Restoration Blade Safety Jig

**BillEllis** · 02-25-2009, 02:33 AM

For those of you who dabble with your own restorations, I posted a quick "how to" make your own blade safety jig on my blog if you are interested. They look like this and they help you keep your fingers, but more importantly they protect the delicate edge of that razor headed for your favorite spot in the rotation.

Oh, and I finally got around to making some more of them and you can get them on my site if you don't want to make your own. They will be up by Thursday, or maybe late Wednesday evening.

It can be used three ways. The magnets in the wood hold it firmly enough to any metal surface and the rubber pad on the bottom keep it from shifting. It's fast and convenient. The second method used two screws to hold it to anything you can drill holes into. The third utilizes a vice to hold the jig. All methods work just fine.

**dkapp** · 02-25-2009, 07:11 PM

I'll have to keep an eye on your site. You should have seen me juggle the IXL yesterday as I was going at it with the 400 Grit by hand.

There was a little pitting on the edge, so I decided to hone it first to make sure the edge wasn't swiss cheese and wasting my time....doh!!

**Seraphim** · 02-25-2009, 07:20 PM

Bill, thanks so much for sharing so many of your craftsman techniques. Super helpful, and inspiring!

**lax1mxr** · 02-26-2009, 06:59 AM

They are on Bill's site now. I got mine. Thanks Bill!

**Limey** · 02-27-2009, 05:55 AM

I made two based on Bill's older design and find it to be an excellent tool! I have mine screwed to a 2x4 that is clamped to my work bench. The other in the picture is my back up.

**Seraphim** · 02-27-2009, 08:49 AM

Nice Hand American strop there too!

Wow, if that's what Bill has as his "shop strop", he's not messing around!

**Aquanin** · 02-28-2009, 05:00 AM

Great idea Bill, I ordered mine. Gave myself a few small cuts on my last restore. Hope to avoid this a little more with this.

Thanks!!

**Aquanin** · 03-05-2009, 07:58 AM

Got it. Thanks Bill. Dang this thing has some strong magnets!!!!!! This will help alot.

**lax1mxr** · 03-05-2009, 01:27 PM

Got mine yesterday and used it to polish up an FR Wedge. This tools works awesome. No more nicks!!!

Thanks Bill.

**mdunn** · 03-05-2009, 04:36 PM

cool - i may try and nock something like this up.

is that a bar fridge in the last photo

I need a shop like that!

**BillEllis** · 03-07-2009, 12:30 AM

I had been promising many of you to make more of these things for months. It was actually a relief to cross it off my "to do" list. You guys need to always be wary of the strength of the magnets because they will snag that blade right out of your hand if you are not consciously and methodically placing it where it belongs.

For those of you who have it, let us know the method you use to keep it stationary while you work. Have you used the holes to screw it to something, clamped it in a vice, or let the magnets hold it in place? I have an embedded piece of steel in my workbench and really like using it this way.

For those who have bought it, I hope you get many years of service out of it. For those of you who made your own, I'll bet you didn't save much money, eh?

**Fnord5** · 03-07-2009, 04:36 PM

Bill, Will you be offering up a die for washer making any time soon?

I am having a heck of a time building my own, just will not turn out right.

**BillEllis** · 03-07-2009, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by Fnord5

Bill, Will you be offering up a die for washer making any time soon?

I am having a heck of a time building my own, just will not turn out right.

Since I found microfasteners.com a couple years back, I don't even use mine anymore. In fact, I don't even know where I put it. There should be a reference to them in the CD. Get 1/16 rod and #0 washers. Most of my stuff gets those.

But to answer your question directly... no, I won't be making any in the foreseeable future.

**RoyalKooparillo** · 03-08-2009, 10:37 AM

This is an excellent idea, Bill. Thanks for making these available. My hands have been getting so cramped lately while hand sanding...I think this should really help.

**garyg** · 03-21-2009, 01:08 PM

Thanks - mine has been ordered

3fa · 07-06-2009, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by BillEllis

Since I found microfasteners.com a couple years back, I don't even use mine anymore. In fact, I don't even know where I put it. There should be a reference to them in the CD. Get 1/16 rod and #0 washers. Most of my stuff gets those.

But to answer your question directly... no, I won't be making any in the foreseeable future.

got my safety jig from Bill a while ago and it's been awesome and also the site microfasteners.com has some really handy stuff for restoration
thanks Bill

**ryrelav** · 07-08-2009, 02:32 AM

Every day learn something good job Bill.

**AceBuckeye** · 07-08-2009, 07:29 AM

As a proud owner of one of these bad boys I heartily endorse. Makes all resto work much easier.

**Olivia** · 07-08-2009, 09:08 AM

It does! I'm very happy with mine.

**sapito318** · 07-13-2009, 11:57 AM

I have heard of people having issues with this jig magnetizing the blade. Is this a rare occurence, or are the people using the jig incorrectly for this to happen? Also, should it happen, what steps should be taken to demagnetize the blade (besides heating it to demagnetized state

)