Thread: What are you working on?

Off topic again but this was cutting edge back in the day.............

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFWtsT5zRKo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5ZJui3aPoQ

Better yet!

Now back to our regular scheduled programming.

I started using olive oil about a year ago, because Neetsfoot and Ballistol was difficult to find locally, (I buy Ballistol online) and I saw a post from Don Gonzales, a renown saddle maker and leather tooling artist.

He said he switched to Olive oil when he noticed that the formulation of Neetsfoot oil had changed and he was having issues with even application of the oil he was able to source.

He now uses Pomace Olive oil; Pomace is the oil that is the bottom of the barrel that is sourced when the pressing machinery is cleaned out. It is still food grade, but some folks say is contains other oils and solvents use to clean. These are cooking folks who are concerned with food taste or “olive oil” purist.

It may be that Pomace may penetrate a bit better because of the solvents. Gonzales says he has not noticed any problems with the solvents in it and uses it to finish oil all the leather coming out of his shop, and he also oils and rehydrates customer’s leather work from the recent storms in Texas.

Gonzales buys Pomace by the Gallon case from a local restaurant supply, and specifically buys Pomace, because of the price.

Here are a couple post on Oiling and Leather Care from Don Gonzales

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKzrSe6jlG0

https://dgsaddlery.com/category/leather-care/

So I got a rough sanding on the scales for the Christiensen...



Then did some rough shaping...



and sanded smooth down to 800. I guess I'm not getting any more takers on the poll about the inclusions.

So before when I have filled them it looked like an inclusion that's been filled and to me that looks fake. My concern has been that if I were to sell a razor with these scales on them that someone seeing it might think that they were broken when in actuality these are natural occurrences in the wood. That chance I am willing to take because it actually looks better without them being filled. It looks like weatherization and that is the charm of it. As far as weakening the wood. You almost have to work with this wood to appreciate it but that's not really a concern. This stuff is so hard it will smoke a carbide saw blade. It's very difficult to work with because of the density and hardness of it. Again that's a chance I'm willing to take.

Originally Posted by MikeB52

My wife says the point of no return is when me undies look like this..
Attachment 317250


Regarding the soaking, remember to roll the belt flat often as it dries with a glass bottle and board..

It's good to have fabric that breathes, but dang!

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

...
I guess I'm not getting any more takers on the poll about the inclusions.

...

I have been thinking about this, within the larger discussion on the conservation/restoration/repair/salvage continuum, and how to come up with a consistent methodology and whether it even matters.

With your scales, if you like the feature, and it doesn't affect strength, just leave them. I wouldn't worry about a prospective buyer either, if your aesthetic is coherent and considered, most buyers will see that, I would have thought.

Looking forward to seeing how they progress!

Originally Posted by MikeB52

...
Regarding the soaking, remember to roll the belt flat often as it dries with a glass bottle and board..

Could you explain this? I usually work a strop over a piece of stainless pipe.

Many thanks!

Originally Posted by RezDog

The wood looks like it would be a good candidate for a vacuum chamber and stabilizing resin.

It might be but for me the attraction of the wood is it's aged look. I' ll have to go out in the woods and get a picture of the skeletons of the tree that are still standing and post them. The one in particular. It has probably been dead for 150 years and all that is left is the heart that is black and hard as a rock.

Here's a set of scales i made for a blade.only I bought with a tremendous amount of patina. The idea was to give it that ancient look.
Although if you want to try it Shaun I'll send you some blanks and you could give it a go.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

It might be but for me the attraction of the wood is it's aged look. I have to go out in the woods and get a picture of the skeletons of the tree that are still standing. It has probably been dead for 150 years and all that is left is the heart that is black and hard as a rock.

Here's a set of scales i made for a blade.only I bought with a tremendous amount of patina. The idea was to give it that ancient look.
Although if you want to try it Shaun I'll send you some blanks and you could give it a go.

I guess I missed the poll you referenced. Nice looking scales! What type of wood is it?

Originally Posted by JP5

I guess I missed the poll you referenced. Nice looking scales! What type of wood is it?

Southern Live Oak. Like this one.

It was an informal poll. Not an official one. Just asked for opinions.
These trees live to be over 1000 years old. There is one in Louisiana that they say is at least 1500 years old

To give you an idea of the size take a look at this one....

.................................................. .................................................. ...........now zoom in on the trunk.......that's my son.