Elbow-Grease Only?

[Oglethorpe]

Hey guys, I want to clean up some blades but I'm not interested in starting a career as a restorer. Basically, I'm interested in cleaning off some black gunk and tarnishing -- the stuff that just Maas and a microfiber cloth can't get.

I can do this without a Dremel can't I?

What are the trade secrets from before electricity made everything all..... COMPLICATED???

 

[Nerdman]

You can, but It's a lot of work. I have done a few blades for a couple of members where they sanded the blades themselves from 220-2000 grit. The blades looked great, but your talking hours into one blade. But if you were to sand to 2000 grit, get one of these LINK. Just make sure all your sanding is uniform, and dont go to the next grit till all previous marks are gone. Then after your done sanding, get yourself some blue magic metal polish paste, or maas, and polish like crazy. you should end up with a very nicely finished razor!! but it will cost you some elbow grease!

 

[Oglethorpe]

Yikes. Maybe I can just pay you guys to do it

 

[Nerdman]

Its not that bad man, lol. I used to do mine by hand, then by dremel, then with a tumbler, but I finally settled on a buffer and greaseless, and various rouges. Im sure you can score a dremel for a decent price, just ake sure its variable speed, and then follow Azmarks tutorial. That tutorial is great!

 

[superbleu]

Sandpaper and patience works pretty well. After you are done I can toss them in my tumbler for a few days to give them a final polish. Dremel speeds things up but you have to be careful.

 

[Legion]

I don't own a buffer. All my blades are sanded by hand. I have reached the decision that I am no longer concerned about removing any pitting, it is too hard and I am not keen on removing blade material. Just rust and scratches. I still bring the blade to a pretty mirror finish, though.

I would like to start selling my restorations but they are too labor intensive.

 

[Oglethorpe]

Ok.. the next important question is, where do you get your varying grit papers?

 

[Nerdman]

Any automotive paint supply store should have what you want. I have heard of guys finding the higher grits at autozone, or other automotive parts chains. Also, check ebay!

 

[superbleu]

Home depot has norton wet dry in various grits. Also check hardware stores, paint stores and auto supply/paint stores.

 

[DrColossus11]

Hand sanding is a process, but I rather enjoy it.

Ok.. the next important question is, where do you get your varying grit papers?

For the lower grits 220-800, you should be able to get them at your local hardware store. For 1000-2000, try an auto parts store like Pep Boys.

 

[Legion]

Most large hardware stores should carry a range.

 

[honed]

You can get blade to superb mirror finish with only your hands. But be prepared to invest a good couple of nights for it.
If you want real shine I suggest you add a couple of Micromesh pads.
They go all the way up to 12K. If you do it properly up to 12K & then finish with some cerium or CrOx on cloth/felt you end up with a perfect mirror.
But it might take 10 or 12 hours.

When I hand-sand I often do it one or two grits at the time, in between other various projects. That makes it more bearable & also allows you to really make sure every trace of the last paper is gone before you continue.

 

[Oglethorpe]

You can get blade to superb mirror finish with only your hands. But be prepared to invest a good couple of nights for it.
If you want real shine I suggest you add a couple of Micromesh pads.
They go all the way up to 12K. If you do it properly up to 12K & then finish with some cerium or CrOx on cloth/felt you end up with a perfect mirror.
But it might take 10 or 12 hours.

When I hand-sand I often do it one or two grits at the time, in between other various projects. That makes it more bearable & also allows you to really make sure every trace of the last paper is gone before you continue.

Thanks!

 

[honed]

Thanks!

You might not say that after 8 consecutive hours of sanding

Make sure that the edge is flat against the surface at all times. A nasty cut is a possibility if care isn't taken.

 

[Troggie]

If you have a harbor freight near you you can get their wet/dry combo pack of sand paper. I has four different grits in it that I believe are 220/500/1000/1200. Depending on how many blades you want to clean up though over the long haul I found it worth picking up their buffer system for 50 bucks with some extra wheels. I still hand sand as well when I just want something to do while I am watching TV at night.

 

[Seraphim]

Always use something to back the sandpaper. Using just your fingers is painful, and can also lead to cuts (the sandpaper hones the blade while it refinishes....)
Pick your poison: handsanding takes a long time, dremel polishing is quick, but can overheat and ruin a blade faster than you'd imagine.

 

[davecmu]

Always use something to back the sandpaper. Using just your fingers is painful, and can also lead to cuts (the sandpaper hones the blade while it refinishes....)

I use the folded over outside edge of an old tri-fold wallet. It's rounded, so it makes it easy to fit into the grind of the blade, it's leather, so it's pliable enough to reach into tiny spaces, and it's about three inches tall on end, so there's enough safety margin the height relief.

Just wrap the sandpaper around the wallet like wrapping paper and rotate the sandpaper band as it begins to wear out.

 

[global_dev]

If you have a harbor freight near you you can get their wet/dry combo pack of sand paper. I has four different grits in it that I believe are 220/500/1000/1200. Depending on how many blades you want to clean up though over the long haul I found it worth picking up their buffer system for 50 bucks with some extra wheels. I still hand sand as well when I just want something to do while I am watching TV at night.

can you provide some more info about the HF stuff? I am in the same arena as oglethorpe and was scoping out the next step...

plus those using the tumbler, i tried to do some research to little success, can you clarify a bit? what tumbling mediums.

I have HF and woodcraft (and HD,lowes, pep boys, etc) in close proximity.

 

[superbleu]

plus those using the tumbler, i tried to do some research to little success, can you clarify a bit? what tumbling mediums.

I have HF and woodcraft (and HD,lowes, pep boys, etc) in close proximity.

For the tumblers most common is crushed walnut for the tumbler media, there is also crushed corn cob, but that not abrasive enough.

If you have all those near you should be able to find all the grits of wet/dry sandpaper you need.

 

[Seraphim]

I use the folded over outside edge of an old tri-fold wallet. It's rounded, so it makes it easy to fit into the grind of the blade, it's leather, so it's pliable enough to reach into tiny spaces, and it's about three inches tall on end, so there's enough safety margin the height relief.

Just wrap the sandpaper around the wallet like wrapping paper and rotate the sandpaper band as it begins to wear out.

Exactly!

My technique:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=73623&highlight=Hand+sanding