Thread: Perfect is the enemy of good...

I was working on my first ever razor restoration. I had an Ernst Wupper & Co. with tortoise scales that was in pretty rough shape.

I was able to salvage the scales with a good oil soak and some epoxy. I had the blade to a beautiful chrome-like finish. I was really proud of the work I had done, especially as it was a first restore. I was even thinking about entering this razor in the restoration contest.

I was going to re-pin tonight and hone it tomorrow. But... there was one little tiny area of pitting on the blade, barely noticeable, except for under the right lighting. I wanted this thing to be perfect... I started re-sanding from 320 grit, and was able to remove the pitting. I progressed up to 1500 grit and had the blade looking nice. Just a little of my top-secret polishing compound with the dremel and I'd be back to my chrome-like polish... Then disaster struck; the polishing wheel caught the edge of the blade and jerked the dremel chuck into the blade, tearing out a huge chip and cracking the blade severely. The blade is ruined.
I don't even know how many hours of work I had into this razor. Probably more than I should have, as I kept trying various shortcuts and then going back and doing things the right way. But, after all of that, I took my near-perfect blade and killed it by trying to make it completely perfect.

I will have to find a new blade for these scales, they are nice.

Oh, and the important question... Since I didn't complete the restoration, can I still enter my next attempt in the contest? Or, as this was my first attempt at a restore, am I out of the running?

It sucks, but a lesson learned, right?

Here's two pics of one I had once - was yours an unusual grind too?

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

was yours an unusual grind too?

No. It was just a regular hollow grind. (I'm not sure how to tell what amount hollow...)

Sorry to hear. I ruined my first blade last week. Basically the same story...except for the "perfect" part. Lucky for me it was a junked lil Engles Wedge. Really Really pitted along the spine. I was trying some new "top-secret" compounds myself on a dremel buffing wheel and ZING! Blade goes to the ground hitting the leg of the chair I was on in the process.

BIG ole chunk gone. I was sick, can't imagine how you felt. My gf was there and couldn't understand. "You said it wasn't any good anyways...what's the big deal?"


I don't think she'll ever understand

Lesson learned: Those wheels can grab the ridge of a spine just as well as they can the edge.

Ya know there is this guy on the forum, does a lot of restores, and every single time somebody says Dremel, he says Ooooo that is not such a great idea.... but then who listens to him anyway

What was his name again ???? G somthing???? yah that was it...

Just be glad it was only the razor that had a chunk out of it, and not you...

That's the reason why I don't like dremels, but also because of my own ineptitude when it comes to anything that spins fast.

Did you throw the razor away? I hope not. Depending on how much edge was left you could turn it into a nice little mini razor.

I feel your pain man. One of my first attempts at a restore ended in a similar way. Blade in one hand power drill with flap wheel in the other.
Fortunately all the damage was close to the toe and I was able to salvage it.
Since that I allways clamp the blade when using flap wheels/dremmels etc, but most of the time I just do it all by hand.
Glad you saved the scales and good luck in the contest
Grant

Ouch. I've got nowhere the experience Glen does, but I agree with him 100% that a Dremel is not a tool for....well, much of anything really...but certainly NOT razor restoration.

As for the contest, I imagine they mean 'first completed restore', but maybe not...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Ya know there is this guy on the forum, does a lot of restores, and every single time somebody says Dremel, he says Ooooo that is not such a great idea.... but then who listens to him anyway

What was his name again ???? G somthing???? yah that was it...

Just be glad it was only the razor that had a chunk out of it, and not you...

Dremels are like straight razors. Great tools if you are careful and know what you are doing

You really need to watch the direction the wheel is turnign when using your dremel.

STill have all your digits, right?

Originally Posted by HNSB

I was working on my first ever razor restoration. I had an Ernst Wupper & Co. with tortoise scales that was in pretty rough shape.

I was able to salvage the scales with a good oil soak and some epoxy. I had the blade to a beautiful chrome-like finish. I was really proud of the work I had done, especially as it was a first restore. I was even thinking about entering this razor in the restoration contest.

I was going to re-pin tonight and hone it tomorrow. But... there was one little tiny area of pitting on the blade, barely noticeable, except for under the right lighting. I wanted this thing to be perfect... I started re-sanding from 320 grit, and was able to remove the pitting. I progressed up to 1500 grit and had the blade looking nice. Just a little of my top-secret polishing compound with the dremel and I'd be back to my chrome-like polish... Then disaster struck; the polishing wheel caught the edge of the blade and jerked the dremel chuck into the blade, tearing out a huge chip and cracking the blade severely. The blade is ruined.
I don't even know how many hours of work I had into this razor. Probably more than I should have, as I kept trying various shortcuts and then going back and doing things the right way. But, after all of that, I took my near-perfect blade and killed it by trying to make it completely perfect.

I will have to find a new blade for these scales, they are nice.

Oh, and the important question... Since I didn't complete the restoration, can I still enter my next attempt in the contest? Or, as this was my first attempt at a restore, am I out of the running?