So how bad did I screw up?

[kpeople]

In wanting to progress into straight razor shaving from DE, I went on ebay and bought an A.R. Justice straight for all of ten bucks. It got here yesterday and looked just as good in person as in the pictures - heavy patina, but no rust, no pitting, and no chips. In fact the edge looked great! My plan was to have a little fun restoring it, then send it off to be honed and made shave ready so my practice could begin.

I spent probably 4 hours sanding from 320 grit up to 2000, and finally got it looking good. Today I used my lunch to run to the hardware store and pick up some compound sticks to use with the Dremel for a nice final polishing. Then I sat for four more hours after lunch, like a little boy waiting for Christmas, to get home and begin polishing. It was plain pathetic how much I was looking forward to this you guys.

Anyway, I finally get home, get to polishing, and its going good. The mirror shine is really starting to come out, when the polishing bit catches the tang, and because its spinning, pulls it self up to the edge, where it slips off and the vibration from the spinning causes the bit to chip the blade ever so slightly

I could have cried. Hours of sanding flashed before my eyes. In my mind, all the work had just been for nothing (because, as a noob, I'm assuming the worst). I figured I'd let you guys see, and hope that maybe by some miracle the straight razor gods would smile upon me, and this error may be salvageable through the expertise of a honemeister. Anybody willing to take a look and let me know if this chip can be repaired? I went ahead and used my master MS Paint skills to highlight the fatal blow for you guys.

Also, note that the rest of the blade is perfect and straight. It just looks kinda screwy from the felt or whatever of the cloth, which happens to be on an unlevel surface, hence the end appearing to stick up.

BEHOLD, and thanks for any insight you can provide.

 

[Slash McCoy]

Just reset the bevel on a coarse stone. That is a pretty minor chip and you can hone it out using conventional methods. Now you have your first "Dremel Ding".

 

[Legion]

And a rotary tool claims another victim.

You are lucky. That will hone out. Usually that mistake is a razor killer. Many of us have done it, and then we put the Dremel away for polishing.

 

[Doc226]

That chip will hone out. The only caveat is if there are any small cracks from it. Sometimes they are hard to see with the naked eye and can be seen with a loupe or felt on the stone while honing.

 

[danjared]

If the blade only had patina on it, how come you went through the trouble of sanding it?

 

[kpeople]

Thanks guys, definitely feeling better about the mistake, now I just gotta find someone who can hone it out for me

If the blade only had patina on it, how come you went through the trouble of sanding it?

Well, it was partly because it was pretty heavy in spots, pretty much completely black on the tang. But mostly because I hadn't yet read the thread on using a Dremel, and sanding just seemed the obvious starting point. And hey, no harm came from the sanding, so maybe that woulda been the wise to choice to end with!

 

[Doc226]

Thanks guys, definitely feeling better about the mistake, now I just gotta find someone who can hone it out for me



Well, it was partly because it was pretty heavy in spots, pretty much completely black on the tang. But mostly because I hadn't yet read the thread on using a Dremel, and sanding just seemed the obvious starting point. And hey, no harm came from the sanding, so maybe that woulda been the wise to choice to end with!

I can hone it for you for the price of shipping, PM me if interested.

 

[Krodor]

Doc, you're awesome.

 

[Doc226]

Doc, you're awesome.

Nah, I like to hone, and since I started my one razor until done I need more stuff to hone.

 

[kpeople]

Doc, you're awesome.

I couldn't agree more!

Dont know how to thank you Doc. Really means a lot.

 

[Raithskar]

Doc does a good job for sure. I know from experience! Have him Jnatize it for you. I still need to get a razor to him so he can jnatize it.

 

[hig789]

For future reference you could build a jig like Bill Ellis made. I have one thats made out of a old hard drive case and the magnets from the HD.

 

[danjared]

Thanks guys, definitely feeling better about the mistake, now I just gotta find someone who can hone it out for me



Well, it was partly because it was pretty heavy in spots, pretty much completely black on the tang. But mostly because I hadn't yet read the thread on using a Dremel, and sanding just seemed the obvious starting point. And hey, no harm came from the sanding, so maybe that woulda been the wise to choice to end with!

I'm not really understanding your usage of the word "patina". Patina will come off with metal polish. As far as the tang, are you sure that it was corrosion and not the case that the tang was intentionally blackened?

 

[paco664]

a buddy of mine used to date a stripper named "Patina".....



anyway back on track... thats a minor ding.... dremel is a no no....

 

[kpeople]

I'm not really understanding your usage of the word "patina". Patina will come off with metal polish. As far as the tang, are you sure that it was corrosion and not the case that the tang was intentionally blackened?

Maybe patina isnt the right word? I dont deal with metal very often... In my mind corrosion = rust and patina = discoloration. There was no rust in the sense that I'm used to (red/brown with texture) and no pitting. Give me a minute I'll post a 'before' photo cause I'd like to know what to call it for future reference, as it seems to be common on unrestored razors.

 

[kpeople]

Alright this is a pretty good picture of the blade before I did anything to it.

Also, I'm not saying that polishing wouldn't have removed it. I'm just saying...I didnt even think to try just polish to start. I went right to sanding, as that was what I had read most about (Mostly a result of my never having done it before, and eagerness to get started) I have a second blade coming from ebay, so I'll give that one a shot with just the polish to begin.

 

[brother cavefish]

just "bread it" and re-bevel

 

[onotoman]

I find that the best way to remove rust from a blade and polish is to use polishing wheels on a bench grinder.

If you ensure to keep the blade edge downwards, the wheel won't dig into the edge (or even touch it, depending on the angle you hold it at).

Hope this helps

 

[Gamma]

Doesn't look like it needs to be breadknifed to me. Probably hone out on a good 1k fairly quickly.
I don't BK unless I have to for a frown or a large chip - this blade doesn't show either. It is - IMO - better to handle small chips by creeping up on them slowly so as not to remove too much metal. For me - BK is a last-resort measure.

CLR works to remove rust - just soak it in a 1/2 strength solution (mixed with tap water) and when done neutralize with a baking soda solution.
The steel will be cloudy but that polishes out easilyl.
Dremels are dangerous for this - but with care they work ok. Keeping the blade on a flat piece of wood that's secured to the bench, and making sure that the rotation of the bit follows the hollow in the blade will keep things from becoming airborne for the most part. Anything moving fast can kill the steel's temper, and it's dangerous, so care should be taken.

 

[kpeople]

Doesn't look like it needs to be breadknifed to me. Probably hone out on a good 1k fairly quickly.
I don't BK unless I have to for a frown or a large chip - this blade doesn't show either. It is - IMO - better to handle small chips by creeping up on them slowly so as not to remove too much metal. For me - BK is a last-resort measure.

CLR works to remove rust - just soak it in a 1/2 strength solution (mixed with tap water) and when done neutralize with a baking soda solution.
The steel will be cloudy but that polishes out easilyl.
Dremels are dangerous for this - but with care they work ok. Keeping the blade on a flat piece of wood that's secured to the bench, and making sure that the rotation of the bit follows the hollow in the blade will keep things from becoming airborne for the most part. Anything moving fast can kill the steel's temper, and it's dangerous, so care should be taken.

I've heard a lot of references to "breadknifing" but when I search, I just get more references- not an eactual explanation of what it is. Care to enlighten me?

Also, so those black splotches would be considered rust? That method sounds interesting, I may give it a shot. I have another cheap blade from ebay being delivered this week with the same type of corrossion. It has an etching on the blade I'd like to save, so this method sounds much more gentle than sanding away at it. Thanks for the info!