Lots of rust on a W&B

I got a bag of old rusty straights and a few pocket knives from a gal on the Bay. They ain't pretty...

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I bought these just to mess around with.. See what it takes to knock out a stuck pin (it sucks), do some rust scraping/wire wheel work..

Well i popped the scales off the middle one, scraped some rust off the tang and hit it with some WD40 and a wire wheel. Well the second i made the name out i stopped and figured i would come ask for advice.

Behold my first Wade & Butcher..

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A face only a guy with RAD could love.

So is there any hope of restoring this blade or are those chips in the blade a death sentence??

To be perfectly honest I think it is not salvageable. What a shame.

my guess would be that by the time the chips and the rust are removed there won't be any thing left.only chance would be if it's a wedge and a lot of steel can be removed. rust goes amazingly deep. don't spend too much time on it till you know the bevel can be set.

Only one way to find out if it salvageable is to start sanding.......
If it is too brittle or the blade becomes "worthless".... Ya could always make a necklace charm from the tang? ( If that can be sanded down and readable again)

Just my 2 cents.....

:gl:

When I see a rusted Wade and Butcher...........I weep.:cry:

Four shaves from now my Wade and Butcher is next in my rotation. I can't wait.

It looks well beyond saving as a razor IMHO. By the time you get to solid steel, the geometry of it will be all out of whack. It's not just a matter of dealing with the chips because the rust will extend into the steel beyond the visible chips. So by the time you get to good steel, it will likely be quite a bit narrower than the top of those chips would suggest.

People joke about buying razor-shaped objects (i.e. unusable cheap garbage razors) that could only be used as letter openers. I say turn that on its head: do what you can with the blade, make some nice scales, and intentionally turn it into a kickass letter opener. It would be good practice for future blade restoration work, and you'll end up with a functional and possibly beautiful tool that you created yourself. Nothing wrong with that. :)

Ouch... I think that one is too far gone, sorry:(

A candidate for an overnight soak in Evaporust, then see what left.

I’d put all 3 in Evaporust. Were the WB scales salvageable?

Yeah i think the writings on the wall for this one, at least for a shaving razor.

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Originally Posted by Cangooner

People joke about buying razor-shaped objects (i.e. unusable cheap garbage razors) that could only be used as letter openers. I say turn that on its head: do what you can with the blade, make some nice scales, and intentionally turn it into a kickass letter opener. It would be good practice for future blade restoration work, and you'll end up with a functional and possibly beautiful tool that you created yourself. Nothing wrong with that. :)

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I like that idea. Ill try to come up with something. Im not gonna toss it. Heck i just oiled it up for storage :)

This one is cleaning up a bit nicer.

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It reads to the effect of 'bester deutscher, silber___tal' with a large '2' stamped next to it.

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Originally Posted by Euclid440

A candidate for an overnight soak in Evaporust, then see what left.

I’d put all 3 in Evaporust. Were the WB scales salvageable?

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Evaporust here i come.

No unfortunately the scales were wood and they were warped and splintered. I did save the pins, the wedge, and a few tiny inner washers. The same on the one above.. wooden scales beyond repair. The yellow scales in my first pic are ok and i am trying to save them. That operation is on hold until i can drill a few appropriate holes in my jewelers block. I need some fancy drilling bits.

I have often found razors like those to be particularly valuable for learning experience. They are all pretty much done as far as functioning razor go, but you can always use them to find out what not to do and how you can effect different things. Looking to see if you can re-establish some lost line, want to know what a diamond file does to a razor, it's a great tool.

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Originally Posted by RezDog

I have often found razors like those to be particularly valuable for learning experience. They are all pretty much done as far as functioning razor go, but you can always use them to find out what not to do and how you can effect different things. Looking to see if you can re-establish some lost line, want to know what a diamond file does to a razor, it's a great tool.

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That was exactly the reason i got them.

The whole lot was 6 bucks.

Just an update..

I sanded down the edge of the W&B after about 3 soakings in Naval Jelly and some work with a wire brush.

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Same process on the Deutcher to remove the chipping.

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Next im gonna sand the bejeezus out of em.

Start high and go low when you need too. I never drop below 400, the scratches are just too hard to get out. I back my sandpaper with a cork to keep it flat. I use WD-40 to make it smoother.

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Originally Posted by RezDog

Start high and go low when you need too. I never drop below 400, the scratches are just too hard to get out. I back my sandpaper with a cork to keep it flat. I use WD-40 to make it smoother.

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I tried a flap wheel on my rotary tool first. It did a nice job removing some of the surface rust. Then i hit it with the WD40 and some steel wool. It didn't do much. Since this blade is an art project anyway i went down to 80. I was pulling some rust out of the pits at 80 so i gave it another 20 minute soak in the Naval Jelly and then i used a wire wheel on it.. Got some of the deeper rust out. Its coming along..

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I am using a cork and i also made a sanding stick out of some lollipop stems glued together. I sanded one side smooth and glued some felt to it. Even with all that and a jig my right arm is killing me, but its for the razors man.. the razors.

When i sand the Deutcher ill probably start a lot higher with the grit since the pitting isn't as deep and id actually like to hone that one.

So many people make the mistake of thinning that the dark black splotches are patina. It is rust, and as the rust gets removed it exposed all of those pits, just like the ones on your blade. One of the great challenges in restoring is to get the blade clean, any shallow pitting removed, and retain the lines of the blade. eBay is full of over buffed razors with rounded out lines, they are shiny but have lost their crisp lines. Not every razor can be a perfect restore. It will be interesting to see if you can get that back into shaving condition. I am not a flat sander user. I do very little power sanding. You have gotten quite a bit done on that. Later it will be a good one to reshape the heel on too. There are a lot of lessons left in that old girl.

You might try setting a bevel on the butcher.
If you can do so, youll have a fine shaver. Who knows, ya just might get lucky.

I got to say....you remind me of myself, coming up with different ways to restore these magnificent works of art. Im right there with ya, all the way!! Next you'll be making Scales and wedges, and learning all aspects of restorations.

Shine on brother, and dont let anyone or thing dim your light. [emoji41]

Each one is a learning opportunity. Take the time to try things out and see what works and what doesn't for you. Practice makes perfect. Then the next time you restore another razor your experience level and arsenal of tricks will be better.

Ive got one now that Im using as a learning opportunity. That is after i dropped it and cracked it...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RezDog

So many people make the mistake of thinning that the dark black splotches are patina. It is rust, and as the rust gets removed it exposed all of those pits, just like the ones on your blade. One of the great challenges in restoring is to get the blade clean, any shallow pitting removed, and retain the lines of the blade. eBay is full of over buffed razors with rounded out lines, they are shiny but have lost their crisp lines. Not every razor can be a perfect restore. It will be interesting to see if you can get that back into shaving condition. I am not a flat sander user. I do very little power sanding. You have gotten quite a bit done on that. Later it will be a good one to reshape the heel on too. There are a lot of lessons left in that old girl.

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I am trying not to sand down the lines. On the first razor i sanded i definitely gave it what i've read is called a 'liquid' look, and i wish i hadn't done that but it was a lesson learned. I think a few spots got softened up on the Butcher while i was attacking the deep rust, but i was careful to do minimal damage. On this one some of the pitting is very deep, so ill have to leave it. I think it actually looks ok.. like it belongs.

After i re cut the edge i thought i might just try honing it. I lost a tiny chip in the edge while sanding, where the worst rust and pitting had occured. Im leaving it for now. I might breadknife the edge to remove it or possibly recut with the sanding wheel once its polished. I think i can reach clean steel. Fingers crossed..

And yes this blade is teaching me a lot. I knocked the yellow scales off the other razor in my OP, and i'm going to try putting them on this one. They wont look the best but its just for practice.. Like you said, a lot of lessons :)

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Originally Posted by outback

You might try setting a bevel on the butcher.
If you can do so, youll have a fine shaver. Who knows, ya just might get lucky.

I got to say....you remind me of myself, coming up with different ways to restore these magnificent works of art. Im right there with ya, all the way!! Next you'll be making Scales and wedges, and learning all aspects of restorations.

Shine on brother, and dont let anyone or thing dim your light. [emoji41]

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Thanks man!! I appreciate the kind words :) You and Rez have been a big help to me the last few weeks, along with the rest of SRP. Its definitely appreciated. I share your view on these being works of art. That is part of the draw for me, taking something old and neglected and like you said.. bringing it back to life!!

After two 12 hour soaks in Evaporust, and a few evening after work sanding sessions i present the polished Wade & Butcher..

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I'm pretty darn sure i will never set a clean bevel on this puppy, so im not gonna try. The pits on the front side are two frequent and deep.

It would make a nice letter opener but..

I'm thinking it would make a pretty bad ass earring.

That's the way. Second verse same as the first, but with a better razor and you will be on your way. Same the one for practice reshaping the heel.

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Originally Posted by RezDog

That's the way. Second verse same as the first, but with a better razor and you will be on your way. Same the one for practice reshaping the heel.

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You mentioned that before and i was meaning to ask you. Please explain the process of reshaping the heel or point me to that information. Id be plenty fine giving it a practice run on this blade.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...ing-heels.html
This is a pretty good place to start.

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Originally Posted by RezDog

http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...ing-heels.html
This is a pretty good place to start.

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Thank you sir

I'll git to readin'

So rounding out the heel, so it will not cut you is a large benefit, of heel correction. If you look at the before and after pictures of the razor Oz repaired, in the above thread, you can see that the heel corner of the edge has moved well forward of the stabilizer.

Once the heel moves behind the stabilizer and up the heel, the stabilizer will keep the heel half of the razor off the stone. Most new honers see the heel is not being honed, so apply more pressure and if tape is not used on the spine, the heel end of the spine is excessively worn, as is the heel and stabilizer.

A simple heel correction can resolve all these issues.

Just re pinned the W&B. This was a pre-made scale from Maggards. I figured it would be good for a first try since the wedge pin is already set.

There is way too much pitting on this old girl to get a shaving edge so i'm gonna get it scissor sharp and keep it at my desk.

Behold the worlds coolest letter opener..

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P.S How does the heel look?

P.S.S. Thanks again for all the help!