tathra11
Member
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2018
- Location
- Tathra NSW
I'll start by saying this razor was at times a PITFA to restore 
But as always, the process taught me some new things. The first step was to hone and shave. All good here. So I unpinned and cleaned up the blade with 3M Marine and steel wool which didn't do much good at all. Hmmm, that's unusual. Now a lengthy progression of wet n dry. Again here, the sanding didn't produce the normal lovely shine once finished off with 2k paper. Somethings going on here me thinks, scratching head. On to buffing compounds then finish with hand polishing using a couple different products. The final result? Very bloody ordinary. So decided to put a satin finish on the blade to give the antique look and cover some blemishes and pitting. Now the blade looked like crap. All scratchy like I'd just used a piece of sandpaper containing multiple different grits. Im getting the shits now. What to do...... Then I have the idea to use a finish I've never tried. Forced patina. To hopefully achieve a nice soft, even grey across the steel and complement the scars and pitting. Wiped very warm vinegar on the blade till it looked about right and at last the blade looks ok. The scales were in a poor state. Covered in gunk, warped, lots of delamination and a bad split to the front scale at the wedge pin. Sanded scales to find one streaky brown and the other translucent. I repaired the split and dyed the scales deep brown. The scales look ok considering their age and previous condition, but I might yet make a new set later on.
But as always, the process taught me some new things. The first step was to hone and shave. All good here. So I unpinned and cleaned up the blade with 3M Marine and steel wool which didn't do much good at all. Hmmm, that's unusual. Now a lengthy progression of wet n dry. Again here, the sanding didn't produce the normal lovely shine once finished off with 2k paper. Somethings going on here me thinks, scratching head. On to buffing compounds then finish with hand polishing using a couple different products. The final result? Very bloody ordinary. So decided to put a satin finish on the blade to give the antique look and cover some blemishes and pitting. Now the blade looked like crap. All scratchy like I'd just used a piece of sandpaper containing multiple different grits. Im getting the shits now. What to do...... Then I have the idea to use a finish I've never tried. Forced patina. To hopefully achieve a nice soft, even grey across the steel and complement the scars and pitting. Wiped very warm vinegar on the blade till it looked about right and at last the blade looks ok. The scales were in a poor state. Covered in gunk, warped, lots of delamination and a bad split to the front scale at the wedge pin. Sanded scales to find one streaky brown and the other translucent. I repaired the split and dyed the scales deep brown. The scales look ok considering their age and previous condition, but I might yet make a new set later on. 
