stone and so it doesn't let as much light through. Seems pretty fine. I'm going to to try and burnish it some more. Box says it was mined around Hot Springs, Arkansas.


Dan's Trans Ark with Striations
Smith Hard Ark
Mystery Sheath Stone (ark?)

6 more razors to polish and strop....Taking a break to head out to the grinder/buffer to craft a few snurdlers.