Thread: What are you working on?

Started working on this kamisori today. I know enough to assume that Azuma might not be the maker even though the handle says so. But I'm not an expert in any way of even basic understanding of kanji.


The handle shattered as soon as I put some pressure on it with the razor knife.
After some wet sanding.


Still have a bit more sanding and polishing to go, but so far it seems to be going easier than I thought.

Here are some salvaged ivory scales, both spent considerable time in peroxide, couldn't get all the stains off, and the black cracks persist. Still need to do crack and chip repair. (Pics don't show).
I have a couple questions..
1. How to remove the black cracks?
2. I put one of them in mineral oil already. Should I remove it somehow?.. Before thin CA on cracks and chips?

Outback suggested talc with CA for chip repair, not sure if he tested it out yet, I'm gonna try that out, along with the fiberglass liner he has shown many times here.

A few finished pics......Nice and tight.



Balances on an SE blade about right there....



And my favorite feature....'Mr. Crabs', whose first name is...
You guessed it! Tom!





Carry-on, Gents...My honing pile seems deep..

Spent a little more time, but not much, polishing it up a bit more. Took her to the hones and just had a test shave. It shaves wonderfully, but I might have to wrap it as it got a little slippery at times. Overall, I'm impressed by the razor, who ever made it.

I know nothing of kamis, so I will not be able to say much about that project other than I am surprised as to how quickly it seems that the hone wear seems to have disappeared.

The ivory scales are looking much better. I tend to only whiten them as much as needed to make the sides match. The chip seems quite small and not easy to see once pinned and simply filling with CA may mask its existence.
Beautiful job on fing a great blade to go with those scales Tom. I am pretty happy that you are so tickled with that set. The finished job looks spectacular. I’m glad they are ready for their photo debute and into action.
I have been busy with my honey do list and some basic shop chores. I am glad to see such great production around here.

Wrap it and use it.

Whoever made it would take that as the biggest compliment!

Originally Posted by RezDog

I know nothing of kamis, so I will not be able to say much about that project other than I am surprised as to how quickly it seems that the hone wear seems to have disappeared.

The hone wear wasn't nearly as bad as it looks in the pictures, though I did have to do a little honing gymnastics to get the bevel more even.

I haven't had the time to go back and catch-up on this thread, but I had a strong suspicion that it was you Shaun who made those scales, excellent work!
I've been nervous to try scrimshaw, though my hands are quite skilled, I am always stopped at the creation of the artwork.
Top notch work on putting those together Tom, as usual of course.

That Kami looks great! I've never used one, some day perhaps.

Thanks for the suggestion Shaun, you just made me realize something.. I had "both" scales soaking! .. Should have soaked the darker one longer.

I think I should remove the mineral oil before CA work. If so with what?

Soaking the darker one longer will get them to be a closer match. I have have luck getting the oils off of horn and bone with aceton. I have not tried to get the oils out of ivory though, I’m usually trying to get it in most of the time.

Something like acetone/nail polish remover or even naptha/lighter fluid should get the oil out of the cracks, I think?