Thread: Can this etching be saved?

I've pulled out this blade to start working on it, but I'm not sure how to proceed in order to save the etching.











The thread referencing the use of a tumbler and abrasive media indicated that many blades could be polished without the loss of the engraving. Is there any way to work on removing/minimizing the discoloration without the use of one of the tumblers? I don't have one and can't justify the expense of getting one. I can hand sand it, but I'm afraid the etching will disappear if I do so.

Thanks in advance,

- Mark (S-4-C)

I think it's just a case of starting slow & seeing how far you dare take it. If you begin with quite a fine grit there's less chance of disaster. Maybe 800, or 1000.

I think that I might be quoting Glen from another post somewhere, but it seems that the pitting you need to remove is always just a little deeper than the etching you want to keep.

My experience holds true for this statement. You might have more luck than I, but there looks like a couple of places where the pitting looks pretty deep.

Go slow. Good luck.

The only way that I know of to save that etching is to send it to Glen.

PM Glen and ask him about saving it. He does something with a tumbler that does not remove the etching. but does a good job of removing the surface crap.

He has a thread here about an experiment that he did with a brass tumbler that he uses for polishing brass casings.

Is it a "frost" or an "emboss" etch?
If frosted, will be more difficult, but if it's embossed it may be saved if the etch is deep enough... by making it deeper before sanding the face.
It is a lot of tedious work but may be worth the effort to save such a beautiful work of art…
I have a passion for razor etch and I collect as many as I can afford, but I never ever seen this one before… reminds me of the Wade and Butcher “You Lather Well I’ll Shave Well”.

BTW what does it say exactly... i can only make out "Lather Well... Shave Better"
.... is it "...You'll Shave better"?

Man that is a tuff one the pitting/stain right by the L in Lather looks pretty bad and the stuff under the You'll the other bad spot I see is the V in Shave...

Unfortunatly that is my saying "Murphy's law of pitting is that it is always deeper than etching"...

The tumbler will clean it, but it will leave it there, it cannot take out pitting.... It looks like yer going to re-scale it anyway, right???? send it out and I will toss it in the mix while I am working the DD.... and send them both back at the same time...

if you want of course Mark...

Hmmm!... Having a closer look and I think it says "Lather Well & You'll Shave Better"...

Originally Posted by smythe

Hmmm!... Having a closer look and I think it says "Lather Well & You'll Shave Better"...

Just "Lather Well...You'll Shave Better"

I liked the engraving and the French (?) point caught my eye since most of what I saw available was either round or spike. I may have to visit that antique dealer again sometime in the future, He a two rolls of razors, but I didn't know enough about them at the time to decide waht was woth his asking proce and what wasn't. This one was purchased simply on the "that's purty" reflex.

Glen, I'll be happy to take you up on your offer if you've got the tumblers running anyway. I'm in no rush. I'll bring it to the office and ship it to you tomorrow. Let me know if I owe you anything extra for your efforts.

BTW, although there IS pitting, a good bit of the darkness shown on the blade is discoloration. All I had done to the blade is a bit of buffing with MAAS, so I don't know if some of the darker spots hide pitting beneath, but it appeared to be mostly smooth and discolored rather than pitted. Nothing like the Spike I'm working on...

Thanks,

- Mark (S-4-C)

Originally Posted by Strapped-4-Cache

Just "Lather Well...You'll Shave Better"

I liked the engraving and the French (?) point caught my eye since most of what I saw available was either round or spike. I may have to visit that antique dealer again sometime in the future, He a two rolls of razors, but I didn't know enough about them at the time to decide waht was woth his asking proce and what wasn't. This one was purchased simply on the "that's purty" reflex.

Glen, I'll be happy to take you up on your offer if you've got the tumblers running anyway. I'm in no rush. I'll bring it to the office and ship it to you tomorrow. Let me know if I owe you anything extra for your efforts.

BTW, although there IS pitting, a good bit of the darkness shown on the blade is discoloration. All I had done to the blade is a bit of buffing with MAAS, so I don't know if some of the darker spots hide pitting beneath, but it appeared to be mostly smooth and discolored rather than pitted. Nothing like the Spike I'm working on...

Thanks,



- Mark (S-4-C)

Please, if you don't mind post pics of that Joseph Allen when it's done... I would really appreciate it.

Thanks

Mark I am posting here since several people are interested in seeing the razor, and what the tumblers will actually do.... So I will post pics here...