Repair of W&B

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12-05-2010, 10:23 AM
DwarvenChef

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Repair of W&B

Here is a Later make Wade & Butcher with pressed horn scales that had a nasty crack. I picked it up for a song (was in a large lot :p ) and figured I would give it a shot and fix it. At first I had to stabilize the scales as they had started chipping and flaking in spots. Over several days I had the whole razor wrapped in a paper towel soaked in Neatsfoot oil. I didn't de-pin the razor as I didn't want to break the scales.

After soaking I wrapped it in a dry towel to get the extra off. Once it seemed dry I sanded it down lightly to get anything sticking up or loose off. Than I went over that with finer grits till I was happy with how it looked. I'll have to get pics of the scales... oops...

Than I set off to cut the end off. I put the thin cutter wheel on my dremmel and sat in the yard taking my time cutting the front of the razor off. Once that was off I got out the wet/dry sand paper again and rounded off the corners and the flats. All I had was 150 and that took a while haha... I left it with a spike tip as I didn't want to shorten the edge any more than I had to. I could always round it later if it was a problem...

Once I was happy with the above I put the razor in the "To Be Honed" line up and just got to it tonight. Lucky for me the edge was in great shape already, no chips or rot of any kind. I started it on the shapton GS 1k till the bevel was set, about 10 minutes. Once there I decided to get out Grandpa's Coticule, I was feeling like it needed use. About 30 passes on the BBW with water and I was happy with the edge, all my apprehension about the inclusion on it went away. I did about the same on the coticule side and took it to the strop. 60 passes and it was popping hairs :)
12-05-2010, 11:02 AM
Mvcrash

Wow...Amazing results when you know what your doing.
12-05-2010, 11:11 AM
DwarvenChef

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mvcrash

Wow...Amazing results when you know what your doing.

I learn by the "Seat of the Pants" method :p If it broke farther... It needed replacing anyway :p

If the price is right, even busted up razors can teach you alot. I'm working on a TOTAL loss pipe at the moment, but I think I can score some scales out of it. Just need to flatten them out a bit, and re hydrate them, and sand, polish.... you get the picture... Even if they fail totally you will learn something :)
12-05-2010, 11:27 AM
souschefdude

Quote:

Originally Posted by DwarvenChef

I learn by the "Seat of the Pants" method :p If it broke farther... It needed replacing anyway :p

If the price is right, even busted up razors can teach you alot. I'm working on a TOTAL loss pipe at the moment, but I think I can score some scales out of it. Just need to flatten them out a bit, and re hydrate them, and sand, polish.... you get the picture... Even if they fail totally you will learn something :)

+1 on the failure teaching you soomething.
You can always learn something, sometimes it's what not to do.
12-05-2010, 11:27 AM
baldy

Great save. Those scales look awesome, vintage and beautiful.
Grant.
12-05-2010, 12:29 PM
nipper

Very nice. Great save of a great blade and scales. Enjoy it!
12-05-2010, 12:58 PM
lordjohn

This is really great! Could you enlarge on the sanding protocol you followed for the blade? Thanks
12-06-2010, 04:09 AM
DwarvenChef

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordjohn

This is really great! Could you enlarge on the sanding protocol you followed for the blade? Thanks

I don't sand the blades, all I do it insure the active rust is removed. I use MAAS to rub down the razor, scales and all.

As for the scales, I started with 150 wet/dry than moved to 320 w/d followed by "0" steel wool. I'm still trying to come up with a way to save old scales that are chipping out, maybe a semi flexible acrylic or just CA dips to seal and secure the cracking...

I hate to see pressed horn scales go to waste...
12-06-2010, 05:44 AM
onimaru55

Nice job. I hear ya on saving the horn scales. I like epoxy over CA for filling. Less brittle with the slower setting ones...maybe
12-06-2010, 05:53 AM
DwarvenChef

Quote:

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Nice job. I hear ya on saving the horn scales. I like epoxy over CA for filling. Less brittle with the slower setting ones...maybe

Slow cure epoxy huh... have to test that out :)

I have some buggy scales that need filled and all and was thinking of epoxy for them, I'm sure I'll have enough to test on another set...
12-06-2010, 06:15 AM
onimaru55

Yep the yellowish tinged epoxies make for a good match on blonde horn colour wise too, but get the bubbles out or they are less transparent.
One I did here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...le-repair.html
12-06-2010, 06:38 AM
DwarvenChef

Quote:

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Yep the yellowish tinged epoxies make for a good match on blonde horn colour wise too, but get the bubbles out or they are less transparent.
One I did here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...le-repair.html

Do you still have that razor? I'd love to see how that repair style does over the years :)

I have one set that has serious cavities down near the base pin, not sure I can salvage the scale or not. I'll have to de-pin very carefully or the whole thing will shatter. Do you think your epoxy and fillings would be a solution for a filling job?
12-06-2010, 07:50 AM
onimaru55

Quote:

Originally Posted by DwarvenChef

Do you still have that razor? I'd love to see how that repair style does over the years :)

I have one set that has serious cavities down near the base pin, not sure I can salvage the scale or not. I'll have to de-pin very carefully or the whole thing will shatter. Do you think your epoxy and fillings would be a solution for a filling job?

Yep still have it . The epoxy has not suffered at all. Looks the same as the day I did the job.

That marine epoxy I used works great & I really think any filling will be successful as long as there is some kind of a skeleton to glue to.
05-03-2011, 04:56 PM
mdole

When you wrapped the neatsfoot soaked paper towel around the razor, did you have to worry about rusting the steel, or does Neatsfoot not affect the steel in that way? I just bought a "Barber's Rattler" W&B with horn scales, and I'd like to just soak the whole thing in neatsfoot for a couple of weeks just to be sure, but I'm not sure of the effect on the carbon steel. Is this an issue, or will it be ok? Thanks,

-Matt-
05-03-2011, 05:12 PM
gugi

the neatsfoot is oil, so it won't damage the steel. it's oxygen with the catalysts from the water that are not good for it (plus strong acids).
08-23-2011, 07:52 PM
DwarvenChef

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdole

When you wrapped the neatsfoot soaked paper towel around the razor, did you have to worry about rusting the steel, or does Neatsfoot not affect the steel in that way? I just bought a "Barber's Rattler" W&B with horn scales, and I'd like to just soak the whole thing in neatsfoot for a couple of weeks just to be sure, but I'm not sure of the effect on the carbon steel. Is this an issue, or will it be ok? Thanks,

-Matt-

It's been a long while since I was active on any forums, sorry to be hiding, just that unemployment for a year keeps me for enjoying my hobbies much.

As stated neatsfoot is an oil and I have not seen any issues arise from my treatment last year. No problems with the razor at all and still shaves very nicely :)