Thread: Tumbling Without Removing the Pins

Good picture but it looks like a plan to hide
a razor in a bunt cake to sneak it into
a secure area (prison?).

The problem I see is that the place where
the blade passes into the tumbler would be
a point of abrasion and the scales would
be vibrated all to heck and need to
be repined if they were still any good.
I would expect the hole in the scales to be
vibrated to be large and sloppy perhaps falling
out.

However it might be possible to take a wedge of
cork and a bunch of rubber bands and drop the
razor in the walnut strapped open just enough to polish
the blade and the scales. Some scales
are thick enough to endure some extra polish.

Still the tail and pivot area would not see the polish.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I think it might be a viable idea,,,

The only negative I can think of is if it works you would have a shiny clean blade and a dirty tang.....

Not removing the scales will guarantee missing some spots whether or not you put the whole thing in or rig some sort of "dipping" system.

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

Good picture but it looks like a plan to hide
a razor in a bunt cake to sneak it into
a secure area (prison?).

The problem I see is that the place where
the blade passes into the tumbler would be
a point of abrasion and the scales would
be vibrated all to heck and need to
be repined if they were still any good.
I would expect the hole in the scales to be
vibrated to be large and sloppy perhaps falling
out.

However it might be possible to take a wedge of
cork and a bunch of rubber bands and drop the
razor in the walnut strapped open just enough to polish
the blade and the scales. Some scales
are thick enough to endure some extra polish.

Still the tail and pivot area would not see the polish.

It certainly will need to account for all the vibrating that will happen to the scales. Good call. What to do exactly I don't know...

Fail or no fail, I'll be X-raying any bundt cakes I receive in the near future.

David: I know you don't want to learn how to un-pin and repin a razor, and I agree that some razors are too nice to risk the scales to a misplaced tap of the hammer. But still, you're gonna have to learn how to work on a tumbler AND modify the bowl AND protect the scales from damage the vibration might cause. (It'll be in there a few days I'm guessing.) Pinning advice is in the Wiki but this other stuff isn't...

Another point to mention - the tumbler is going polish the edge of the razor too. IME, edges that went through the tumbler are much harder to set a bevel on. It's like it was breadknifed. Just something else to keep in mind when you consider what kind of work is involved.

My interest is piqued enough to wait to see what happens. Please post photos and updates if you go through it.

I have done the whole razor in the tumbler routine,,, That was a no joy situation as the media just got stuck inside the scales and the razor, even using the large tumbler I have, I didn't feel safe leaving the razor open...But Bingo's idea of suspending the razor could work someone has to rig it though to see...


Quote: Another point to mention - the tumbler is going polish the edge of the razor too. IME, edges that went through the tumbler are much harder to set a bevel on. It's like it was breadknifed. Just something else to keep in mind when you consider what kind of work is involved...

+1 not quite as bad but very close.. they are DULL after 4-5 days

Some good ideas have been shared and some good questions have been raised. If i may suggest another idea. In the interest of not ruining a tumbler, consider this. Using a large can, such as a large tomato sauce can or a large can of juice, cut or drill a hole in the center of one end of the UNOPENED can large enough to insert the razor blade into and remove the contents of the can through that hole. Clean the interior of the can and place a rubber grommet into the hole that will protect the edges of the razor and help make a seal. Next, use a wooden dowel and center it onto a round piece of wood that is the same size of the other end of the can. Glue with hot glue or 2 part epoxy, the round piece of wood with the dowel on it to the other end of the can (the one with out the hole in it). you may now clamp your razor by the tail into a vise and insert the media into the tin can. place the dowel into a drill and then insert the clamped razor into the can and squeeze the trigger. The can and the media will rotate around the razor. This will be a cheaper and maby a better way to get the results that you are looking for. I might also suggest that once you have inserted the razor into the can you can use electrical tape and wrap it around the tang of the razor where it is inside the can to help with sealing the tumbler and protecting the tang. If you try this, I would really like to know the results.

Ken

I found a volunteer!



I have an Alwin I've hand sanded from here



to here. (Still lots of scratches - one of my first hand sanding attempts from months ago)



Place in lid



Place in tumbler



and off she goes!



I hope to post preliminary results in 24 to 36 hours.

Loving it!!!


Poncho, you sir are a "Git-r-Done" sorta guy like me, screw all the planning and talking about it I'll just go try it and see what happens If it shows promise you can fix a better rig later, if not then heck with it and move on LOL...

That was how the Tumbler stuff got started in the first place, I just went and tried it hehehe ...

Can't wait to see the results...

Wow- this has gone from a crazy idea that will only break your heart in the end to let's try and see what happens. I love this forum and the spirits of the people that post here.

Thank you for indulging.

David.

BTW - I have razors that I have no choice but to un pin.
I will learn all of the bags of tricks and hopefully invent some new ones.

Hey, has anybody tried wraping the scales in blue painters tape before tossing the razor into the hopper?

I mean where you would seal off the blade slot and everything. Just the blade, shank and monkey tail left exposed.

Originally Posted by Alembic

Hey, has anybody tried wraping the scales in blue painters tape before tossing the razor into the hopper?

I mean where you would seal off the blade slot and everything. Just the blade, shank and monkey tail left exposed.

Hi David,
I hadn't thought about that; it might work. It sounds like this procedure is next on the "To Do" list!

On a slightly different tack, I have placed (horn) scales in the tumbler on purpose to polish them up a bit. They weren't pinned together yet, so I didn't have to worry about the media getting stuck between the scales. They turned out nice.

Originally Posted by Alembic

BTW - I have razors that I have no choice but to un pin.
I will learn all of the bags of tricks and hopefully invent some new ones.

Now THAT's what I'm talkin' about! That should be the credo of this forum.

BTW, thanks for starting this thread - you got me to try something new!

PS: the tumbling continues unabated . . .

Glad someone tried this! Looking forward to results...

The only problem I see with the "dipping" method is that the "water line" of the media flows up and down a bit. You might get a nice even gradation of polish to no polish, but you won't be able to control it quite the same as the idea of sticking it through a slot or something.

If I did the "stick it through the slot" method, I'd try to polish right up the the tang, and hopefully I could mimic the look of a blued tang - just with tarnish.

As for using painter's tape - you'd have to watch that the edges don't start coming up or wrap a few layers in case.