Thread: New Idea??? Experimentation....

Originally Posted by Chrisl

Glen, I want to thank you so much for sharing what I don't think can be described in any other way than being a breakthrough. This is just awesome. I'm going to be putting in an order for this set up this week. I think it's surprisingly inexpensive.

Really though, you're sharing this from the get go in an "open source" way that can benefit so many of us. I envision so many cool vintage razors that will get new life that otherwise would be sitting in all of our "get to it when I have time" drawers.

Thank you thank you!!!!

Chris L

Chris I really appreciate your post, I thought this was something that so many could benefit from...(if it worked) How many more blades like you say, will now come back into the light, and be used again, Just because of the time constraint.... I know myself I could only do 1 razor per week max, maybe 2 if I had an exceptionally easy one to restore... I just ran outta time.. (and my hands love this break)
This way I can have 2 blades done each week without much problem....
One thing I would like to say here though , I still don't believe in popping the pins on a vintage razor, unless it is absolutely necessary,(this is just me) and it looks as though after some of the tests going on, that tossing the whole razor scales and all in the "mix" hasn't been proved to work, YET ....

Glen, I think my experiment with an old horn scaled one proves that you can do it with the scales on. And I used them in the new plastic pyramid media which works better than any other by the way. However like I said earlier it is noisy.
The scales got good and dirty but weren't beat up and the blade is getting pretty clean and it was in worse shape that yours when I started.
I've also had two blades going in the black beauty over night and they haven't hurt each other.
I've ended up with four of these things and am running 4 types of media right now; the plastic pyramids, black beauty, walnut shells, and corn cob with paste and jeweler's rouge. I've listed them in the order of aggressiveness.
This seems to be to be the ideal way of cleaning an old razor. While some of the hard core rust and/or pitting might not come out it sure beats doing it by hand for me. My thumbs are shot from arthritis and this method really helps me.
Thanks for starting this whole thing off.
Ted

Ok now I'm pissed it seems that my ancient tumbler didn't survive the last move. I haven't reloaded since then either so I didn't know it. Now I'll have to get a new one....eventually

Originally Posted by stogieiv

Glen, I think my experiment with an old horn scaled one proves that you can do it with the scales on. And I used them in the new plastic pyramid media which works better than any other by the way. However like I said earlier it is noisy.
The scales got good and dirty but weren't beat up and the blade is getting pretty clean and it was in worse shape that yours when I started.
I've also had two blades going in the black beauty over night and they haven't hurt each other.
I've ended up with four of these things and am running 4 types of media right now; the plastic pyramids, black beauty, walnut shells, and corn cob with paste and jeweler's rouge. I've listed them in the order of aggressiveness.
This seems to be to be the ideal way of cleaning an old razor. While some of the hard core rust and/or pitting might not come out it sure beats doing it by hand for me. My thumbs are shot from arthritis and this method really helps me.
Thanks for starting this whole thing off.
Ted

Way to go Ted!!!!
I knew you had tried the whole razor, but the last post I saw from you, it had been taken out of the media, So what yer saying, if I understand is that there was an improvement from putting the whole razor in the "spinner"
Well I guess I know what is on the list for mine next.... Thanks Ted

I kinda figured this would happen, as soon as people like you got on board, just like I said some 70 posts ago once more people try this and expand our knowledge of what works, this is going to just get better and better....

Yep that's what I am saying Glen. Sorry I forgot to mention that I put the scaled one back in the media and in the most aggressive one at that and they survived fine. Just got dirty and a quick dip in one of the others cleans that up.
This whole thing has been fun and while I've spent some money it's nothing compared to what I've spend on hones, of course which I only need a few.
But with all four going I can do progressions very easily and see what each media does to the razor. I will keep posting as I see what other results I have.
Ted

OK I was already going there, I need to order one more from Midway so I can have 2 dedicated to razors and still keep the old standby as my shooting tumbler....

"Hello Midway??? Hey!!!! what do ya mean yer out of tumblers?????"

Gents,

A word of caution do not try too many razors in one tumbler.

i had 4 going in pumice for 12 hours and the rust was gone and they were fine. but the pumice had compacted a bit had probably was not the most effective thing... it was just handy.
I switched these 4 to Lyman's "tufnut" (walnut treated with jeweler's rouge) and added 3 more and let them spin for 12 more hours... you can see on the edge where they had very small nicks from contact i took too of the blades out and ran them over a blue coticule 20x and the little nicks are gone...

I left the above 2 blades out and am tumbling the other five now. I think 3 or for may be the maximum number, depending on the size of your tumbler. Although i got a nice flow with the seven in there it seems like the more blades the longer you have to tumble.

Hey Glen or others that are actively working with this process: I see the suggested links for the walnut, corn cob and resin pyramid media, Where is the best place to get the walnut with non-ammonia abrasive? I will be trying Glen's idea of using the dollops of the metal polish he uses with the corn cob media for polishing, but the first stage using walnut shells for more aggressive corrosion removal.......do you buy a rouge and add it to the plain crushed walnut?

Glen, you mentioned that so far the experiments have yielded a razor that has a mirror finish but maybe not a finish akin to a buffing wheel. What about dumping some .5 micron Chromium Oxide powder in with some of the corn cobs? Do you think that would make the finish just mint?

Thanks.

Chris L

Originally Posted by Chrisl

Hey Glen or others that are actively working with this process: I see the suggested links for the walnut, corn cob and resin pyramid media, Where is the best place to get the walnut with non-ammonia abrasive? I will be trying Glen's idea of using the dollops of the metal polish he uses with the corn cob media for polishing, but the first stage using walnut shells for more aggressive corrosion removal.......do you buy a rouge and add it to the plain crushed walnut? The walnut usually comes with a white powdered rouge but adding more would not hurt....

Glen, you mentioned that so far the experiments have yielded a razor that has a mirror finish but maybe not a finish akin to a buffing wheel. What about dumping some .5 micron Chromium Oxide powder in with some of the corn cobs? Do you think that would make the finish just mint?
Now that might have merit Hmmmmm might be worth a try Chris....In fact I don't see why that would not work the corn cob just acts as a carrier... You might have a good idea there....


Thanks.

Chris L

I think this might work Chris let us know!!!!!

Originally Posted by Chrisl

What about dumping some .5 micron Chromium Oxide powder in with some of the corn cobs?

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I used the RCBS brand fromula 1(walnut) and formula 2 (corn cob)

This happened to be the same brand I ordered and the description I found online for formula 2 was "Ground corn cobs. Combined with a chromium oxide cleaner and polisher."

Just an FYI.