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.

Forgot to add pics of my custom shot glass. Made last week (again in my breaks).
Upper is Ti and base is 13-8 SS.

Jeff

Interesting! This was a good result for a first time. The most important thing is that it shaved great. Congratulations! What size wheel did you use on the hollow side? What did you use to heat treat? I'd strongly recommend annealing a file next time. I had a bad experience with a file knife that I did not anneal - didn't temper properly, and shattered when I dropped it.

Ugly shmugly, You kicked butt. It is a great feeling to shave with a self made razor. There is always time to refine things in the future. I think it is cool you made a functional razor.

Charlie

i freakin love it..... i make mine at work also..... mine are ugly but they work.... *(kinda like me)....

fact is ... you making me wanna post up photos of the one i finally finished night before last.... *(it is a 8/8 chahppah....)

skipnord, I did no HT at all. That blade is as it came from the factory as a file. If you do not do a full anneal, all you can do is to draw it back to lesser hardness and still expect good results.

I think it was a 8" wheel, but maybe could have been the 6".

Charlie, Thanks. I have looked at some of your work and you do some neat stuff.

I am working on a grinder now that will have an 18" wheel. The wheel was free and the bulk of the materials have been free. I think I will have about $50 into it when it is complete. I started it for a different project and will use it a bunch when it is done.

You are spot on though, it was great to shave with MY OWN RAZOR that I formed from an otherwise piece of junk.

What is amazing is that you can do some real nice work on less than "professional" knife making equipment. I made a knife in my garage that turned out pretty nice. Even though I work in a very well equipped machine shop I try to use the machinery which I can reasonably replicate at home without spending $5-$10 K

My goal is for the next one to look professional.

Jeff

Dude, I couldn't make one that good if I had the time.
As long as it shaves well and you learned something you did well.

I'm with Charlie. Nothing beats shaving with something you made yourself. One has to start somewhere. Kudos to you!

I like it, even better, it shaves well. Well done.

I think it is incredible that you can make your own razor. I would not even try. Congrats and use it in good health.