Thread: restoration challenge or call me crazy

It arrived Saturday. I received it Monday when I got to work.

First to GS's question about the edge. It is good under magnification. Still sharp. Could probably shave with it. There is that one hole that will have to be dealt with and thanks to this weekends debacle with a dremel tool I now know how to do that.

Oldblades did some cleanup. I will need to unpin to clean the scales and get at the rust on the tang etc.. Other than that I looked at the pits and gouges under magnification. It does not appear that the pits are deep, the gouges look ike some one melted the metal off.

I am confident that I can give the pits a run for there money. THey are close enough to the spine so If I need to get aggressive I can. I am not going to get that agressive but I think there is enough metal there to with stand some sanding.

I will win, or give it my darndest best attempt.

I say send it to Big Bubba, if he can make this one look like he did...http://straightrazorpalace.com/235549-post1.html

yours should be a piece of cake.

My first 2 hrs of hand sanding wet and dry. Gave me so good results.

I am concentrating my efforts at this point on pics 6 and 9 where all the damage is.

After 2 hours of wet sanding at 220 using Sil Ox paper alot of the smaller pits are disappearing.

There seems to be a protective coat on the metal that is inhibiting progress. I will go to the store and get some 100 grit perhaps 60 grit and see it that works. Start at 100 and see if I get good results. I really don't want to go any lower.

I am going to give it another 2 hours tomorrow night and then post a pic.

The pins are really thick. I read the wiki and did what it said but it seems to have flattened the brass together. Any suggestions.

Flatted the brass? are you trying to remove the pins?

Yes. That was the plan. I did it the same as my other str8 I unpinned.

Pics of the process.





I managed to get the bubble out of the blade toe. About 50 whacks at 100grit did most of the work.

Your probably thinking that it doesn't look like there was much done.

Well to see it in person you'd think different.

Pics 6 and 9 have both deep and shallow pitting. 60 grit for an 2 hours then to 100 grit for another 30 minutes. The only thing that moved was the small pits. Which is what I thought. I diminished the deeper ones but they are still there. The edge is still sound and the spine is being protected through out the process so is the tang.

What ever metal this blade is made of is hard as stone. When I chipped my Sheffield 220 grit took out the chip. I tried 220, the blade laughed at me. I had to give it the 100grit. Who is laughing now.

My next task is to remove the swirls and hopefully get it to a mirror. Reevaluate and maybe start over.

Thoughts and input are always appreciated.

I'd say go for a statin finish. But it is looking like you might have a shaver there. Nice job so far.

Keep us posted.
Thanks
Tim

Or he will never talk to me after he is finished.

Actually this is turning into quite the learning experience.

I wouldn't mind if there was a pass around of beat up blades that were sent around to new guys to get the practice of restoration.

I am kicking around the idea of a 60 grit flap sanding to see if 7500 rpm and eat some of this metal and reduce not eliminate the pits a little more. GS and I have pmed a bit on this and I seem to be agreeing with him. I may give it a go just once. Although my dremel skills are lacking and that is what is scaring me off of doing this.

On another note I am going to repin and get some intermediate sandpaper for my other resto and hopefully finish that this weekend. I think I will put in a new space instead if the old white one just to give it some slight character

Here is the latest. I took an 80 grit Flap wheel at 15,000 rpm to it to try to get at some of he more surface tarnish.

I unpinned the scales and I found a lot and I mean a lot of rust a the hinge.

Took the flap wheel to that and that is gone. The tang and the tail are black and still will be. That will not come clean. I cleaned the jimps and they shine.

Let me know what you guys think.

I think I am winning.

I think you are winning. It may never win the beauty contest , but it will have class. I say keep going.
Tim