[gssixgun]

The other night in chat an idea was hatched by ByronTodd and I, he brought up a Knife making trick that was being used which flicked a light on above my head!!!!
Being an avid shooter and reloader as well as a gunsmith I have several Brass Tumblers out in the shop more accurately called a vibratory cleaner I thought Hmmmmm I've used them to polish gun parts before why not a razor????? So I trudged over the snow into the shop and tossed in a old full hollow grind razor I figured that it would be the most likely to break...
Not exactly a controlled experiment but hey I am not a researcher
Right now after a few days of spinning we have mixed results.
1. The edge is fine no damage whatsoever...
2. The blade did show some promise of cleaning...
3. It was old corn cob media..
4. New Walnut Shell media with rouge is on the way, this is the cleaning media
5. New Corn Cob media with metal polish is on its way, this is the polishing media
6. I have 3 old rusted pitted E-bay blades on the way
7. I will run a controlled experiment and post the results in this thread....

I found and old thread on this, but it is about as vague as my first try, so before you go throwing all yer old razors in the spinner let's see what really happens..... Plus I was due for new media anyway so no big deal!!!
If any of the members from the old thread have done more research on this, please let us know.......
Anyone who does restoration, can see the time and finger saving possibilities here

[cabo_sailor]

Hmmm Indeed!

It seems I might have been blind to the other uses of my Dillon brass cleaner. Thanks for the suggestion - not just for razors but other small parts.

[floppyshoes]

I was looking at vibratory tumblers on ebite the other day and had the same thought. I'm interested to see how well they work on heavy/deep pitting. Sometimes grinding seems to be inevitable.

[iron maiden]

The walnut media will polish quicker, but it'll leave more of a satin finish.

[Wildtim]

I'm not sure how I'd like something as fine as the edge of the razor abraded on by a vibratory tumbler. I guess as a last ditch effort to save a rust pile it would be ok but I've never been into rescuing them when they are that far gone anyways.

[cabo_sailor]

Its not really a tumbler. Picture the razor buried in a bucket of crushed up walnut shells - then just vibrate the bucket - not paint mixer shaking but a relatively gentle vibration like the vibrators some folks use at home for ..er health.

[Wildtim]

I know I've got one, I just don't think the edge will appreciate it , especially if it works its way into contact with the nut at the bottom or the side of the bowl.

[gssixgun]

All the speculation is great but this is why I am going to do before and after pics and check the edges before and after...
I will run as controlled an experiment as possible ...
Many of you have heard me say this before but being the slightly obsessive compulsive person that I am sometimes has its merits...
(I have never convinced the SWMBO of that)

I will post negative results on this thread as well
The first quick toss it in the pot and stir try, did not damage the edge of a full hollow at all, so I am going to proceed with high hopes

[KingOfMalkier]

This is really funny timing. I was watching a show last night where they had a bucket full of sand that air got pumped into and the sand basically turned into quicksand. Objects would sink or float just like it water. Apparently it's used as a parts cleaner and I was wondering how it would work on razors. I realize this isn't the exact kind of machine your talking about, but it's similar enough to be weird to me. I think that the flowing sand would have less chance of damaging the edge, but I don't know if it would be overly harsh. Obviously it would only be the first step in a standard-ish progression, but it could take out the rust removal process and get rid of some pitting. Can't wait to see how your experiment turns out.

[Chris L]

Very interesting idea. I wouldn't think the edge would be damaged. If anything I would think it would bring the edge back to a pre-bevel condition requiring honing from scratch, but that would be half the fun.

Chris L

[gssixgun]

The new media is being picked up today by the SWMBO so I should be able to try this tonight!!!!!
And yes the tumbler basically floats the razor inside a circulating bath of media...
I have not ruled out using very fine sand in a sandblasting unit either I have access to one with my neighbor and SRP member Cat28...
So this might be a long thread.....

[KingOfMalkier]

You have the coolest toys...

[Loochie]

Wouldn't a thin strip of tape protect the bevel? Never seen one of these in action so I speculate but it wouldn't vibrate rough enough to cut a piece of scotch tape would it?

Just a thought

[gssixgun]

I have thought of using the tape on the bevel, but actually I am going to first see if I even need it...(without would yield a nice even polish)
Being realistic we don't hone before restores anyway so what does it really matter if the bevel is dulled, just so long as there are no chips or cracks I would be happy....

[D2T]

Originally Posted by KingOfMalkier

This is really funny timing. I was watching a show last night where they had a bucket full of sand that air got pumped into and the sand basically turned into quicksand.

I saw that episode of Smash Lab last night as well and had the exact same idea

[ByronTodd]

Ahem!

What Glen has forgotten to mention is that there is a licensing fee for using this idea of mine.... A freshly restored, shave ready razor is that licensing fee - if the idea/experiment is successful. If it's not, well uh, then I had nothing to do with the idea in the first place!

Keeping my fingers crossed....

Originally Posted by gssixgun

The other night in chat an idea was hatched by ByronTodd and I, he brought up a Knife making trick that was being used which flicked a light on above my head!!!!

[TULIP]

As a reloader myself, I've given this some thought...but I don't know that corn or walnut media would do the job. When I got my Rio Grande catalog a week and a half ago, I found media that jewelers use and thought about giving that a spin.

[oldblades]

Glen
Last week I tried to bead blast an old blade ate up by scale rot. I used what would be the equivellent to 60 grit glass beads to do the blasting at 60 psi. Mixed results, the blade, a full hollow ground, was very badly rusted aprox. a 5/8. It is now a very uneven 3 to 4/8. the rest of what is left has a nice satin finish. I did not try to sand of buff it. I have some 120 grit beads on the way and I am going to try them at a lower air pressure. I use the blast cabinet to clean car and motorcycle parts so I thought I'd give it a try. Food for thought.
Tim

[Chris L]

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Being realistic we don't hone before restores anyway so what does it really matter if the bevel is dulled, just so long as there are no chips or cracks I would be happy....

Exactly.

Cool thread!

Chris L

[Yorkshireman]

Brass cartridges? they're for those newfangled breech loading things, are'nt they? I thought that all us old-fashioned straight razor lads used good old-fashioned muzzle-loaders!
Keep yer powder dry,

Duncan.