Thread: What are you working on?

Originally Posted by Euclid440

“The blade face is currently sanded out to a Trizact 1200 grit equivalent. It is a nice looking satin but doesn’t look right for the blade. Not sure how to achieve a glazed finish, maybe one of you guys has some ideas on how to do that?”


Hand sand with a wine cork and 600 Wet & Dry, from 600, 1,000 wet and dry will get you to near mirror, then 2k is close to mirror.

Then Crocus paper for satin or a good metal polish or green stainless compound on a buffer for mirror. Red rouge on a loose wheel will brighten the color further.

Lots of how to in the Library under repair/ restoration or hand sanding & buffing in the Advanced search. I think Mike used a Dremel.

No dremmel, Marty. All hand polished. Lots of time and patience.

Not sure what is going on here, anyone on the board seen this before?



These are the original horn scales from a John Heiffor 'Army' razor. I put them in some warm soapy water to give them a clean - they were filthy - and a layer has started peeling off. Is this a lacquer layer? Or years of dirt? Or just a layer of the horn?

The scales seem to be nice amber horn underneath. The dark layer extends over much of, but not all of the scales. Notably, it is not present where the scales were next to the wedge.

Knowing will help in deciding how to deal with it.

Many thanks!

It looks like dye or colour at coming off. I presume more will be discovered with S good scrubbing.

Originally Posted by RezDog

It looks like dye or colour at coming off. I presume more will be discovered with S good scrubbing.

It does seem like a coloured surface layer. I took the scales out of the the soapy water pending further information. Let's see it it either rubs or sands off. Amber would be much nicer than scruffy brown.

I love the smell of Tru-Oil in the morning!

I was really missing wood, so found this really nice Crown and Sword #3 to put in some English Walnut. I'm about done with the blade, and just did my 1st sanding coat with the TO to try to fill that curly grain a little. This dry windy day should allow me to get some coats laid down and do some drying in between on the deck. I hope smelling this stuff doesn't cause brain damage-I do love the scent of it!

Funny-My fishing buddies asked me to go after muskie in the mountains with them today, but they are freezing to death and getting skunked lol!

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

I love the smell of Tru-Oil in the morning!

I was really missing wood, so found this really nice Crown and Sword #3 to put in some English Walnut. I'm about done with the blade, and just did my 1st sanding coat with the TO to try to fill that curly grain a little. This dry windy day should allow me to get some coats laid down and do some drying in between on the deck. I hope smelling this stuff doesn't cause brain damage-I do love the scent of it!

Funny-My fishing buddies asked me to go after muskie in the mountains with them today, but they are freezing to death and getting skunked lol!

I really like the form of your scales!

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

I love the smell of Tru-Oil in the morning!

That grain is going to look great! Can't wait for the final product.

Originally Posted by schwabenchris

I really like the form of your scales!

Thanks, schwabenchris-To be honest, I sort of copied that style from some of JOB15's scales, or else looking at Brad Maggard's restoration gallery. And both of them got me doing brass-lined wedges too-they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!

The scales are looking good AARon, I can’t help but wonder if that picture is off or if the blade has a pronounced frown?
I have found some lovely mottled scales under dingy black and brown scales. To think they used to dye them all black and cover some really great natural colour.

Originally Posted by RezDog

The scales are looking good AARon, I can’t help but wonder if that picture is off or if the blade has a pronounced frown?
I have found some lovely mottled scales under dingy black and brown scales. To think they used to dye them all black and cover some really great natural colour.

Thanks, Shaun-I saw the same thing and re-checked. No frown lol-it's ruler-straight.