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

Just as a side bar to this thread, I do have to apologize for my apparent lack of photography skills...

I can't get any better pics then the ones that are there, so I will just have to describe then finish on the razor to you...
I took it out this morning and started another one, the best two word description I can come up with is "Brand New"....
That's what it really looks like, a brand new razor, no swirl marks from a dremmel, hidden way down in the finish, no very, very, fine scratch pattern from the 2500-3000 grit sandpaper. I know we have all become very good at polishing up these old beauties, but lets face it, no matter how good we are, if you look at them a the right light, you can find the minute scratches that all the polishing left.... With this, it is just not there, it is a perfect, even, finish, no slight dull spot right at the edge of the shoulder either, the whole razor is polished, even inside the pivot hole... The only give away here that this is not a new blade is the wear in the metal from the pivot and heck you won't see that when she is mounted in scales....
The mirror is not quite as shiny as a buffed razor is, but then again, I haven't even used a cloth and MASS on it yet...

Here are pics of the new scales being built today for this razor, the wood is Pauduk.... I'll post a finished pic when she is done...
I haven't quite decided what to do with the heel & toe design, that's why they are not cut out yet.....

Originally Posted by D2T

Next question...

How loud is the Frankford Arsenal tumbler when it runs? Unfortunately I have no garage so it'd be running in my basement. The master bedroom is pretty much directly above where I'd end up putting it so noise level is a concern.

...as loud as pager?
...as loud as a paint mixer?
...as loud as a Boeing 747 preparing for takeoff?

They actually come with a top that screws down I think it is shown in the link...
You will not hear it from the basement, you could watch TV with it in the same room, and it probably would not bug ya if the top is on... With the tops off the swirling media is louder then the unit....

What are everybody's thoughts on having more than one blade in the media at one time? I am not sure what the results of the blades colliding would be during the polishing process.

Chief

Originally Posted by Navy Chief

What are everybody's thoughts on having more than one blade in the media at one time? I am not sure what the results of the blades colliding would be during the polishing process.

Chief

I haven't tried that yet, and I probably won't I think that it might be pushing the envelope so to speak...Then again Doc and I were talking Tuesday night in the restore chat and he is trying a system that might work for multiple razors..... so hopefully he will let us know how that works....

Multiple razors? If the tumbler is big enough, you could section it off with cardboard or something.

I am actually pretty pissed right now. Kind of. I spent all day looking for a tumbler and came up empty handed. Wal-mart, Harbor Freight, etc. Closest I came was a replacement "bowl" for it. I think I'm gonna have to order online. Which jacks up the price cause of shipping, but I suppose it's worth it.

P.S.- Glen, what kind of metal polish did you coat the corn cob with? Would anything work? Like MAAS even? I'm guessing you might want to use something cheap considering the amount to use huh?

Try your local gunshop first.

Originally Posted by Philadelph

Multiple razors? If the tumbler is big enough, you could section it off with cardboard or something.

I am actually pretty pissed right now. Kind of. I spent all day looking for a tumbler and came up empty handed. Wal-mart, Harbor Freight, etc. Closest I came was a replacement "bowl" for it. I think I'm gonna have to order online. Which jacks up the price cause of shipping, but I suppose it's worth it.

P.S.- Glen, what kind of metal polish did you coat the corn cob with? Would anything work? Like MAAS even? I'm guessing you might want to use something cheap considering the amount to use huh?

I would call any of the Gun shops in yer area first or some of the larger sporting goods stores that stock guns.... The price will probably be just about the same as ordering the one in the link after shiping.....

I used the Blue Magic because of the reasons stated, and I don't think that the more "paste" like polishes like MAAS, Flitz, and Simichrome would "load" quite as well.... This of course is all just conjecture, as more of us try this, we will keep learning more and more...

Doc and I were discussing the thought of using "separators" in chat the other night, he is experimenting with those ideas, as he has a rectangular tumbler...
I don't think separating the bowl style will work, because the media actually flows bottom to top, and it cycles in a spiral throughout the tub... But hey try it and let us all know..
As soon as I get this second razor done I might try throwing in a few blades just to see if all the caution is for naught, and the blades won't bang each other up period... I think Doc might be trying this now with 5 old blades to see what happens...

I've been using the black beauty for about 5 hours now and it actually seems to be doing the best job of anything and it's not too aggressive so no damage so far.
I will keep everyone posted as to what tomorrow brings.
I am going to try two razors with scales on to see what happens, both of them are basically worthless so I'm not really going to lose anything if they beat each other up.

Ted

This is a sand blasting compound correct????

Just adding my two cents... flitz does make a tumbler additive i found it at caswell plating i just added some to the rest of my order from there... someday i'm gonna get one of their "paint on" platinging systems to try to plate pivot holes. Maybe Traveller can give us pointers on his set up for that.

i'm getting new media tomorrow... and i have 4 cracked and useless blades that will go into the mix right off the bat... if anything would get damaged these will... then i have a wb that needs some cleaning.... and the list goes on....