Thread: Crude 1st Effort - UGLY but Works Well

Okay, So this is my first effort just to see if I could. Primarily made it to see if I would like a near wedge and shorter blade length, as it could get kind of expensive to purchase different razors only to find out I do not like them. It is made from a dull file, Simonds I think (maybe Nichlson). Well I did not anneal before shaping just to save the hassle. I do not think I will go that route again as it is to time consuming and makes shaping a hassle. Burning the steel being one of the biggest problems, but certainly avoidable.

Visibly it is not pretty. The ground in notches make it easy to hold with wet hands. It is fairly close to a microtome, but maybe hollower on the front and has a pass with the grinder on the back to make honing easier. The next one will be near wedge or quarter hollow.

The shave,
I have 5 or 6 shaves on it and I prefer it to my Henckel Black Devil. Each shave with it has been better than the last. I am not sure exactly what to attribute this to. Probably a combination of things. I am getting a very close shave with less passes.

This blade was a bit slower to hone but took a "cleaner" edge (than the Henckel). I believe future honing will go faster than the first,makes sense to me that it should.

Thanks for looking and don't be afraid of hurting my feelings, I know that it is not a thing of beauty.

Jeff

P.S. Made it during 5 and 10 minute breaks at work. with bench and belt grinders.
P.P.S. One of the guys at work asked "if I was actually going to shave with that?" Then said "it won't work" (full of snootiness and derision) and was surprised when I told him how well it worked.