Thread: The Butchered Blade

I think at least then, moth balls had naphtha, which could have gassed out in a tightly closed drawer, or maybe residue/fumes of cleaning fluid or something like that?!? It just made an impression because she had other sets that were like gems.... And those in that drawer just turned to powder.

Originally Posted by MikeT

Wow what the heck could have happened? Reaction of some kind? It sounds like serious oxidation but of course I don't think so, just similar. Moth balls maybe? Huh.
The amber has been around for a long time, still active, but digging it up increases and alters the process, also exposing inner material.. but that sounds like a reaction in the case of the necklace..

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

you've refreshed my memory, that my grandmother had an Amber bead necklace that was stored in a box, but in a drawer for a long time adjacent to linen Christmas tablecloths and napkins which maybe had moth crystals in the drawer. When she took the beads out, they looked like hard candies that had been hit with a hammer....just crystalline beads that disintegrated as son as they were touched.

Are moth crystals the same stuff we call "naphthalene" in Portuguese? Little 1/2 to 3/4 inch white balls we put on drawers to keep roaches and beetles out? If it is, it's a organic substance that sublimates, and it's vapors are the same kind of vapors ethers and naphtas deliver. It's an organic solvent, but in gas form. The gas attacked the resin, making it disintegrate, a little more time and the beads would turned to dust.

Keep these things FAR away from celluloid, plastics and rubbers. They are good just to keep pinned insects on entomology drawers and dry skins on zoological collections.

This might be old news to most of you in this smoky little corner of the Forum. But since a lot of this goes on over here, I thought I would again link to the very cool jig fabricated by one of our members. See post #6 for the pics.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...razor-jig.html
and thoughts on the pull stroke saw: introduced to one many years ago by a woodworker and immediately realized how sensible it was, especially having used a push saw, had it bind, and put a wicked bend in it..of course it did spring back. Raucous applause to MikeB52 for splitting the horn!

Originally Posted by RezDog

It looks a lot like an Antelope

Some significant differences Shaun: this razor has a very distinctive tail, somewhat out of proportion. And the distance between the end of the thumbnotch and the scale at a right angle is less than the Antelope, which I think looks good, less leggy.

Originally Posted by RezDog

It looks a lot like an Antelope

Originally Posted by WW243

Some significant differences Shaun: this razor has a very distinctive tail, somewhat out of proportion. And the distance between the end of the thumbnotch and the scale at a right angle is less than the Antelope, which I think looks good, less leggy.

I told him that in another thread, Rez! He has no Antelope in his hand to compare it to, yet thinks it is some rare Dutch specimen!

There you go again Thomas....
Say if anyone ever does a Vaporust treatment on a blade, I'd like to see the process...

Vaporust.......There are NO miracles in this endeavour, Bill.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Vaporust.......There are NO miracles in this endeavour, Bill.

Gotcha...
Man, I'm glad you called this an ENDEAVOR even if you spelled it funny...Sport..Hobby...those words are for other things. Endeavor..that fits. I have called it a worthy pursuit but that is kind of gassy. Spread the news, an ENDEAVOR! Seriously, for me that works.

Properly spelled, Bill, it should be 'endeavour'. Much class and proper, as well?
Are we not "Continentals"?

As I endeavour to not break a third piece of this fragile sap, I am making some headway.

Used my wet diamond saw to get the slice I wanted. Then proceeded on the variable speed sander to get it down close to true before the hole.
Now I'm at final shaping before the make, or literally break point of pining it up.

And no, vaporust is not a cure, just another tool in the toolbox for specific uses..