Thread: What are you working on?

Here is a razor I picked up recently. Someone helped out by sanding the blade on both sides with 100 grit paper (Guessing). Shumate's Trusty. Covered tang, 11/16, full hollow, very little hone wear. Here is the face of the blade that shows what someone did, and the back side after an hour on my bench pouring elbow grease onto it. LOL. Only have time for one side tonight. Nice reflection and no more scratches on the back side.

Originally Posted by Gasman

Here is a razor I picked up recently. Someone helped out by sanding the blade on both sides with 100 grit paper (Guessing). Shumate's Trusty. Covered tang, 11/16, full hollow, very little hone wear. Here is the face of the blade that shows what someone did, and the back side after an hour on my bench pouring elbow grease onto it. LOL. Only have time for one side tonight. Nice reflection and no more scratches on the back side.

Nice work. You wonder what people think sometimes.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

Nice work. You wonder what people think sometimes.

Well, people use what they have at home.

Originally Posted by Gasman

I made this box today for my first Jnat. Maple. Should look very nice after a Semi-Gloss clear coat. Sorry for the fuzzy pic.]

BTW, I saved a nice size piece of this Maple to make scales from. Should be a nice look.

That looks like flamed maple, Jerry.

A couple of W&B razor for the to be honed box.

Couldn't say what kinda Maple it is. I bought it in Board Feet at Home Depot. Was surprised when I saw it. Looked like stuff I'd pay hi bucks for. Ha. Today I got the magnets mounted in two boxes, finished sanding them and if I feel up to it I might get the first coat of clear put on. I have a can that has been mixed with thinner so it soaks in and goes on as a base coat.

Nice blades Rez. The patina looks good!

BTW, My next and last two boxes for a while will be made out of this. Does anyone know what it is? It's as heavy as a rock and Hard! I was told Lyptus, but I'm just not sure.

Well according to my friend google, lyptus is a cross of two different eucalyptus trees. So heavy and dense fits the bill. I used to split it for a firewood company at one point. It’s brutal.

Got it pinned up last night and finished the pin and wedge polish this afternoon. Next is the stones and a test shave.

After cutting out the scales with a band saw I chose to do the rest of the shaping with a file and scraper. I started with just a rectangular scraper and thought a curved one would help keep a more consistent shape when rounding the outside. If you want to try a scraper you can make a workable version from an old hacksaw blade in a few minutes with a dremel and file. I did this to test my shaping theory and just wrapped the "handle" with some old duct tape. It's functional and worked well enough that I picked up some purpose built scrapers with better steel. The better steel holds the burr much longer and cuts cleaner than the old saw blade. If you haven't used a scraper give it a try. My experience has been it removes material like 80 or 100 grit and leaves a finish similar to 400 grit.

The scrapers and file and a closer view of the saw blade scraper


I only hit the blade with steel wool and polish leaving a bit of devil's spit. I sanded the horn scales to 2000 and replaced the collars (failed to save the originals) with some of ajkenne's steel domes. It closes a little to one side, but doesn't hit the scales. Overall I'm pleased with how this came out after a few head whacking moments of my own creation. Due to a couple of small chips along the edge it might be a bit before I get to the test shave, but get there I will. Here's a few photos.

Front open and closed


Back open and the wedge end

Lots of progress there, JJ-Nice looking result, and making your own scrapers-very DIY! AJ's collars are highly-regarded around here. You can bread-knife those chips out on a DMT or low-grit hone if you're careful.