Thread: Minimum Tool Set, Comments?

After looking through many of the restoration & rescaling threads, I want to assemble a tool set in order to work on a straight razor. I am getting rather antsy to attack the rescaling on a W.H Morley & Sons I picked up last weekend.

Here goes -

a clue
bench anvil
flush cutters
small ball-peen hammer (jeweler or toolmaker type, < 2 oz.)
countersink bit for washer deburring
drill & bits for scale drilling
machine screws & nuts for temporary assembly
method of cutting & shaping scales (jig saw, file, & belt or disc sander)
selection of wet/dry sandpaper, 0000 steel wool, & metal polish for final blade finishing
magnifying glass
clean benchtop
internet connection
flare gun or large sign reading "HELP!"

Is there anything you would add?

Tom

You definitely do not need magnifying glass other than for may be honing.

Unless you make your own washers you will never need to deburr the ones you purchase.

You need a vise, a nice brush for cleaning your files
I like this one a lot:
http://www.japanwoodworker.com/produ...&dept_id=12871
it has wire brush on the other side that gets in the file teeth very well and clean all the clogged material.

You need flat file, and half- round, the half-round would be your main one it has to be able to remove reasonable amount of material. the flat file should be finer.

For sand paper work you may need to get a block of wood or acrylic or similar hard material to use as sanding block.

For blade work if you are not going to use a buffer you will need to make a magnetic jig to hold the blade stable while you are sanding.
here are some threads about the jig making
http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...harddrive.html
http://razortips.blogspot.com/2009/0...afety-jig.html
you can follow and make your own with materials at hand.

Another useful tool for blade polishing is a tumbler:
a huge thread about tumblers here
http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...mentation.html

For scale polishing I really like to use micromesh pads for wood finishing, available at amazion

I hope I did not miss anything.

Any thoughts on using butchers' gloves while working a blade?

Originally Posted by SixNipples

Any thoughts on using butchers' gloves while working a blade?

After a nice, straight to the bone cut, I started wearing kevlar gloves whenever hand sanding a blade. Probably a little over the top but it puts my mind at ease allowing me to focus on the razor.

Originally Posted by SixNipples

Any thoughts on using butchers' gloves while working a blade?

If you are going to buff blades gloves are going to prevent you from feeling the blade.
For hand sanding if you use a jig to hold the blade in place you will never cut yourself.

Originally Posted by mainaman

If you are going to buff blades gloves are going to prevent you from feeling the blade.

Ah. Makes sense. And FWIW, my stripper name was Buff Blades.

Originally Posted by mainaman

You definitely do not need magnifying glass other than for may be honing.

I keep one handy on just about anything I work on. My eyes no longer operate as designed.

For blade work if you are not going to use a buffer you will need to make a magnetic jig to hold the blade stable while you are sanding.
here are some threads about the jig making

That is a wicked idea!

Another useful tool for blade polishing is a tumbler:

Yeah, figures. When I scaled back on reloading I dumped mine.

I hope I did not miss anything.

Thank you very much! I'd hoped most of it would fit into a small tool box and it looks like it will.