Survey: to keep going, or not?

So, yesterday I picked up, inter alia, this Wade & Butcher. I proceeded to remove the busted up scales, and gently begin taking off some of the years of neglect. Here's the question:

Should I keep going and get it cleaner?

Or,

Should I just buff it out and polish it as is?

So, what would you prefer, and why? Getting it cleaner would mean more hand sanding. I plan to finish it out with micarta scales with nickel silver pins/ss washers.

Looking forward to your thoughts!
Attachment 166554Attachment 166555

Personally, if the pitting is not too deep and you don't risk wiping out any stampings I hand sand her down to whatever final polish you want. If left as is and fitted with spanking new scales it might look a bit of a mismatch.

Bob

Thanks Bob! Here are a few more photos in the light this morning:

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That looks nice. Is there actually pitting on that blade ? I can see there may be some around the pivot hole
but that shouldn't affect the stamp. If that were mine, I'd put some Mothers Mag polish on first and then
clean with my dremel and a wire wheel before starting with the wet'n'dry.
That's a nice, full blade you have there !!

Hmm... If I was cleaning it up for myself I would probably hit it with a little more sandpaper. Not saying you need to remove all signs of pitting, but maybe knock it back a bit. You can always give it a good polish and see what the end result is. It's easy to do a little bit more and a re-polish. BTW, really love the spine on that one.

My thoughts are if you are going for bling appeal then polish it to a high gloss, if you are going for this is truly an antique look, stop at or near where you are, but use more traditional scale material. I have not yet figured out how to get a new set of dark horn scales to look like they are old, but the experiments continue. I have figured out if you take them to a high gloss finish and then soak them for a couple of days in oven cleaner, you can chemically reduce the finish. It becomes a satin that looks closer to antique than anything else I have tried. I'm not sure that an old looking blade in a shiny set of micarta scales is going to look right.

JMHO, but if you start, you should finish...

Pun intended

With that much pitting you might want to start thinking Satin also..

Okay, I think I agree with you (but the voting is still open!) as an aside, how would you recommend a satin finish on this? [insert appropriate link to thread already covering this question]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

JMHO, but if you start, you should finish...

Pun intended

With that much pitting you might want to start thinking Satin also..

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by RezDog

...I have not yet figured out how to get a new set of dark horn scales to look like they are old, but the experiments continue...

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I think I have that one covered! Just leave them in your pants pocket and let them go into the washing machine, followed by the tumble drier. Causes a very 'distressed' look and a remarkable amount of bending.

It could be a hazardous process though - for instance it results in hair loss and severe contusions of the forehead as you pull your hair out and bang your head on the wall when you see what you have done.

Regards,
Neil

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neil Miller

I think I have that one covered! Just leave them in your pants pocket and let them go into the washing machine, followed by the tumble drier. Causes a very 'distressed' look and a remarkable amount of bending.

It could be a hazardous process though - for instance it results in hair loss and severe contusions of the forehead as you pull your hair out and bang your head on the wall when you see what you have done.

Regards,
Neil

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Ah, I see you have been experimenting too. If you get any great success please feel free to share.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...in-finish.html

I'm with RezDog: I definitely prefer an antique appearance over a mirror finish that lacks character IMHO.

Is that spine pattern original?

I vote go shiny! :)

Yes. As far as I can tell, the pattern was popular for a brief period, often, the scallops would have an engraving or etching in them. Also, a number of the ones I have seen had an etching on the blade face. This one however does not appear to have ever been re-ground, and I found no traces of any engraving or etching on the scallops or face. Pretty neat razor though! excited to get it all cleaned up. I am leaning toward getting the shine on it and taking care of the rest of the pitting (no offense Kevin, I know you like the antique look).

For my tastes, you are just about done, maybe more buffing/polishing.

Great razor!!!

For me that is an easy one. When the patina is that "Uneven" for lack of a better word, that mean sand to about 600 grit and then polish however you see fit for a nice satin look. If it had a nice even patina to start I would have left it alone. In your shoes, I would be all over that with an even satin finish.

Update: I know it's been a while, but this internship has been keeping me busy! Here it is, as of tonight:

Attachment 170960

For those interested, this is just after 80grit greaseless. Nothing else. Yet. :)

Surelythat is enough, shiney without being mirror, i like it as is.

At first I thought leave it as is, but now you have cleaned it up, I think the blade looks real nice and I would now set it in some sympathetic looking scales.

Polish to a real mirror finish or not????

Nice, scale her up and let us know how she shaves!

Great job so far. It's hard to keep the edges still looking sharp when using 80 grit greaseless. Yours looks great. I would vote for a nice satin finish. I read somewhere on here that you take it up to a high final polish to get all of the obvious scratches out and then go to a 600 grit or emery compound for the satin look. I tried it on my rusted red deathe experiment and was pretty happy with it.

Well, I know its been a while, but I finally got it done! Here is it, with its new ebony scales I've been working on this week:

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Beautiful job Joel,,,,,, :tu

What a difference,,,,,,

Ready for the next 120 years of service. Very nice.

well done! it must have taken a good few hours worth of sanding

Absolutely beautiful! Great work!

Alright, finally for the goal - how did it shave:

Last night, again during the football game, I honed up this razor. I had to spend considerable time creating a bevel. Obviously being a very near wedge, and having removed a fair amount of material over the entirety of the blade during restoration there was no edge on it whatsoever. I started taped on my DMT coarse (250 grit) until I had uniform "pocket knife sharp" as Lynn would say. because of the significant material removal, I wanted to make as small of a bevel as possible so I used 4 layers, yes, four (4). I then moved up to my Norton 1k, 4k, and 8k. I couldn't believe how many re-tapes I had to do, and I'm thankful for Glen's reminder in a video I watched a while ago saying that tape is cheap. I finally moved up to my Naniwa 12k, then numerous (25) laps on cr0x pasted linen, then about 200 laps on my latest homemade strop. I then put it away for the night and went to bed.

Got up this morning, and was super excited to try this razor's first shave. I used Prorasso green, best badger brush, and my converted onion bowl scuttle. Lathered up, and started with my cheeks - with the grain BBS 1 pass. Moved onto my neck (currently growing a beard at the request of my wife) and went WTG and then re-lathered and ATG. BBS and no irritation. Used an alum block afterward and it didn't even feel like I had just shaved! Seriously smooth and NO irritation.

What a JOY! I've had a great time on this razor's particular journey and this morning's shave was just a wonderful way to culminate the process.

Congrats, Joel! A shave well deserved for all your work!

Congrats indeed! Nice save.

Sounds like a new favorite razor. Congrats and thanks for the update!

Now that's shinnier that a diamond in a goats azzzzz....to quote a fellow member, which means I love it...looks shiny enough to see my nose hairs, which is perfect.

Personally, I prefer a blade with all that dirt, gunk and dried hair mixed with old shaving soap....ohhh...sorry, "patina" :rolleyes:........ removed completely...besides, it's better for the razor anyhow.

Great job, love it! ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Now that's shinnier that a diamond in a goats azzzzz....

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After reading this I must admit that I examined a passing goats azzzz to ascertain whether or not it had a diamond up it. Easy money, I thought...

I am writing this from my hospital bed, sporting a splendid small horseshoe mark imprinted deeply in my forehead. Should bring me luck, the nurses say...

To any of my fellow SRPers who have wondered where goats keep their riches, keep away from their nether regions I say, as they are apt to take things a bit personally.

I know. I am that soldier.

Regards,
Neil

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neil Miller

After reading this I must admit that I examined a passing goats azzzz to ascertain whether or not it had a diamond up it. Easy money, I thought...

I am writing this from my hospital bed, sporting a splendid small horseshoe mark imprinted deeply in my forehead. Should bring me luck, the nurses say...

To any of my fellow SRPers who have wondered where goats keep their riches, keep away from their nether regions I say, as they are apt to take things a bit personally.

I know. I am that soldier.

Regards,
Neil

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Neil! Mate, my prayers are with ye! Get outa there! :eek:
Regards,
Tom

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Now that's shinnier that a diamond in a goats azzzzz....to quote a fellow member, which means I love it...looks shiny enough to see my nose hairs, which is perfect.

Personally, I prefer a blade with all that dirt, gunk and dried hair mixed with old shaving soap....ohhh...sorry, "patina" :rolleyes:........ removed completely...besides, it's better for the razor anyhow.

Great job, love it! ;)

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I'm not so sure about the goat thing but I agree with having all of the rust old soap or patina as you put it removed fully. I like my razors restored like I like my cars restored. Shiny!

Great work Joel.
I'm restoring a couple now and have been watching this and other restore threads with some interest.
Fine line when it comes to old blades between restored, or polished to death as I am learning.
Finally put together a proper buffing wheel kit so am experimenting with 80-180 grit compounds on some deeply pitted blades.
Definitely, based on your results, I am taking the ones I'm working on down a bit more..
Nice work on those ebony scales to BTW..
Cheers.