Question on wedge material.

[traps38]

Well i have a question and hope it is not stupid but here it is.

I have been restoring straights now and love it.

But i hate putting that wedge in as it drives me bananas and is never perfect.

So lets say i go to my local Canadian tire(car parts store and more) or my local Home depot and want to ask for some material that is white like the wedges i want to use.

My question is: What should i ask them for?

Do you have any.................?

Thank you for all the help till now and the future also.

 

[Puerco]

Go to the butcher and buy a big piece of bone to make soup, boil the bone to make the soup and save the bone, make sure your bone is clean, no meat on it and all the marrow is out, now put your bone in the dishwasher and preferably leave it there for a couple of cycles.
You now have a clean unbleached bone, if you want it really white you can bleach it but I think natural looks better. Using a bandsaw or a dremel cutoff wheel cut out some flat parts big enough for your wedges, now shape and sand till you have the desired shape. It's simple, cheap and homemade.
I also do this sometimes to make guitar picks as I don't like the sound those flimsy plastic things make against the strings.
Sawing and (power) sanding bone is a little smelly though, best not to do it in the house as it might upset SWMBO....

 

[global_dev]

Maybe a knuckle from a pet store, instead of the process puerco described.

 

[traps38]

Go to the butcher and buy a big piece of bone to make soup, boil the bone to make the soup and save the bone, make sure your bone is clean, no meat on it and all the marrow is out, now put your bone in the dishwasher and preferably leave it there for a couple of cycles.
You now have a clean unbleached bone, if you want it really white you can bleach it but I think natural looks better. Using a bandsaw or a dremel cutoff wheel cut out some flat parts big enough for your wedges, now shape and sand till you have the desired shape. It's simple, cheap and homemade.
I also do this sometimes to make guitar picks as I don't like the sound those flimsy plastic things make against the strings.
Sawing and (power) sanding bone is a little smelly though, best not to do it in the house as it might upset SWMBO....

Well that sounds pretty simple.
Never new you could do that.
thanks.

 

[daflorc]

Step 1: go to boonetrading.com

Step 2: buy elephant ivory scrap or bone scrap. No special preparation necessary.

Step 3: Enjoy!

 

[traps38]

Good thing i asked.
Now i am getting answers to my problem.
Thanks again.

 

[life2short1971]

How about plastic clipboards from Walmart or similar? Anything will work its just a matter of making it flat.You can use coins, pieces of toys or other such things, wood from an old picture frame or box, the possibilities are endless.

 

[traps38]

Perfect.

Clipboards from Walmart.

Going there in the morning,thanks Scott.

 

[life2short1971]

Your welcome.

 

[daflorc]

Well i have a question and hope it is not stupid but here it is.
I have been restoring straights now and love it.
But i hate putting that wedge in as it drives me bananas and is never perfect.

IMO, the tools you use often determines the quality of work you can produce. The most valuable tool in the razor restorer's toolbox is the benchtop belt sander. It makes quick work of shaping scales, and also sands to a flat surface without rounding edges, which is critical for wedge placement. Since you say that you've been restoring razors...if you intend to do more than the one you're currently working with, I highly suggest making the investment. Often they can be found for $100 or less. I got mine for $40 off craigslist and it works like a charm. Also, an even cheaper alternative is those disc sanding attachments that goes in your drill. I've seen at least one guy use a vice to hold his drill upright for this very purpose. This also gives you the benefit of not being limited to clipboards and such to get a flat surface. Keep in mind that you'll have to sand one face of the clipboard wedge anyway, to give it a "wedge" shape and to adjust its thickness to the blade...

 

[mdunn]

yah, i generally use acrylic.

 

[traps38]

IMO, the tools you use often determines the quality of work you can produce. The most valuable tool in the razor restorer's toolbox is the benchtop belt sander. It makes quick work of shaping scales, and also sands to a flat surface without rounding edges, which is critical for wedge placement. Since you say that you've been restoring razors...if you intend to do more than the one you're currently working with, I highly suggest making the investment. Often they can be found for $100 or less. I got mine for $40 off craigslist and it works like a charm. Also, an even cheaper alternative is those disc sanding attachments that goes in your drill. I've seen at least one guy use a vice to hold his drill upright for this very purpose. This also gives you the benefit of not being limited to clipboards and such to get a flat surface. Keep in mind that you'll have to sand one face of the clipboard wedge anyway, to give it a "wedge" shape and to adjust its thickness to the blade...
View attachment 320345View attachment 320346

You are 100% right.
I have to get my hands on that sander.
I have restored a few scales on razors and they look very nice but they take time by hand,
Have my eyes open for a good deal.
I have also seen that guy with the hand drill set up very nice.

 

[pmaster]

I also had the same problem as you finding acrylic material, for wedges or even simply for scales. It was fun going at Ace Hardware and Home Depot trying to explain them I was searching for acrylic sheet. Then they ask..for what?

;-)

Have you found something decent at walmart?

I"m off to the local glass-window shop this morning, I was told they may have some acrylic sheets there.

 

[life2short1971]

Your local sign shop is sure to have acrylic or similar.

 

[Legion]

They used lead in the old days. Pretty easy to work.

 

[Legion]

Your local sign shop is sure to have acrylic or similar.

This. That is where I use to get mine from. Ask if they have any offcuts, and make it clear you will pay cash and don't need a receipt. Just watch how quickly they find you all sorts of cool colours.

 

[pmaster]

Well, no luck for me this morning at the glass/window shop. They said they didn't have any on stock but could order....and I'm pretty sure if they order some acrylic sheets for me, they're not going to sell the for 5-6$!

Anyone else feeling this is a treasure hunt as much as a restoration forum? So far I've been all over the place online and in town to find acrylic/horn/pins/washers/lapping film/flat surface/fine sanding paper/dremel/pinning hammer/honing stones/dmt/soaps/aftershaves/and much more i'm forgetting! lol

I guess its part of the fun...

How's Walmart? I'm trying to find a local sign shop but seems there's not many in my small town.

 

[Firewalker]

Colored clip boards at any office store...

 

[traps38]

I found a clear acrylic clipboard at walmart but quite hard to cut with a coping saw.
Any better way to cut it up?
Is it better to trace it with a blade and snap it off?

 

[Firewalker]

I found a clear acrylic clipboard at walmart but quite hard to cut with a coping saw.
Any better way to cut it up?
Is it better to trace it with a blade and snap it off?

I use a band-saw for cutting plastics.