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Post by pellius on Aug 29, 2020 2:34:22 GMT
August 28, 2020 Quick update I've been working to clean the scabbard up for the last couple of sessions. The brown coating comes off quite easily, facilitating its super fast removal. Honestly, had it been a tougher finish, it probably wouldn't have rubbed off of the lower part of the scabbard so badly, and I wouldn't have needed to clean it up. But I digress..  I began with sandpaper wrapped around a stick to get the bulk of the goop offIt turns out that the black rust/patina under the brown coating has a tremendous grip on the scabbard. Perhaps it is because the scabbard had such a low polish when treated, giving the rust lots of little crevices to wedge into. Who knows. What I do know is that it takes a substantial amount of effort to dislodge it from the scabbard steel.  I eventually fell back to my favorite technique - the sandpaper roll. The patina on this section still needs a bit of.. persuasionThankfully, the shape of the scabbard surface is simple and robust, lending itself to a good scouring. My initial impression was that the scabbard cleaning would take minimal effort. I was laughably mistaken. Nonetheless, this part of the project is quite a bit easier than cleaning the blade.  This next section looks a little rough. Slapping that brown coating on the scabbard way back when seems to have arrested the destruction, here, but wow. This part looks like it was "hammered and forge blackened." This may take a minute.. That's it for now. Thanks for taking the time to read this. |
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Uhlan
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Post by Uhlan on Sept 11, 2020 14:18:43 GMT
Been thinking to find a way to make the scabbard clean up a little easier for you.
Why not wedge it between your stomach and, for instance, a wall or anything that will hold it up and will not be pushed away by your body pressure.
The drag end rests on the plinth and the mouth end pushes against your stomach.
That way you WILL be able to use two hands. Put some bin liners on the floor for the dust?
I remember seeing this done by those p!ss poor 18th -19th century home workers on old engravings.
Sorry for the late reaction by the way.
Cheers.
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Post by pellius on Sept 17, 2020 21:35:16 GMT
Uhlan - thank you for the tip. I’ll seek an appropriate anchor point try that out. My apologies for the delay. I’ve had personal “quarantine” issues for the last several weeks, but all is well now (No infection, just lengthy mandatory over-cautiousness). I’m looking forward to getting some work done!
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Post by pellius on Sept 18, 2020 2:40:52 GMT
September 17, 2020 Update  Slow going, but progressingI've managed a few brief sessions over the last couple of weeks to work on cleaning the scabbard up a bit. My time constraints have kept me from sharing the progress, though. Honestly, there's not a lot to see at this point; no lines in the steel to sharpen or fine details to bring out. Just slowly working on convincing diamond-hard pit monsters that homesteaded over a century ago to pull up stakes and leave the holler'. And to take all their kin folk with 'em.  Uhlan was correct about holding the scabbard to work it. Without a proper workbench (mine is currently spoken for by other projects), and a wife that views the entire endeavor with moderate disapproval - especially when it finds its way to the dining room table - my methodology has basically been to hold the scabbard with one hand and sand gently with the other. The sandpaper roll works pretty well under these circumstances for small areas, but the going is very slow. It seems that the low polish of the scabbard was infested with super-tenacious black patina that really got a good grip after being coated with the brown coating. Since the sandpaper roll is, like the scabbard, convex at its working surface, it takes f-o-r-e-v-e-r to make progress; especially when using a number of different grits.  The scabbard near the mouth looked like this right the way 'roundHaving yet to find a suitable place in the dining room to brace the scabbard without risking harm to the floor, walls, furniture, or my hide should my wife happen by, I began cutting sandpaper into strips, holding it against the scabbard under my thumb, and then pulling it free with my other hand. Slow going, but I could apply quite a bit of pressure. The sandpaper fouls quickly anyway, so it was not as slow as one might imagine.  One small development that unexpectedly rewarded me was the discovery of the seem of the scabbard. Not a lot to see, yet, but it was a nice smile generator.  If you look close, you can see the yellow seemAnd that's all I have for the moment. Thanks for taking the time to read this. |
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Uhlan
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Post by Uhlan on Sept 18, 2020 13:39:34 GMT
Well, all things considered, you display and have the stamina to pull the project off.
The majority would have given up by now. Kudos.
Cheers.
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Post by pellius on Sept 18, 2020 14:27:06 GMT
Thanks, Uhlan. The world coming unglued is what emboldened me to take on this project. Perhaps somewhat ironically, it is also what has delayed progress for significant stretches of time. Regardless, I am indeed committed to finishing.
For quite reasonable but face-palmingly incorrect reasons, I thought the scabbard was the home stretch of the project. In the doing, it is quite a different undertaking than the saber. I’m learning as I go, slowly getting faster. As I develop a bit of experience, things seem to go more smoothly with more success. I’ll get there.
🙂
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Uhlan
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Post by Uhlan on Sept 19, 2020 12:27:02 GMT
Oh, see the harder than need be work on the scabbard as an opportunity to just maybe covince your seemingly, most formidable, but no doubt, lovely lady, to be a little more lenient, as the way you have to work now may have repercussions on your general stamina, which, in a way, may have severe repercussions on her and God forbid the childrens well being too. I have it from good sources that a slight emphasis, not too much mind you, just a remark as light as a feather, that her wellbeing may be in jeopardy to a certain degree, if ,again, certain situations do not change significantly, could have a good effect on your, currently non sustainable, work situation.
Ofcourse this is all hearsay, so do not look at me when copper bottomed cast iron saucepan meets head.
Cheers.
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Uhlan
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Post by Uhlan on Sept 19, 2020 13:04:38 GMT
It just occured to me that in the situation at hand you may benefit by a study of the most excellent works of Sun Tsu?
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Post by pellius on Sept 19, 2020 14:03:54 GMT
Hahaha!
My wife is beautiful, but I married her because she is formidable. Previously a prosecutor and criminal defense trial attorney, she doesn’t need a weapon to hit above her weight class!
I have indeed studied Sun Tzu (translated, of course - I am an American). In his words, I am already on Death Ground.
😁
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