Custom 8/8 one piece file razor

**MuskieMan33** · 12-27-2013, 05:50 AM

Hey everyone!

Just finished this up the other day. I'm extremely happy with how everything came out as my first attempt at making a razor. I used an old file for the project and will include pictures at the end.

Starting off, the file was annealed at 1650 then my rough grinding and shaping took place. I wanted to keep the design simple since it is my first attempt at this. Edge after rough grind was 0.040" and looking good so far. I normalized twice at 1450, then quenched twice at 1450 as well in preheated oil at 160 degrees fahrenheit. Tempered then at 400 degrees for two hours. Then made some strokes on the hone to see how it was coming together. I needed to focus on removing a little more from the heel and toe sides as can be seen in the pictures. Finish grind to 0.010" at the edge to 1000 grit belt then polish (I wanted to still have grind marks, I wasn't going for mirror finish). Now the only thing left to do is hone it and give it a test shave!

I have to give a special thanks to my Dad, Walleyeman for letting me work in his shop on his brand new grinder. And burn through a couple of his belts.

If anyone has any other tips/pointers for making razors I'd gladly listen. I'd love to improve and learn more!! Thanks for looking!

Cheers,
Zac

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File after annealing

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After rough shape and grind

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Alternate view of rough grind

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After normalizing, hardening, tempering, and few passes on DMT hone. See heel and toe have more contact than center?

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Same thing, other side

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Finish grind to 1000 grit and polished with Mothers

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Thats clean.

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MMM.

Thanks again everyone!!

**nzFuzzy** · 12-27-2013, 06:08 AM

Looks like a great first try.
Looking forward to hearing how the first shave went
Congrats

**JReed** · 12-27-2013, 06:16 AM

Wow! That is slick.

**KindestCutOfAll** · 12-27-2013, 06:29 AM

Very nice!

It looks like a meat cleaver, ... really!

You have to tell us how it shaves.

**JMJones** · 12-27-2013, 04:18 PM

That looks slick. Thanks for the progress pics.

**Mike Blue** · 12-27-2013, 06:10 PM

Clean form and you left the file teeth to show the provenance of the steel. That's a nice traditional blacksmith touch.

**spazola** · 12-27-2013, 06:18 PM

I like the shape and looks of the razor. It looks modern and ancient at the same time.

Charlie

**ischiapp** · 12-29-2013, 12:34 AM

Originally Posted by KindestCutOfAll

Very nice!
It looks like a meat cleaver, ... really!

+1

Grat job!!!

**lz6** · 12-29-2013, 01:20 AM

Nice work. What a positive transition for a file.

**pixelfixed** · 12-29-2013, 03:01 AM

That looks like it could be a great Blade,keep working on it,regardless of what that clown on another site says

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