Thread: My First Full Custom: The Bastard (File Razor)

Originally Posted by shooter74743

We don't do pricing here in the open forum my friend, please do that kind of thing behind the curtain of PM's.

Sorry mate. No worries, I will consider my wrist slapped.

Beautiful job, Man.

Im reading a lot of the replies and comments. a lot of them wish you well and they hope that it shaves well. Im very new to straight razors. New, as in i got my first one in the mail this week and my first cut still hurts, new.

This might not be the right place to ask this, but why would it not shave well from a forging stand point. I understand that the honing and finishing part of it obviously is very important, but what from the forging would hurt how the razor shaves? The steel? The bevel angle? all that seems like it would obviously be worked out in the initial plans. I guess what im asking is what if left up to chance?

sorry if this is confusing, im not really good with typing questions from my brain.

Anywho.... that is beautiful

Thanks mate.
Yes, getting the bevel angle right is an important aspect that needs to be worked into the initial design, but there is more to getting a good shave.
As you said the steel is a critical factor. When using an old files the quality of the steel can vary a lot.
I've heard from several places that old Nicholson files are good for this purpose though.
Another thing that could effect the outcome hardening. Some of the pro's could probably give you more info, but there is plenty that could go wrong here.
Then tempering. Not hot enough and the blade will be too hard to hone or take a good edge, too hot and it'll be to soft to take an edge.
Then you have the final grinding, where controlling the temperature is critical. It's pretty easy to overheat the edge and ruin the temper leaving the edge to soft to hold an edge.
There's probably other stuff, but thats what comes to mind now.
Grant