W&B Restore - need your suggestions

I am working on the following W&B blade. This is my first hand sanding project. So far I have spent about 3 hours of hand sanding with 220 320 600 1500 2500 grit sand paper.

The blade is in MUCH better condition now than when I started BUT there is obviously still some work left. There still remains some pitting towards the heel and toe on both sides of the blade and also some on the tang.

My question is should I go to a lower grit sand paper to remove this pitting and continue the hand sanding process or have I reached a point where I will simply not be able to make any further improvements to this blade.

How do I getting it to that mirror finish and remove as much of the pitting as possible?

BTW all the pictures are of the blade after the hand sanding

Looks like you could have spent a little more time on 220, but this is the thing with old blades. If they have substantial pitting, sometimes I will just leave it when they are "cleaned up". It isn't worth the "non-pitted" blade in my opinion for the extra 6 hours you need to take to take them all out. If you are happy, then you are done. Some guys LOOOVE the mirror finish, but is it worth the "look" of the razor for you? It won't shave any better. :shrug:

P.S.- I ordered a brush from Dan Capshaw and am awaiting it. Been thinking about it ever since you made that post on your new custom! I didn't spring for the super-duper knot, but I think it will be very dense anyway!

You've done a lot of work and really put a nice shine on that blade. Sometimes getting all the pitting out is just not worth it. For one thing, it takes away a substantial amount of metal. Old blades are old blades, and some are not ever going to look perfect again. To me, that's part of the charm of some of the battleaxes.

Actually Amyn....I think it looks pretty decent right now. Once you get it done and put together, I'd be interested in it if you want to sell.:)

+1, You have to weight how much steel you have to work with before it's too thin. In removing pits and all, it's the first go round that you get the steel to where you want it. Think of the following grits as removing the scratch marks from the previous grit.

Amyn....not to get too far off topic here, but what kind of scales were you going to put on this razor?

The blade is a heavy chopper ~15/16 so it can take a bit more sanding
So I will try to work out the minor pitting a by starting at a lower grit sand paper.

I may not get all the pitting so I am setting my expectations accordingly and at some point you just have to stop being obsessive compulsive :shrug:

What is left will give the blade some character. :cool:

Dave - as for the scales I am going with Cocobolo with a glossy finish or Bolivian Rosewood with a satin finish. Both are heavy dense woods which would give the heavy blade a good balance. I will post some pictures when it is done. I plan on keeping this blade.

Well, shoot......:rolleyes:

Amyn, I'd like to see some pics after you get it done....I bet it'll be really nice looking.