File transfomation with "cracked ice" shank

Last weekend I finished some razors, that I forged in the winter. Someone in my forge, spilled out my hardening oil :gaah:

So I decided to harden in the ice water, that still was in a bucket. This togehter with file steel is a very high risk, to get cracks in the steel, because of the very fast cooling of the steel. At the end I had luck with this. Only the pattern of the file cracked a little bit deeper than normal, but the edge was fine. So I could not grind out all the formerly file pattern on the thicker parts of the blade on the back and the shank. The other side is, that the grain of the steel is now very, very fine.

The handle is from african wenge wood and complete the rustic look from the razor. Hope you like it:

Very beautiful, Buddell. Sometimes these little "accidents" create something unique and impossible to duplicate. I'm glad you put forth the effort to finish the razor.

Absolutely fabulous Gabor...:bow. Well done maestro

PS: So, I guess one could call the cracked pattern a "positive side effect" :)

Most excellent work, yet again.
I really like how this one turned out.

Nice one. I like the look of that tang. Really unique and cool.

Beautiful razor. I think I've never seen something like that. Very unique idea.

Looks fantastic. Great results

Very nice.
I can only imagine how great it would look in my shave den.

One of the coolest looking things ive seen! Nice work once again.

Man, I love the cracks... It's so distinctive, really adds life to it.

I bow to your superior skills, sensei!!

Nice, really nice...

M

That is very cool! I wonder what would happen if you tried hard to do it! Nice!;)

Outstanding, Gabor. As a proud owner of your craftsmanship, I can truly say that razor makes me swoon!

I think the tendency to produce cracks in the edge would be minimised by holding the blade horizontal, and putting it into the water spine first. Edge cracks are frequently caused by tension, the shrinking back pulling on the edge which is already shrunken and hard, because the inside is closer to the outside in thin metal. So it makes sense to start the back off first. It does no harm if that stretches the red-hot, soft edge.

If it is possible to pick up the blade in flat and perhaps copper-lined tongs, which cover the flat or evenly tapered tang, it might prevent that crazing. I agree it looks different and interesting, but the trouble is, we don't know how deep the cracks go, and they might be a source of weakness or place for rust to start. It would be reassuring if a couple of hundredths of an inch with a diamond hone were to get to the bottom of them.

That looks awesome! A razor isn't under a lot of stress when shaving so hopefully nothing bad will happen to it in future. I've never quenched 1095 in cold water before but I might have a bash at some stage after seeing this, you might be onto something here!

Love the whole package, the timber scales and the cracked steel have the whole rustic, old-worldy feel. Really nice.

Buddel, I like your sense of style and daring. :cool: You took what the world considers a flaw and turned it into a feature. :beer1:

The Japanese sword world has long recognized the difference between fatal and non fatal flaws in a blade (kizu). A perfectly serviceable edge is still a good edge no matter what it's hanging from.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Caledonian

I agree it looks different and interesting, but the trouble is, we don't know how deep the cracks go, and they might be a source of weakness or place for rust to start. It would be reassuring if a couple of hundredths of an inch with a diamond hone were to get to the bottom of them.

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From what I´m can see the cracks are not very deep. If so, I think the razor wouldn´t overlived the hardening. I did here a tripple hardening to be sure, the shank is stable. But if there will be a rust or other problem with the razor in the future, I will give the buyer a full refund. So he has no risk at all.

That razor has your signature style, beautiful. I am so sorry I missed out on the 3 you put up for sale!

I saw that and just had to visit your website. Fabulous work that I'm sure I'll never be able to afford, but I'll be thinking about it anyway.

Excellent work Gabor. Glad you carried these through to the end as these little things give the razor character IMHO.

Beautiful razor. It would look great in any shave den.