So I was going to make a set of scales for Itsmedave for his Red Imp that he sent me. I'm working on them, and in the middle of it all I guess he decides he's had enough of straights and decides to sell them all off on BST. Well, I just happened to have a DE that he was interested in so he and I agreed on that and the Imp is now mine. It's one that has been on my short list for a while.
Anyway, the original scales were on it, but they were warped and had shrank so badly that the razor wouldn't close completely - the blade would hit the wedge. So, I decided an american razor needed a domestic wood set of scales and made these out of a piece of walnut burl I had laying around, and a cherry wedge. The best part is that Dave and I both live in Tennessee, and these scales are from trees that were cut here in my town, so it's all local. They are coated with Watco Danish oil and a bazillionty coats of shellac.
The razor itself had been expertly honed by Paco664, but was otherwise unrestored. I polished it up a bit, cleaned the gunk out of the pivot, JB Welded the pivot hole and redrilled it to 1/16 to eliminate slop, and re-blued the tang and spine. The razor was put back together with stainless steel pins and washers.
I think it turned out pretty good, although, honestly, I half-assed the shellac finish and didn't sand it out far enough.
Enough babble... on to the pics:
I got her all honed up tonight and took her for a test shave too. Did real nice, although I want to hit it back on the hone again for some more in-depth edge work. I kinda jacked up Paco's edge when I polished it (sorry brother...)
Hope you all like it.
Jeff
Anyway, the original scales were on it, but they were warped and had shrank so badly that the razor wouldn't close completely - the blade would hit the wedge. So, I decided an american razor needed a domestic wood set of scales and made these out of a piece of walnut burl I had laying around, and a cherry wedge. The best part is that Dave and I both live in Tennessee, and these scales are from trees that were cut here in my town, so it's all local. They are coated with Watco Danish oil and a bazillionty coats of shellac.
The razor itself had been expertly honed by Paco664, but was otherwise unrestored. I polished it up a bit, cleaned the gunk out of the pivot, JB Welded the pivot hole and redrilled it to 1/16 to eliminate slop, and re-blued the tang and spine. The razor was put back together with stainless steel pins and washers.
I think it turned out pretty good, although, honestly, I half-assed the shellac finish and didn't sand it out far enough.
Enough babble... on to the pics:
I got her all honed up tonight and took her for a test shave too. Did real nice, although I want to hit it back on the hone again for some more in-depth edge work. I kinda jacked up Paco's edge when I polished it (sorry brother...)
Hope you all like it.
Jeff
