My First Restoration Project

Well...so ends the project, for the moment. I tried to file the inside to get it smoother and more even, and I broke it. Bummer.

But I have more wood, and I will try again this weekend. All is not lost. My next effort, I think I might bite the bullet and just make normal scales and save the 1-piece for a time after I have developed some more skill...

Really nice work. I can already see a new hobby in development.

Really nice work.  I can already see a new hobby in development.

For sure. I've always loved working with wood. I've made a few picture frames in the past, but this was much more enjoyable, and with materials so handy, it would be foolish not to. So yea...I definitely feel a new hobby coming on....

Chis, your project seems to be coming along nicely even with the setback. You seem to have gone "all in" with the straights pretty quickly. I will definitely be checking back to see the marvelous progress. Good luck!

Really nice work.  I can already see a new hobby in development.

For sure. I've always loved working with wood. I've made a few picture frames in the past, but this was much more enjoyable, and with materials so handy, it would be foolish not to. So yea...I definitely feel a new hobby coming on....

Like many things in life, we have to persevere and get back up. Whether the first time I used my backyard telescope to look at the moon (I didn't find it right off, ha ha!) or my first shave, or whatever, you often get a set back. I will now refrain from citing all the adages! Keep up the good work!

Chris, you will succeed. You have so much talent that I have no doubt about that. Just save your little mishap so when you finally do perfect those scales you can see just how far you've come.

Chris,

So you broke it.

There are some amazing glues out there with which you can probably mend it and make it stronger than ever and the break will be virtually invisible.

Gorilla makes some excellent products and Lee valley has a large selection of top notch products. Try their woodworking catalogue.

My only suggestion is by all means get a glue that dries relatively quickly but gives you at least 30 seconds to align the pieces accurately.

Mickey

P.S. from an old thing breaker.
A folded piece of sandpaper would do both inner sides at once and not exert the pressure that a steel file will.

Alright...so I brought home a rather large slab of pine this week from work with a really nice grain and coloration. Today, I cut and shaped a new set of 1-piece scales, sanded them down to final size and fit, and applied the first coat of Tung oil.

So far, so good! Serendipity being what it is, this set is actually coming out much better than the other set...




The 2 photos above are sanded down to 220 grit and dusted off, prior to the application of the first coat of oil.





These 2 photos are after rubbing in the first coat of oil. I really like how the contrast is developing in the grain pattern...

Anyhow...just wanted to share. I'll probably drill the hole tomorrow and apply another coat of oil. Maybe I'll get some photos of the mock up. I'm really liking how this set is coming out...

I am really looking forward to following this ongoing project.

So...the last time I posted here, I was working on a 1-piece set of scales in Pine. Those broke, just as the Butternut set did.

I finally managed to carve out a decent set of 1 piece scales!! Using a piece of 3/8" Teak, I finally managed to shape, split, sand, polish and pin this razor. After pinning it in place, I took it to the stones, ground out the nicks in the heel, evened up the edge, and got her shave ready. The test shave was FANTASTIC!!

I am really, REALLY happy with the outcome of my first ground-up restoration...



P.S.-- Freddy I know you have been pretty curious about this project since day one, so I tagged you so you can see the finished product...