I remember a British snooker champ who had large lens glasses that looked like they were upside down. Guess he was ahead of his time.
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I remember a British snooker champ who had large lens glasses that looked like they were upside down. Guess he was ahead of his time.
Attachment 307544
Looks like he just switched the bows from one side to the other.....
I had a Harbor Freight magnifying visor, and while it seemed great when I first got it, with its multi multiplying, I quickly came to hate it, as it was poorly fitting, and uncomfortable to wear for extended periods, and the "tip up visor" feature was useless, as when you tilted it up, it would dig into my forhead rather than go up over my head, and fall back in front of my eyes. So it was either on and in front of my eyes, or take it off every other minute I needed to look up. Well worth paying more for a better pair in my meaningless opinion
Don't belittle your opinion!Quote:
Originally Posted by Magpie
I may have to invest in some of these magnifiers myself, gents-blind as a bat all my life, and it just gets worse with age as you guys know. In other news, I've got 3 rescales in progress, and loads of wood and naked blades in the cue waiting. Monday is our last day of school, so I should have a few done in the next week or two:
1. Luaterjung in bone with brass hardware-this one is shaping up to be really sexy!
2. Wostenholm IXL in cocobolo and (probably) brass. I just polished the scales up to 2000, buffed on loose cotton with Fabuluster, and finished by buffing in a few coats of Renaissance Wax-I'll post pics when it's finished.
3. WM Elliott in African Blackwood-still deciding on appointments. I'm gonna try a Mike/Jerry Tru-Oil finish on this one unless it's just too oily and resinous to take it up-it is in the Dalbergia/Rosewood family, after all (though I have seen numerous Tru Oil over AB finishes online, YouTube, etc., and they are gorgeous!).
I've been in the shop about all day, and I'm just whooped, but in a good way!
Well fellas, As far as eyewear goes, I have progressive bifocals & I love them. Like petercp4e said, they take a little getting used to ( a day or 2) but when you do, they're great. I can tell I'm overdue for an eye exam, my prescription has changed a little. I have an eye loupe that clamps onto my eyeglasses also like when I'm piddling with pocket watches, there are some tiny screws that are smaller than a flea.
I've been in the garage trying to move or get rid of some lightweight stuff for now. My back is a little better. I'll be working on my 100th anniversary Dyna soon. It's torn apart & when I went to order a new frame last December, I got the bad news a few weeks later. They (the Motor Company) wouldn't sell me a new frame ever since they stopped making the Dyna's & I called the dealerships 3-4 times to make sure it was available because ya have to cut the neck off (the part with the vin) before they will send a new frame with the same vin numbers. I called before a couple times plus before I cut the neck plus before a buddy & I went to the dealership to order it. Since they stopped making the Dyna's completely last year, no more frames! No problem though, I got an '03 frame off the bay & will have some frame people cut it & weld the neck from mine onto it. The guy wanted $500 or make offer & he asked if I had a business to ship to & I said yes, Mancuso's Crossroads Harley Davidson & he replied $375 shipped. SOLD! it wasn't the dealerships fault about the new frame. Some yuppie at the factory didn't update the parts system online which only dealerships have access to. A good chunk of the mess in my garage is my Dyna torn apart. I can't wait to have the wind in my face again.
Have to get our 2.5yo ready for her first day of school tomorrow.
I don't think I'm going to be ready though.:cry:
The first time of many that you have to let them out on their own and not in your control.......Quote:
Originally Posted by JP5
Spent the weekend moving my youngest daughter out and into her first apartment.
I was ready. So was she. :D
Yeah, my daughter is usually really independent so she is fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by sharptonn
The preschool is in a suite downstairs from my office so she isn't too far. :)
I'll probably listen to 'You're Gonna Miss This' a few times today.
My MIL will probably enjoy the break for a few days then get bored not having a little girl to chase around.
Wooo hooo here first boomerang outing.Quote:
Originally Posted by sharptonn
I have one boomerang at home right now.
Me Too! :(
Reminds me of the Office Depot commercial in which the kid is moving out to go to school and dad says, “Your mother is too upset to come down and see you off”. Meanwhile she’s measuring the newly vacant room to see if the hot tub will fit.
I guess if I was a bird I would be the one shoving them out of the nest.
After 37 years of this dad stuff, I need to look after ME.
I want them to be able to take care of themselves. Dad won't always be around, you know..
Just letting y'all know, you're a bunch of enablers...and I couldn't be happier! :rofl2:
Attachment 307625
Looks like an Imperial stormtrooper helmet. :jedi:
It was definitely one of the more stylish visors on Amazon.Quote:
Originally Posted by DZEC
Son bought me these upgrades from amazon.
Having had the traditional jeweler set for years, I love the way these fit. Strap or glasses arms, and the lenses stay in firmly.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01...ENT2J3GDAQY0XV
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Cheers.
I like the built in light.
Thanks for the info Mike, I would like to try those out. I have my second set of Optivisor's number 5 on the way, My first pair are going into my mobile unit for on-site guitar repairs.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeB52
Attachment 307644
So I just put on Tru-Oil coat #6 over African Blackwood scales. I'm following your instructions to the letter, Mike. I even have the Howard's Restore a Shine and the Jubilee Floor Wax ready for the finishing rub-in. I look forward to the results; it's wonderful stuff to work with-very easy to rub-in and rub-off the excess for each coat!
Drying in the sun-very quick in the hot dry breezes lately! I hope it brings out the red in that front/show scale!
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I'm surprised the grain is still visible, after six coats.
I had a tough time with True Oil and the blackwood, and ends up using a water based, acrylic.
Another done with high grit sanding, and rubbed out with Howards Restore A Shine.
It was very dense, and oily.
Hope yours comes out for ya, I've wanted to see it with Tru Oil, on it. Should highlight that wonderful grain and color.
Remember.. Give it two days drying after the last coat, then the steel wool, Howards, Jubilee.
Any soft spots, and the steel wool will tell you with a vengeance. Gotts ta be totally dry.!! :nj
Got it, Mike-I've got too much work in this set to blow it on the final finish; I know that patience is key-And I'm also a little surprised at the grain still showing too, though if you were to see this piece up close, it has a lot of little squiggly open grain lines that my lousy Iphone pics don't show. At any rate, I sanded up to 600, did a thorough initial 50/50 wash-coat to start-I mean, I really kept rubbing it in until it got too sticky to work. I did a full-strength wet-sand step with Tru Oil at 800 and 1 at 1200, really working the mud into the pores. In any event, it looks way better in person, and I think will finish just fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by outback
As for oily, I know it's a Dalbergia, so worked it over real good with acetone on a rag, then 91% isopropyl alchohol to be sure I got most of the surface oils out. I have heard of baths in denatured alcohol, but that didn't seem necessary, and every coat has dried quickly and tack-free. I have high hopes for the final finish, as the blade that will sit in them is just gorgeous, very angular and commanding like I tried to shape the scales-we'll see.
In contrast, the cocobolo scales I've got progressing for another build are so oily, I didn't even try. I have just sanded them and polished them up with Fabuluster, and then buffed in several coats of Renaissance Wax:
Attachment 307674
Prettiest wood finish I've ever gotten, I think, and it's not even a "real" finish-I love the Rosewood family! I'm also loving the Renaissance Wax. I just got my 1st tub, and I'm slowly protecting my entire collection as I put the next one in my rotation away. If it's good enough for the British Museum...
edit: Oh, and I've got a smaller, smilin' Wosty IXL going in these. It should be a real looker with brass hardware, I'm thinking.
That wax coating looks very nice. I haven't tried it yet. The Tru-oil can be tricky, but after you have done a few sets it gets easier. Love the stuff. BTW, i found storing the bottles upside down keeps it from making a skin in the bottle. Just be sure its closed tight.
Jerry-Just get a blank of any Dalbergia (rosewood, coco, etc.), and it will work. Sand/polish up to about 2 to 3k, and polish with a buffing wheel. I use Fabuluster because it works on everything really, but probably many other polishes or compounds would work. A few coats of wax buffed in, and you will have a gorgeous finish that seems to glow from within-both satiny AND glossy if that makes sense (without that "plastic" look that many don't like). Ebony will work this way, as I'm sure Kingwood and Lignum Vitae or any equally dense tropical wood would.
It's really easy with the right wood; probably best to always let the wood tell you what it wants for a finish?:hmmm:
Yes. Ebony. ( black n white ). Will shine up as you speak.
High grit sanded, steel wooled, Howards and Jubilee.
Attachment 307684
WOW! WOW! WOW!Quote:
Originally Posted by outback
Good to know, Mike, as I'm gonna be doing a very distinctive blade I've got coming in that Gaboon Ebony blank below. I just got back from my knife-making friend's house with the Red Mallee Burl blanks he stabilized for me, also in the pic:Quote:
Originally Posted by outback
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Continuing, he recently got a massive Grizzly 14-inch bandsaw, and is cutting me perfect 1/8" blanks just so he can play with his saw lol! I left him with some rosewood planks and a nice bottle of Woodford Reserve, and also came home with these:
Katalox and English Walnut:
Attachment 307689
Desert Ironwood and Bastogne Walnut
Attachment 307690
As an added bonus, my Cook Woods order was here when I got home:
Claro Walnut and more African Blackwood (both coated in wax). They wanted a $35 setup fee to cut these turning blanks. Nope-back to my buddy's house and the giant bandsaw!
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I told you guys this is going to be the summer of wood! More later-Aaron
That is some stunning wood Aaron!
I can't wait to see what lies in store scalewise.
Pete <:-}
Truely some nice stuff.
And he's working on even more. He showed me a big block of birds-eye black cherry burl he stabilized; he's going to cut me some slices of that. Another bonus is that he's going to take back some knife-making tools that my son no longer uses, and trade me his old stabilizing tank setup with vacum pump so that I can stabilize my own blanks as needed.
I have 99% vintage straights none have wood scales so I use horn or bone scales when I do make new scales.
I have vintage blades with vintage wood scales. All but one do look home made or "custom".Quote:
Originally Posted by Slawman
They repaired with what they had! Not many people in the world now or then have access to a slab of ivory.
I think many others think like I do that the scales of a razor in many ways are an easily broken and replaceable part. Therefore make new ones with what you have and or like.
I love new old stock originals but if the scales are broken put what you want or like on them.
The heart of the razor is in the blade.
It isn't hard to repin different ones on if you or the next owner desire.
"I love new old stock originals but if the scales are broken put what you want or like on them.
The heart of the razor is in the blade.
It isn't hard to repin different ones on if you or the next owner desire."
"The heart of the razor is in the blade"-Great way of putting it; I'm mostly with Tim on this one. Almost all of my collection are vintage too, though I mostly buy un-scaled restoration blade lots these days. And yeah, a well-done original restore in horn/bone/ivory on an old Sheffield, like say one of Outback Mike's or Karl's, is a beautiful thing, and I know not everyone appreciates a 150-year old blade sitting in extravagant paua abalone, exotic wood, or other non-traditional scales. I just enjoy taking those old beauties and putting my own spin on them some times. Plus I get bored very easily, and was kind of tired of horn (at least for now), and just finished up only my 2nd razor in bone-time to switch things up (for me anyway). YMMV as always.
Wow! all of that wood looks amazing. :dropjaw: I'd have to pick the mallee burl as a favorite though. Can't wait to see them next to a solid piece of steel. Nice set up with your friend, looks like you're going to have a creative summer.Quote:
Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad
I agree 100%-it's next in the queue in fact!Quote:
Originally Posted by JellyJar
Nice selection of wood A-A-Ron.
I too work primarily in bone and horn, but I do love the wood stuff that has gone on here.
Repairs made as a means of necessity is obvious at times. I have a Torrey with a black horn front scale and a perfectly matched oak back scale. It was absolutely a make shift repair job, and I have not changed that. I did repin it but I could not get rid of those scales.
