What's on your work bench right now?

[Frank Shaves]

I finally finished the scales for the George Wostenholm Pipe. The scales still need a little polish.

I am very happy with the FBU shape. I drilled the holes from the back side leaving a small amount of discoloration around the exit holes on the front side. Never seen this before. Not sure, but my theory is that the front side was only sanded to 100 grit and sanding the exit holes with 240 grit caused the discoloration. I did, however, apply three coats of CA, sanding in between. Next time, I will sand to 240 grit before drilling from the front side.

I should also point out that these scales are long at the back. The replacement scales are the exact length as the original. I decided to respect the length of (what I believe are) the original scales.

Not sure if you can tell, but I used silver rod with stainless washers.

 

[Dan05]

Getting back into the hobby, I decided to take stock of my current inventory.

My workbench seems to be plenty full from when I left. I have to rescale this razor which I have the scales made but not finished.

Seriously needs TLC.

The next two we have are a Thomas turner and a Dixie. Both require scales and even though I have a bunch on old ones I will most likely create some new ones for them in various materials, not sure yet.

Then my friend has one that he doesn’t want as it’s in need of love too.
A thiers piere.
And I have this thiers issard that needs my help.
I made these scales a while back and they look ok. They do need work on the backing and a ceramic coating is needed but I can reuse them. The blade was dropped by nobody apparently. Questioned the family and they all looked at me like I was nuts…..
So I need to grind it back and refinish the blade. I fear I will now loose the pattern on the blade though.

That’s it till I buy more….

 

[Dan05]

Getting back into the hobby, I decided to take stock of my current inventory.

My workbench seems to be plenty full from when I left. I have to rescale this razor which I have the scales made but not finished.
View attachment 1427047
Seriously needs TLC.

The next two we have are a Thomas turner and a Dixie. Both require scales and even though I have a bunch on old ones I will most likely create some new ones for them in various materials, not sure yet.
View attachment 1427048


Then my friend has one that he doesn’t want as it’s in need of love too.
A thiers piere.
And I have this thiers issard that needs my help.
I made these scales a while back and they look ok. They do need work on the backing and a ceramic coating is needed but I can reuse them. The blade was dropped by nobody apparently. Questioned the family and they all looked at me like I was nuts…..
So I need to grind it back and refinish the blade. I fear I will now loose the pattern on the blade though.

That’s it till I buy more….The TP and TI

 

[thp001]

Bunch of 15/16 blades ready for thermal cycling and HT. Ground up to 220 grit.

 

[2bit_collie]

Finished the Jackson, Smith & Co.
The horn scales were somewhat interesting - one side had a fair amount of translucency, the other side had very little. Put a little CA glue on the crack on the show side scale at the pivot point. The pivot point is a bit loose, but I can always go back later and try to fix. The blade was in really good shape with little wear, other than a chip on the edge. Took out the chip and set the bevel with a Shapton 2k. Well almost took it out. The remnants were not visible at 5X magnification, but a tiny bit was visible at 50X. I’ve found in the past that at 50X I can see defects that I cant feel during the shave. Then a Shapton 5K, LWW, Hard Ark and Black Ark followed by diamond=pasted balsa. Will shave with it tomorrow!

 

[Frank Shaves]

I finally scored a user-grade Filarmonica 13 Medallon Taurino near wedge that is in transit. Based on the seller's photos, my plan is to try to preserve the etching/gold wash.

What exactly is gold wash? Is it just plating or is there also some etching?

My plan is to cover the front face, sand the entire blade and then gently sand the front face with 1200 and 2000, and possibly go coarser to the right and left of the gold wash.

I know to avoid solvents. Is WD-40 a no-no?

Comments appreciated.

 

[thp001]

John Creswick before and after:

 

[Wid]

John Creswick before and after:

View attachment 1431243View attachment 1431244

Absolutely stunning

 

[thp001]

Absolutely stunning

Thanks, this one turned out better than I expected even, the horn just started to develop more and more as it went through the process. I only had one set of the big beehive collars left, luckily so, they really show the scales off well. Probably won't be hanging on to this one though, going to get her honed up this week for moving on.

 

[Possum092]

Beau Brummel 9/16 wedge with a rusted blade and a chipped edge. Cleaned, honed, and stropped for a shave tomorrow.

 

[thp001]

Light clean up of this Genco Heavy I got at an antique store a few weeks back. Razor had never been used but poor storage at some time in its life had left light staining and pitting on the blade. Simply cleaned up with emery on a sisal wheel, no point trying to re-grind such a thin blade imo, easy to make things go from good to bad. Very light remnants of the pitting left but in much better condition. Scales simply washed then rebuffed with Tripoli on a spiral sewn wheel then fine rouge on a loose cotton mop. Ready for honing. These American blades take an incredible edge.

 

[thp001]

Ern Blue Steel and a Crown Razor Co blade, fairly clean blades so again just a light restoration.

 

[Frank Shaves]

I just posted this all-original Wade & Butcher 13/16+ near wedge straight point on the acquisition thread.

I experimented with different grits of sandpaper and thought I would share some of the photos from the experiments. I did all of the sanding by hand. Took about four hours for both the scales and the blade, and my old hands were pretty tired when I finished.

I used steel wool and a bit of 2000-grit wet/dry on the scales. Had I first soaked the scales in 100% neatsfoot oil, I might not have needed to use the sandpaper. Note to self to remember that .

Before.

After. I ended up using 100, 240, 400, 800 and 1200 grit wet/dry followed by one round of Mothers.

At 800-grit. Looks dirty to my eyes.

Down to 400-grit. Better but still looks dirty to me.

Down to 240. Now we're talking (at least to me). Still a little splotchy, so down to 100 grit I went - with no regrets.

Wade (top) with brother Joseph (bottom).

 

[2bit_collie]

I just posted this all-original Wade & Butcher 13/16+ near wedge straight point on the acquisition thread.

I experimented with different grits of sandpaper and thought I would share some of the photos from the experiments. I did all of the sanding by hand. Took about four hours for both the scales and the blade, and my old hands were pretty tired when I finished.

I used steel wool and a bit of 2000-grit wet/dry on the scales. Had I first soaked the scales in 100% neatsfoot oil, I might not have needed to use the sandpaper. Note to self to remember that .

Before.

View attachment 1437168

After. I ended up using 100, 240, 400, 800 and 1200 grit wet/dry followed by one round of Mothers.

View attachment 1437169

At 800-grit. Looks dirty to my eyes.

View attachment 1437172

Down to 400-grit. Better but still looks dirty to me.

View attachment 1437173

Down to 240. Now we're talking (at least to me). Still a little splotchy, so down to 100 grit I went - with no regrets.

View attachment 1437174

Wade (top) with brother Joseph (bottom).

View attachment 1437181

great job Frank! I’m alway amazed by the transformation in old golden horn scales that a little clean-up can achieve. Without a doubt my favorite scale material. 4 hrs may seem like a long time to you (and it is is) but to a 150 yr old blade, it’s but a brief moment!

 

[Frank Shaves]

great job Frank! I’m alway amazed by the transformation in old golden horn scales that a little clean-up can achieve. Without a doubt my favorite scale material. 4 hrs may seem like a long time to you (and it is is) but to a 150 yr old blade, it’s but a brief moment!

Thanks. I could not agree more about the scales. I just assumed they were a darker color. Amazing how they easily come back to life with just a little neatsfoot oil, steel wool and elbow grease. Makes you admire horn.

 

[thp001]

Finished this Ern Blue Steel, had run out of washers so was waiting for the post. Honed up King 1K, dilucot then finished on one of the “new” La Lune hones.

 

[2bit_collie]

Hibbard & Spencer 13/16 1/2 hollow
This is a famous Chicago Hardware store - this variation of the name was used 1865-1882. In the next century it eventually became known as True Value. It would have been made by someone else on behalf of H&S, I’m guessing Sheffield based on the style. When purchased it had insect damage on the black horn scales and grind marks on the blade. I worked to clean up the blade and made new scales out of blond horn. Still need to hone.

As purchased

Now

 

[Dan05]

So, finished off a Dixie MFD from the 1930’s today. Just needs honing etc.

Acrylic scales and a good clean and polish. It was almost completely covered in surface rust so to get it this good, was amazing.

 

[Ice-Man]

So, finished off a Dixie MFD from the 1930’s today. Just needs honing etc.

Acrylic scales and a good clean and polish. It was almost completely covered in surface rust so to get it this good, was amazing. View attachment 1440674View attachment 1440675View attachment 1440676

Very nice that's a stunner for sure, they sure are nice straights

 

[Dan05]

Very nice that's a stunner for sure, they sure are nice straights

It was fun having a go at it again.