Thread: My first scales: Purpleheart with brass inlay

Here is the finished razor, the blade is a hefty 6/8+ Joseph Rogers and Sons, wedge(?). I am feeling proud of the achievement. It pops forearm hairs off with absolutely no pull or sound. Can't wait to shave with it. I will be a bit dissapointed if it does not shave well.

The scales were finished with Polymerized Tung Oil, High Gloss. Impossible to keep finger prints off but shows off the deep purple/burgundy color and wood grain really well.

The wedge was sanded and filed from 1/8" white plexiglass before I saw Bill's post explaining the function of the wedge. (It should spread the scales so that the pivot end is parallel to the tang) But beginer's luck would have it, I got it mostly right.

The blade was deeply rusted and I could not bring it back to polished level so left it with faux ground marks. I don't know if it is considered a true wedge but it is pretty close. Had to establish a new edge which took forever. Now it has the widest edge I ever saw but finished with .25u paste it makes a beautiful mirror strip.

It is also very unevenly ground. Joseph Rogers and Sons, Cutlers to the Majesty maybe but the Majesty never insisted on symetrical grinding. The spine thickness was not very even and the tang was slightly out of plane with the rest of the blade. It was a real PITA to file away the scales on the inside to make the blade enter without chopping into the scales. Taking Bill Ellis' advice I drilled the hole for the pivot and adjusted the scales right after I cut out a rough shape, before the rest of the work went in. Good thing too since the first attempt resulted in trashed scales.

The pins and washers are made with the above jig. I pre-peened one end to allow nicer finish and put that end on the face side with the big dipper. The peening with the scales was done on an anvil covered with about 8 plies of paper towel so as not to damage the finished side of the pins. This worked out really well.

Great thanks to everyone in these forums for sharing their art and kraft on restoring razors. Special thanks to Bill Ellis for making an information packed CD on razor restoration. Available directly from Bill www.billysblades.com






Closeups:

Wonderful finish!! One day I'll be that good! :P

Vlad:

You're a f...ing genius and a madman & I love it!

All your tools and jig articles deserve a major Sticky and should be saved to the files section.

Tony

Great job! This inspires me to pick up the Bill Ellis DVD and complete some of the restorations that I have been meaning to do.

Thanks, thanks and thanks.

+Buckler

Very cool looking scales, and that looks like quite the wedgy razor.

Wow, talk about resurrecting the dead! The "make your own domed washer" stuff here is great though. I love using those washers although the jig is a major PITA.

Great Job! You do beautiful work! Thanks.