Thread: What are you working on?

Indeed, the 'toy' business is where it's at.

They will spend 5 grand on a Jeep and bitch about 200 bucks on the wife's brakes!

Originally Posted by outback

Well, $200 is enough to keep them off of me, around here.

I've got three guys, that I deal with yearly. Two are close friends since childhood. The other guy manages my investments, and tries to go cheep on me, cause I work fast. There's still that minimum charge of an hour, period. Its just business pal.... I pay you for your services..right!? Well...ain't no different than you know money, as I know combustion engines, and ignition systems.

Ya play, ya pay, or learn to do it yourself, as my pappy taught me.

If everyone understood this philosophy, I think the world would be a better place! People try to take advantage of others just because...

Since I have not worked on a razor in several weeks, I have enjoyed stropping and shaving a lot.
Figured to get a project on the fire to work on as I can.

This is a big old heavy Wm Stenton, 1 1/8 at the widest part of the toe.

I named it Devil Stenton as that was what the workers called him as he strode the boards while cracking the whip for Wostenholm.

Some of his earlier razors were stamped Sheffield, but these later ones were stamped with only his name and 'Again Superior'. A man of mystery, esp as he crossed to New York, some speculate if these were not made by prisoners there.

Anyway, Old Devil Stenton has some pasted-strop wear and a faint Masonic etch.
I won't be doing much to the blade. Scales are toasty with cracks at the pivot on both sides..


I had bribed and shamelessly begged Shaun out of his first set of dyed picbone scales, perfect thin, massive slabs for this big blade.

With my last FBU lead wedge, this spooky monster will be alive again in the coming weeks..

After you're done restoring it Tom, i know a guy who really likes those old large blades

If you had to support that huge chunk of steel for decades you would be cracked too.

Its going to be a nice one Tom. And good job of the scales Shaun. Love your work.

I have been rubbing on it with Mass. I have some black spots. Hate those.
Going to try dabbing some Birchwood Casey's Blue and rust remover there to see if it will lift it out. The whole etch is there, hard to see. I wonder if anything will bring it out.
What's that stuff they brush on custom blades to show the hamon?
Thinking on inducing some patina...

Ferric chloride? Bruno had a post a while back about different etchants for different kinds of steel. At one point Richard had posted about using bluing and then very delicately high grit sandpaper on a very hard backer to gently remove the bluing from only the high spots. Looking good, all cleaned up and ready for some new shoes.

Yeah....Ferric chloride. I had thought about the blue also. Still, this thing has scratches and divots galore. I am NOT sanding on it.........Much?

In theory you are just going to sand it enough to take the bluing off the high spots and leaving it in the low spots, giving a small amount of contrast to showcase the etch better. This is my go to for making dark or black steel. https://jaxchemical.com/shop/jax-iro...kel-blackener/

yeah...16 ounces. Just what I need is 15 3/4 ounces of that on the shelf....
Think I will check with the local gunsmith. Some black bluing?
Mebbe some vinegar........