Thread: My First Full Restoration

Take a look at this. I know its not much but this old Hibbard Spencer was deeply pitted and rusty to the point it was black all over. I should have taken its original picture but I havent found it yet. I managed to get it this far. THe scales are the first I have ever made. The sanding went on and off for about two weeks and many sheets of paper. I then honed it with an Arkansas Oil stone to set a bevel, then 250 laps on the NOrton 4K then 500 Laps on the 8K side since Old School commented that doubling the strokes usually works for honing. I know there are some stains on the blade and there was an imperfection where I pressed on the hone, but overall it shaves as well as my pre-ordered shave ready DOVO. I also know there are some very small pits I couldnt get out close to the tang, but you have to look hard to see them. The scales are just plain old red oak with a walnut stain. LEt me know what you think as this is my first full restoration and with the purchase of my new Craftsman Drill Press and a Dremel Scroll saw I want to be a professional at this within a few years. I know form the ads and from the forums that this site demands perfection, just please help me get to that point with good criticism.

It looks nice, what grit did you finish on the blade? And the scales are simple, i like it.

Nice job! You must have a lot of patience to take a blade from oxidized to that condition with hand sanding.

Did you shape the scales freehand or did you use a pattern? I ask because the shape reminds me of some I really like - scales on the "Easy Aces" razor. Either way, they're pretty neat.

Its actually a combinaton of both. I free handed the ponted ends but on the other end I used a small Salamander scale to make the curves then just widened it by moving the template scale up and down. But I am afriad I didnt purely free hand it. I actually hope to start making sets wth bolsters at some point and may add some to this set when I have time.

I'll offer some nit picking critique seeing you asked but I'll say this. As a first restore & from your ' before' description looks like you did a great job & you were rewarded with a great shave. That's what it's all about.

The blade seems proportionately small for the scales, but it may just be the pic angle or my lousy eyes.

I would also round off that pointy spur you have honed on the heel. The blade is worn & the rear flange just needs a little shaping to compensate.

As far as honing goes, 500 strokes does seem excessive but hell what would I know ? I use an 8" grinder for chip removal.

I agree the scales are large and I may switch the blade out. I think what happened is that I was so concerned about cutting too much that I made them too large. As for the burt, I will grind it off and smooth it. There is a lot of wear on this blade and it took a lot of strokes to get it to cut butter, I judy wanted it sharp. Thanks for the post and I will follow up.