7/8 Half Hollow W&B Restore

This was a surprise project that landed in my lap late last week.
You know how it goes when you find that 'too good to be true' auction and you pull the trigger right?

Anyway, the photos looked pretty good and when the razor came in it looked even better. The scales on one side were cracked but all else looked pretty good to my novice eyes. I checked the blade with a loupe and didn't notice any cracks and the blade\spine look straight as can be. Lucky in a way, because I ordered a pin & washer kit, buffing compound, as well as new scale material while the razor was in flight.

The top few photos below are of the razor as I received it.
A few shots down are after a few minutes on the buffs with noted improvements.

I glued the broken scale back together and stuck both under a book to keep them flat.
Hoping to trace the original scales tomorrow and start working on the new scales.

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/a...0Restore/1.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/a...0Restore/2.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/a...0Restore/3.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/a...0Restore/4.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/a...0Restore/5.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/a...0Restore/6.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/a...0Restore/7.jpg

Nice job. I would give serious consideration to keeping the original scales and collars.

+1 if you can keep all,the original,parts would be better aryldite or other epoxy glue will hold the scales
And since you have managed to retain the original washers they will look a heap better
jMHo
Looking good still
Can't wait to see the Finnished item

Thanks for the input.
I'm not opposed to keeping the original scales. I'll grab some epoxy tomorrow and see if I can build up a layer on the back of the broken scale. The break wasn't at the pivot and I'm not rough on my razors - it may be enough to keep things together for a good many years to come.

Since I had glued the break with CA I went forward with a CA finish after I had things lightly sanded today.
It was going great until I tapped the scale while pinning the wedge in... :cry:
Better now than 10 days from now -

I'll have to try epoxy (as suggested) and give it one more go before moving on to new scales.

epoxy is the best! used it (a few too) many times. i'm told it can have mixed results on horn. hasn't happened to me yet.

Very nice razor! Also a great job on restoration!

Have you considered putting something on the inside scales to support them? Just a small piece of brass big enough to cover the repair is all you need - of course you would need to do both scales, but if its thin enough, it can take the place of bearer washers anyway.

The scales look like horn to me and should polish up to a nice shine.

Edit. I just noticed the break is at the wedge end - why not glue the wedge that side?

Good call guys, I missed the obvious and didn't consider gluing the wedge & scales together prior to pinning.

I'll plan on getting some epoxy and mending the actual break, then running a lose pin through the hole and gluing the scales\wedge in place. With the ping and a few small clamps holding the joint I'll be in good shape.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tab

Good call guys, I missed the obvious and didn't consider gluing the wedge & scales together prior to pinning.
I'll plan on getting some epoxy and mending the actual break, then running a lose pin through the hole and gluing the scales\wedge in place. With the ping and a few small clamps holding the joint I'll be in good shape.

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Only glue one side to the wedge! I got in trouble doing both sides when i went to pin the pivot and could not adjust the angle/length of the second scale.
~Richard

From what I see, the blade has been shortened as it was reground. Perhaps lopping off the scales at the pivot hole and reshaping/drilling new hole will make for a nicer fit? the inside of the lead wedge can be filed down to ensure a tight fit, if necessary. Just an observation.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Geezer

Only glue one side to the wedge! I got in trouble doing both sides when i went to pin the pivot and could not adjust the angle/length of the second scale.
~Richard

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http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/a...nine/check.jpg

Thanks for the clarification!

I found a nice block of time to throw at this again and made some progress.
I ended up grabbing some epoxy to mend the original break, and it's holding very well.
I also moved the wedge towards the blade slightly, drilled new holes for the pin, & glued the wedge to the scale behind the break. All great suggestions, thank you!

So today I have been sanding on the scales to shorten and reshape them. It's fairly close so I decided it was a good time to fill the old holes where the pin & wedge originally sat.

Once the holes are filled appropriately I'll clean things up and get the scales ready for some touch-up color and a top coat of clear.

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/a...0Restore/8.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/a...0Restore/9.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/a...Restore/10.jpg

[QUOTE=tab;1446119]
So today I have been sanding on the scales to shorten and reshape them. It's fairly close so I decided it was a good time to fill the old holes where the pin & wedge originally sat.

Once the holes are filled appropriately I'll clean things up and get the scales ready for some touch-up color and a top coat of clear.

QUOTE]

This is coming along really well. Just one thing - are you planning on using a clear lacquer/varnish? If the scales are horn, they will shine to an incredible finish with the right sanding and buffing, without any varnish. You might be right in what you are planning but I don't think I've ever come across horn witha ny type of finish applied - apart from something like neatsfoot oil - but that's more for hydrating old stuff and something you might want to consider.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by UKRob

This is coming along really well. Just one thing - are you planning on using a clear lacquer/varnish? If the scales are horn, they will shine to an incredible finish with the right sanding and buffing, without any varnish. You might be right in what you are planning but I don't think I've ever come across horn witha ny type of finish applied - apart from something like neatsfoot oil - but that's more for hydrating old stuff and something you might want to consider.

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After the holes were filled and I had things smooth I used multiple coats of CA to seal\coat the scales.
They're not complete but it's coming along :D

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/a...Restore/11.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/a...Restore/12.jpg

Nice progress. I see you saved the original collars too. I think that most of the guys just wax the horn to seal it.

Very nicely done

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Geezer

Only glue one side to the wedge! I got in trouble doing both sides when i went to pin the pivot and could not adjust the angle/length of the second scale.
~Richard

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In the vid Ali in France made you can see him epoxy (IIRC) one side of the wedge before pinning.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...ght-razor.html

I know you got the break solved, but another thing that you can do to aid the fix is to drill a small hole in the actual break and use a small piece of metal (I normally use a small piece of a straight pin) and use it as a reinforcement for the epoxy. Think about a wooden dowel used in furniture and such.

That said, your razor is looking really good. Congrats!