Thread: What are you working on?

Well, I have finished with razors for a while. Lots of other things need attention.
Pretty chuffed with recent things. Got some shaving to do!

Never thought I would ever have a Snail Forge razor. Now I have 2!

It doesn't surprise me as you like quality and unique things!

Well, thank you, Tim!

Were it not for friends, I certainly would not have them.
Tc gifted me with the orange (juma?) scaled one. Much appreciated!

I provided Bruno with a 'holy grail' antique razor he always wanted and he made the bone-scaled one for me in return.

Pretty neat!

Been tweaking on the collars for the last couple of days. I made them from the nose of 45 cal FMJ bullet jackets. The material is thicker (0.025") than the steel washers (.010-.015") on a WB I've got apart (next one to be completed). With the extra thickness, I was thinking I could get away without a support washer. I had them with a sort of built in washer/skirt but didn't like how thick it looked and couldn't get it circular enough to not see the oval shape. I chased it with calipers and a needle file for a day and a half, but your eye is really good at seeing out of round when it's right next to an actual circle. So change of plans. The "skirt" is gone and I'll put it on an 00 wide brass washer to keep the collar from biting into the scale. I've got them polished up and ready to go - picture below (sorry it's a bit blurry, I got the camera a little close, but you should get the idea). Thanks to Euclid440's sharp eye, I also re-flattened the wedge end on the inside of the scale. I had them flat, but stopped using a sanding block with the higher grits and slightly rounded the corner - all better now. I also picked up a tube of MAAS polish. Had to re-polish the inside of the scales anyway, so I hit it with the MAAS after simichrome. WOW! I see why you guys like that stuff. The simichrome areas looked cloudy next to the MAAS area. So finished them off with the MAAS. I'm hoping to do a final fit and get this pinned up in time for my Sunday straight shave. If I finish it I'll take some more pics and post it in the restores thread.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Well, thank you, Tim!

Were it not for friends, I certainly would not have them.
Tc gifted me with the orange (juma?) scaled one. Much appreciated!

I provided Bruno with a 'holy grail' antique razor he always wanted and he made the bone-scaled one for me in return.

Pretty neat!

I would also say that it seems like your friends are quality and unique!

Originally Posted by JellyJar

Been tweaking on the collars for the last couple of days. I made them from the nose of 45 cal FMJ bullet jackets. The material is thicker (0.025") than the steel washers (.010-.015") on a WB I've got apart (next one to be completed). With the extra thickness, I was thinking I could get away without a support washer. I had them with a sort of built in washer/skirt but didn't like how thick it looked and couldn't get it circular enough to not see the oval shape. I chased it with calipers and a needle file for a day and a half, but your eye is really good at seeing out of round when it's right next to an actual circle. So change of plans. The "skirt" is gone and I'll put it on an 00 wide brass washer to keep the collar from biting into the scale. I've got them polished up and ready to go - picture below (sorry it's a bit blurry, I got the camera a little close, but you should get the idea). Thanks to Euclid440's sharp eye, I also re-flattened the wedge end on the inside of the scale. I had them flat, but stopped using a sanding block with the higher grits and slightly rounded the corner - all better now. I also picked up a tube of MAAS polish. Had to re-polish the inside of the scales anyway, so I hit it with the MAAS after simichrome. WOW! I see why you guys like that stuff. The simichrome areas looked cloudy next to the MAAS area. So finished them off with the MAAS. I'm hoping to do a final fit and get this pinned up in time for my Sunday straight shave. If I finish it I'll take some more pics and post it in the restores thread.

Interesting idea.

Would it have been easier to start off with hollow points?

Pin 'er UP, jelly!

Oh...Get some washers that fill most of the inner collar up.
Onto a flat surface with some 600 or finer and rub it around until your collar and inner washer are the same level.
Good for bone and hard scales.

If horn or softer wood, you can remove the inner washer and sand just the collar a tiny bit. That way as you peen, the inner washer will sink-in a bit as the outer meets the scale.

Originally Posted by 32t

I would also say that it seems like your friends are quality and unique!

Thanks! That includes you as well!
Yeah....Tc ain't done with me yet, I am thinking!

After seeing the finished product, I have to say that I love the look of those collars.
Beautiful job Tom.

Pete <:-}

Originally Posted by petercp4e

After seeing the finished product, I have to say that I love the look of those collars.
Beautiful job Tom.

Pete <:-}

Thanks, Pete. Still, I ain't done. They are tighter, for certain. I can shave them, no issues.
Still, on both I did not get as tight as I wanted although it seemed a sure thing as-peening. I put the hurt on them....
Makes me wonder if the Damascus blade is not chewing-up the brass spacers straightaway?
Perhaps the tang is a naturally good bearing surface?
I know I can get a pivot tight....2 for 2?
It (Damascus)goes around and through the pin-hole.....
Perhaps some epoxy and some pivot washers clamped/adhered on the blade side?