A diary of a restoration...

OK, this is one of my first restoration attempts. It's a heavy-grind 6/8 marked "Military" on the shank. It's rusted around the pivot and stained all over the place. I'm planning to work on it this week and post updated photos as I progress through. I just got Bill's CD, too, so this should be interesting.

First thing I plan to do is drill out the pin. I wrap electrical tape around the scales to protect them, since I'll be reusing them, and start with a very small bit. I'll go really slowly with that in my hand-held drill to scratch the brass and start a hole, then I'll go to a bigger bit that chews off the head of the pin. Then the whole thing pops apart. I've done several razors this way without cracking or scratching a scale. It just takes patience and a few minutes of extra time.

I really like the pattern on the razor's spine. I'm hoping to preserve that as much as possible.

Later,
Josh

eeewwww...

that is one neglected razor!

Break out the 400grit :eek:

I'm hoping 120 will do the job on this one :eek: Depending on how deep the pitting is, it may even need a re-grind.

You're both right--this is one nasty razor. I picked it because a.) it's junk, so I won't care if I ruin it, and b.) I wanted to show how big of a difference the restoration process makes.

I started working on it last night. Of course, I spoke too soon on the "never damaged a scale" thing. I drilled the pin without any problems, but it wouldn't come out. I had to pry the scales apart near the pivot, and when the pin finally let go I snapped the scale at the butt pin. :gth Fortunately I have a set of scales that will fit--they're actually from a matching razor--so we'll pretend this whole thing never happened. :)

I used a wire brush wheel on my Dremel, set to 2 or 3, to clean off the rust. Next time I'll wear a mask, since I ended up blowing some rust dust out of my nose... Yuck. Rust also stinks, I found out.

I'm attaching photos of the razor after this cleaning.

Then I strapped on my 160-grit flap wheels and worked for about 20 minutes on the tang, shank and spine. There's no way this pitting is coming out--it's the deepest I've seen. I'll settle for just cleaning it out and polishing the flat parts.

I should be getting more flap wheels from Widget Supply today. My current one I paid $6.95 for at Home Depot--highway robbery, but I was impatient. :D

That's all for now.

Josh

The pitting damage is extensive, but now that the active corrosion has been cleaned up, it looks like you could at least make a beginner sale piece for it or make it beautiful but really thin out the tang and lose the logo.

I think I'll make it a beginner piece and sell it for around $25. :) It's not worth the hours it would take with the flap wheels. Maybe if I had Bill's Burr King...

Josh

That is some power pitting. Looks like regrind city to me with all that pitting near the edge.

Josh -
Also, what's up with the discoloration on the heel of the blade?

http://straightrazorpalace.com/attac...1&d=1174056656

In the pictures, it looks like a diagonal wedge at the heel is lighter in color than the rest of the blade......do you maybe have some temper issues?

















THEN SEE A PSYCHIATRIST!!!!
:roflmao:roflmao:roflmao:roflmao:roflmao

(...damn!...I just crack my self up!...whooeeeee!)

-whatever

-Lou

Respect for taking that on!!! But great to see the transformation taking shape. Looking forward to the finished piece

I'm having second thoughts, myself. :)

I've actually gotten sidetracked on two nicer razors that might be appearing in the FS forum soon... That, and I'm remodling our new house... :)

Josh

Lou,

I'm not sure what's up with that discoloration. I tend to reserve judgment on discolored spots until after I polish them a little. If the discoloration didn't go away, I think you'd be right about the steel being toast. We shall see...

Josh

Yeah, Josh...when I looked at that blade, I wondered if it had been through a fire....but the scales looked fine....although, it could have been re-scaled....I'd be interested to see how it cleans up.

-good luck with the house...they're NEVER done!

-whatever

-Lou