Hey guys
So I got the idea from Jim to make a single thread and post pretty much everything in this one thread. I liked the idea of not having to check 20 different threads in 20 different subforums despite the fact that each topic is suited to that forum. I’m all about simplicity (in some areas) and this is much easier.
I’ve been straight shaving for about a month now. I’m back to shaving after having a beard and electric trimmer for about 3 years. I’ve had some issues because my edges aren’t great but I’m getting that taken care of soon.
I’ve pretty much broken the bank and went all out because after my divorce it’s nice to have a hobby and something to focus on other than pacifiers and nursery rhymes with my son. Something for me for once. I’ve got a full progression of Naniwas. Went out and bought a Dremel, coping saw, sandpaper, mothers polish, and the like. A TI to restore that I really like and am holding off on more work because I already ruined the scales. And a bunch of beater blades to practice everything on. I started out with a Dovo 5/8 and a Dovo strop.
So in the last week or two I’ve been working on my shaves, lathering and all that. But I’ve really been so much more focused on honing and restoration. I started to hand sand one of the beater blades and got it to “acceptable” because I just wanted to start honing something. I honed for the first time and got a decent edge but it definitely needs a lot of work.
Today I decided I’m going to make scales. I don’t even know how to pin or unpin. Every time I’ve unpinned I’ve ruined the scales. I have no idea what I’m doing. Tried flush cutters, scratched the hell out of them. Tried the dremel, utterly destroyed them.
But anyway, back to today’s scales. It took me forever but I finally have a set of scales still glued together and fully sanded. To the point they’re literally shining. (Can’t see it very well in pictures unfortunately.) So now I need to drill the pin holes in these suckers and I’m a little worried of ruining them. I mean it’s only poplar from Home Depot because I didn’t want to go crazy on my first set, knowing I’m gonna ruin them. But after all that hand sanding now I don’t want to ruin them haha.
Unfortunately I don’t have a drill press and I’ve blown so much money already I pretty much can’t afford anything else. Leaving me with the dremel. I have no idea what size bit to use, where to place the pins, how to make a wedge or how thick to make it. I’m going to be doing some more reading and maybe in one of my replies I’ll link in some of the other threads I’ve started if any of you wanted to click around and see what I’ve been up to.
I’m all about constructive criticism, advice and experience. If you have any of that throw all of it my way. The goal here is to get pretty good at this to the point I can actually feel proud of the restores I do and maybe one day start to do restores for others as well.
So I got the idea from Jim to make a single thread and post pretty much everything in this one thread. I liked the idea of not having to check 20 different threads in 20 different subforums despite the fact that each topic is suited to that forum. I’m all about simplicity (in some areas) and this is much easier.
I’ve been straight shaving for about a month now. I’m back to shaving after having a beard and electric trimmer for about 3 years. I’ve had some issues because my edges aren’t great but I’m getting that taken care of soon.
I’ve pretty much broken the bank and went all out because after my divorce it’s nice to have a hobby and something to focus on other than pacifiers and nursery rhymes with my son. Something for me for once. I’ve got a full progression of Naniwas. Went out and bought a Dremel, coping saw, sandpaper, mothers polish, and the like. A TI to restore that I really like and am holding off on more work because I already ruined the scales. And a bunch of beater blades to practice everything on. I started out with a Dovo 5/8 and a Dovo strop.
So in the last week or two I’ve been working on my shaves, lathering and all that. But I’ve really been so much more focused on honing and restoration. I started to hand sand one of the beater blades and got it to “acceptable” because I just wanted to start honing something. I honed for the first time and got a decent edge but it definitely needs a lot of work.
Today I decided I’m going to make scales. I don’t even know how to pin or unpin. Every time I’ve unpinned I’ve ruined the scales. I have no idea what I’m doing. Tried flush cutters, scratched the hell out of them. Tried the dremel, utterly destroyed them.
But anyway, back to today’s scales. It took me forever but I finally have a set of scales still glued together and fully sanded. To the point they’re literally shining. (Can’t see it very well in pictures unfortunately.) So now I need to drill the pin holes in these suckers and I’m a little worried of ruining them. I mean it’s only poplar from Home Depot because I didn’t want to go crazy on my first set, knowing I’m gonna ruin them. But after all that hand sanding now I don’t want to ruin them haha.
Unfortunately I don’t have a drill press and I’ve blown so much money already I pretty much can’t afford anything else. Leaving me with the dremel. I have no idea what size bit to use, where to place the pins, how to make a wedge or how thick to make it. I’m going to be doing some more reading and maybe in one of my replies I’ll link in some of the other threads I’ve started if any of you wanted to click around and see what I’ve been up to.
I’m all about constructive criticism, advice and experience. If you have any of that throw all of it my way. The goal here is to get pretty good at this to the point I can actually feel proud of the restores I do and maybe one day start to do restores for others as well.
Shoot. 
