I Guess I'm Restoring Now...

So the Beardsley & Alvord I got a bit ago was all ugly, and I was thinking of getting it restored...but after some consultation with Max, I decided to go ahead and give it a whirl myself. If I screw it up too bad, I know Max is there to catch me.

I've got some more thorough posts on my blog here.
Basically, I started here:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RiV3dzbrx_...dsley_3066.jpg
(the back was pretty much the same, if not worse...)

Metal polish took me here:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RiV3dzbrx_...0/CIMG0869.JPG

And a few minutes of 180 grit sanding:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RiV3dzbrx_...0/CIMG0871.JPG

Definite progress...tonight I move to the front side, and then begin the long road back to luster...

Any advice on how to progress from here? I know there is some staining left, but I fear that trying to take it all out will require way too much steel removal.

Thanks,
Jim

personaly I just through 180, 220, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1500, then 2000 I yet to try any polish but after you get done with 2000 it starts to look very clean

Welcome to restoration Jim :D
BTW be careful my friend RRD is the worst of all the disorders...

You have a nice heavy razor there to start with, so it has plenty of steel to work with.... The only time you really have to worry about to much steel removal is the full hollows....
Stick to the low grits until all the staining you can get out is gone, then start moving up.. Once you get at about 220 and above start adding in some rust cutting oil while sanding... I sand dry, then when I think that piece of sandpaper is done, I add WD-40 and re-sand with that piece, you will find that the slurry created by the wet-r-dry paper will help cut through that stuff and leave a better finish in the end....:gl:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

Welcome to restoration Jim :D
BTW be careful my friend RRD is the worst of all the disorders...

You have a nice heavy razor there to start with, so it has plenty of steel to work with.... The only time you really have to worry about to much steel removal is the full hollows....
Stick to the low grits until all the staining you can get out is gone, then start moving up.. Once you get at about 220 and above start adding in some rust cutting oil while sanding... I sand dry, then when I think that piece of sandpaper is done, I add WD-40 and re-sand with that piece, you will find that the slurry created by the wet-r-dry paper will help cut through that stuff and leave a better finish in the end....:gl:

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Thanks Glen...You know, I think I caught the disease unawares...for some reason I started buying sandpaper and power tools about three months ago...now, why would I do that? :D
Thanks for the tip on the oil. I think I can find a rust cutting oil pretty easily, and any tips on a better finish will be great. I'm aiming for a mirror finish.
One question--is that etching (Diamond Edge) utterly lost? I mean...I'm sure it is, but if there's anything I can do to preserve it, I'm all ears.

broox, thanks for the tip. I'm having trouble finding paper above 1500, but I haven't tried any automotive places...

I do have a dremel type tool with buffing wheels and some dollar-store CrOx compound, so I'm planning to see if that'll get me a good finish.

*sigh* then comes the honing.

Etching:
Jim here is what I have found over time

Actual stamping or engraving can be saved by using the highest grit sandpaper that gets out the stains/pitting/rust.... SOMETIMES....

Etching or Wash on top of the steel, is pretty much never left after cleaning, even the gentle action of a tumbler will take it off....

For a great little kit of High-Grit sand paper, give this a look:

Sandpaper Combo Pack 1000/1500/2000/2500/3000 Grit - eBay (item 120398390388 end time Apr-06-09 18:53:06 PDT)

Looking good so far!


I just won a Beardsley myself. I bid on it because of seeing your heavy beauty a little while ago. Mine has the thumbnotch (razor on the far right), but no avante-gaurde grind!
http://i21.ebayimg.com/08/i/001/3d/74/0ad9_1.JPG

Enjoy the restoring! It is a tortuous process, but somehow oddly addicting!

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Any advice on how to progress from here? I know there is some staining left, but I fear that trying to take it all out will require way too much steel removal.

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Keep going with the 180 until all the pitting is gone. If you don't get it out at 180, it will stay there all through the long progression os sanding yet to come!

Well, I can't help you with your project however, you know you won second prize in the reviews contest or are you abdicating your prize? PM me.

If you examine most of those vintage razor etches you may notice they are "less than perfect", as if someone did it by hand, so depending on your artistic skill you could simply “replace” the etch after polishing and you may never know the difference.

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Originally Posted by Seraphim

Looking good so far!


I just won a Beardsley myself. I bid on it because of seeing your heavy beauty a little while ago. Mine has the thumbnotch (razor on the far right), but no avante-gaurde grind!
http://i21.ebayimg.com/08/i/001/3d/74/0ad9_1.JPG

Enjoy the restoring! It is a tortuous process, but somehow oddly addicting!



Keep going with the 180 until all the pitting is gone. If you don't get it out at 180, it will stay there all through the long progression os sanding yet to come!

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Sweet! Does anyone know anything about this company? When they did business, etc?

Also, I'm intentionally leaving some of the stains...like battle scars. this is an old razor, it should remind people of that once in a while. It's much prettier than it was, though, for sure!

Good progress Jim. If it was me sanding I would take the hours it would take to get rid of all of the marring on the blade. But that is just me.

Also, I like the sanding jig you made :hmmm:.

Let me know when you think you will need the 2000 grit and I will mail you a few sheets.

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Originally Posted by ZethLent

Good progress Jim. If it was me sanding I would take the hours it would take to get rid of all of the marring on the blade. But that is just me.

Also, I like the sanding jig you made :hmmm:.

Let me know when you think you will need the 2000 grit and I will mail you a few sheets.

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Thanks mate. I actually found a source for paper--up to 10,000! I thought I PMd you about that, sorry. I very much appreciate the offer, though.

That sanding jig is VERY Good for when you get near the blade. I was sanding away last night, and when I went to change the paper, I found two perfect little slices taken out of the edges...At first I thought it was a defect in the paper, then I saw the pieces lying under the edge of the razor. If it had been my finger.... :chop:

And after a few days of hand sanding up to #2000 with wet/dry sandpaper (mostly dry), We come to this:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RiV3dzbrx_...0/CIMG0918.JPG

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RiV3dzbrx_...0/CIMG0911.JPG

The pictures aren't the best (**EDIT** Click on them to get much bigger versions), but that is NOT a mirror finish. It's shiny, yes, but there is still a bit of cloudiness. I'm NOT going to take this to the buffer. I decided it was too risky, I'm too inexperienced and this is a razor I want to keep. So, I might take it up to higher grits of sandpaper, but no machinery. I also had some trouble with the monkey tail; it's not as clean as it should be, but to get it better I'd have to unpin the scales, and I don't want to do that yet. As for the scales, that's another issue.

They are some kind of plastic--bakelite, perhaps, by the smell--and they were finished with a lacquer that had discolored and flaked off. I scraped it off, leaving a matte black surface, and I'd like to clean that up a bit more. I tried some metal polish, and got some improvement, but I want gloss--any ideas?

Anyway, it's pretty much done. It needs honing, and it needs a bit more polish, but the difference is certainly striking. I'm no pro, I never will be, but I didn't screw it up too bad!

That is a dramatic transformation. The finish looks good to me. That is one cool looking razor. I think the 2000 grit scratch pattern will mellow to a beautiful patina after some use.

:tu

Charlie

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Originally Posted by spazola

That is a dramatic transformation. The finish looks good to me. That is one cool looking razor. I think the 2000 grit scratch pattern will mellow to a beautiful patina after some use.

:tu

Charlie

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Thanks Charlie, I really appreciate that coming from you--You do some great work!

It is a cool grind, and I want to treat it right. I might take it up higher, I can get paper up to 10,000, or I might do something a bit crazier (Gun Blue comes to mind...) but right now I'm thinking it looks pretty nice.

Jim,

knowing and seeing where this razor came from I must say you did a very fine job, indeed!

Especially knowing it's all done by hand.

:tu

When you visit Vegas end of the year just bring it with you and I'll throw it on the buffer for you. ;)

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Originally Posted by Maximilian

Jim,

knowing and seeing where this razor came from I must say you did a very fine job, indeed!

Especially knowing it's all done by hand.

:tu

When you visit Vegas end of the year just bring it with you and I'll throw it on the buffer for you. ;)

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Wow...Thank you! High praise indeed! :D

It's certainly sufficient. For my first try, I think there is reason for a little pride, but I know there is a lot of room for improvement.

I might just take you up on that offer; I appreciate it very much. Also, my wife has already approved some razor splurging when we're in the states, so I might also bring some Maximilian Magic back to Japan with me!

Great job on that razor, Jim.

It looks very nice, especially outside sitting on top of your A/C condensor :p

I love the profile of the blade. I wonder if someone like Robert Williams could recreate something like that...:hmmm:

Again, good work. :tu

Wow! Thats a nice finish for only sandpaper! Great job!

Thanks very much guys. I do appreciate the kind words. It might sound silly, but I honestly am surprised I did as well as I did...I'm most decidedly NOT a handy guy with things like this. I thought I'd mess it up royally, to be honest, but I didn't and that is very gratifying.

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Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Bluing is fun, I have blued an entire razor once, but I regret not having taped the spine during honing coz the tiny bit of wear through the blue really made it look unpleasant.

I'll be interested to see your work if you go higher in grit with sandpaper. I bought some sheets going to 10k also (or was it higher? :thinking:) but it really didn't seem to do anything for me. I thought I'd at least get a mirror finish, but no.

Nice work BTW. It's quite rewarding in the end don't you think? Well not rewarding enough for me to keep doing it by hand, I bought a drill and attachments to help.

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Thanks. It is very satisfying...I'm thinking of other projects now...gotta get back to that DA I reckon!

Actually, our good friend Jimbo, of Roo Strop fame, made a comment on bluing the central grind that kind of got me thinking about making some highlights...the central grind, perhaps, and the monky tail, and the very tip...just to set it off. On an aside, where did you get the bluing agent? I asked at a couple of home centers and they looked at me like I was a talking ape...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ZethLent

Great job on that razor, Jim.

It looks very nice, especially outside sitting on top of your A/C condensor :p

I love the profile of the blade. I wonder if someone like Robert Williams could recreate something like that...:hmmm:

Again, good work. :tu

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:w E-he he he...well spotted. :o

Like I said on another forum, if I was going to design a custom, this is very close to the shape I would design... flowing curves, not angles and straight edges. In fact, i was thinking of getting a custom from Robert Williams very similar to this...I stopped because I still wasn't sure about what I wanted.

Now I know, and I already have it... :y

Thanks again guys. I really do appreciate all your kind words...wehn I get the scales sorted, I'll post better pictures, too.

Looks great. try your highest grit sandpaper, but use some polish as a slurry/lubricant and see how that treats you.

Cool razor, really cool!:tu