Thread: 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:

(the back was pretty much the same, if not worse...)

Metal polish took me here:


And a few minutes of 180 grit sanding:


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
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....

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Welcome to restoration Jim
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....

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?
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!


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

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.

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.

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!


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!

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!