Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 26
Like Tree28Likes

Thread: Hollow grinding service?

  1. #1
    neg
    neg is offline
    Junior Member neg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Chiefland, FL
    Posts
    5
    Thanked: 0

    Default Hollow grinding service?

    I was thinking of forging a few razors soon from some old files. I don't have a grinder set up for hollow grinding and I've never attempted it myself. Is there anybody on here who grinds razors that I could ship some blanks to? If so, who are they and what'll they charge?

  2. #2
    Razor Vulture sharptonn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Lone Star State
    Posts
    25,827
    Thanked: 8588

    Default

    I am no blademaker, but I think there is more to it. I think the standard routine is to anneal the file before grinding the rough shape out. Then, some of the hollow grinding comes in. A heat treating process and final work is done.
    Do some searches in the search box at top of forum on the right. You will come up with tons of answers!
    Good luck!
    "Don't be stubborn. You are missing out".
    I rest my case.

  3. #3
    Senior Member wyobarbershop's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    635
    Thanked: 115

    Default

    I've talked to a few guys who made some killer looking file razors and sadly they've been disappointed with the edge that they take. Maybe someone here will prove me wrong but from what I understand, it's not worth the time and money.

    Lmk if you discover a file that looks/shaves bad@zz!
    sharptonn and silverloaf like this.

  4. #4
    Razor Vulture sharptonn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Lone Star State
    Posts
    25,827
    Thanked: 8588

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by wyobarbershop View Post
    I've talked to a few guys who made some killer looking file razors and sadly they've been disappointed with the edge that they take. Maybe someone here will prove me wrong but from what I understand, it's not worth the time and money.

    Lmk if you discover a file that looks/shaves bad@zz!
    I feel lots of them do shave well, if properly executed. It seems a file is pretty hard on the scale, but crumbles at the edge most of the time. I also have heard really old files work better. They make some killer-looking blades from them, with the 'file' jimps and all. I think it would be cool to do a file razor with Charlie Lewis, so he could hammer in some Great stuff on the edge! WHY, though? Unless you want the 'file' look!
    Neil Miller likes this.
    "Don't be stubborn. You are missing out".
    I rest my case.

  5. #5
    Senior Member blabbermouth spazola's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Burkburnett TX
    Posts
    3,095
    Thanked: 2392

    Default

    Some files can make good razors. There are lots of variables, type of steel, heat treat, grind, that all go into the equation.

    For me grinding and heat treat are 90% of making a razor. Grinding is where I have to think hard and hold my tongue right to do a good job.

    Charlie

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to spazola For This Useful Post:

    Geezer (05-09-2014)

  7. #6
    neg
    neg is offline
    Junior Member neg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Chiefland, FL
    Posts
    5
    Thanked: 0

    Default

    I would assume that since the person would have to grind, heat treat, then grind some more that they'd be the ones heat treating it as well as grinding it. I just want to find someone willing to do this for me and get a price quote before I get the project started. I could go with a steel other than that of a file, but I buy old files, nicholson and heller brothers especially, every chance I get, so I have quite a few of them.

  8. #7
    Senior Member blabbermouth spazola's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Burkburnett TX
    Posts
    3,095
    Thanked: 2392

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by neg View Post
    I would assume that since the person would have to grind, heat treat, then grind some more that they'd be the ones heat treating it as well as grinding it. I just want to find someone willing to do this for me and get a price quote before I get the project started. I could go with a steel other than that of a file, but I buy old files, nicholson and heller brothers especially, every chance I get, so I have quite a few of them.
    I wish I had an answer on where are who to go to. Maybe reach out and pm some of the makers on this forum.

    Charlie

  9. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Houston, TX
    Posts
    147
    Thanked: 45

    Default

    Like Charlie said above, grinding and HT are the biggest parts of making a usable razor. Files can make good razors, but because the edge is exact, your HT and geometry has to be dead on and this is especially true with old files.

    After forging, the blank needs to be properly annealed, rough ground, extensively stress relieved, hardened, tempered, and final ground. All this is assuming that your geometry was correct enough in the forged blank that a finished razor could be made. At this point, you're basically commissioning a razor from a blank you made.

    All that said, I think it would be easiest if you got a bench grinder (which would be less than what you'd pay for all the work mentioned above) and did your own hollow grinding. Grant (baldy) made an amazing file razor with a charcoal forge and a bench grinder.

    If this still hasn't persuaded you, pm me and maybe we can come up with something
    Last edited by PapaTony; 05-09-2014 at 10:03 PM.
    Let me know if you need any help with shaving, honing, etc.

  10. #9
    aka shooter74743 ScottGoodman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    SE Oklahoma/NE Texas
    Posts
    7,285
    Thanked: 1936
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default

    For razors, O-1 and 1095 steel is just too dang cheap. Look here, this is how I made my first razors:

    http://straightrazorpalace.com/forge...ake-razor.html
    http://straightrazorpalace.com/forge...hip-razor.html
    Last edited by ScottGoodman; 05-09-2014 at 09:49 PM.
    Southeastern Oklahoma/Northeastern Texas helper. Please don't hesitate to contact me.
    Thank you and God Bless, Scott

  11. #10
    Heat it and beat it Bruno's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Belgium
    Posts
    15,130
    Thanked: 5229
    Blog Entries
    10

    Default

    Amen about the steel.
    For the price that this is going to cost, there is absolutely no point in using unknown file steel instgead of 5 to 10 $ worth of O1. Also it is hard to ask someone to do just the grinding, because whether it can be ground successfully depends on the geometry that you started with.
    Maximilian and Substance like this.
    Til shade is gone, til water is gone, Into the shadow with teeth bared, screaming defiance with the last breath.
    To spit in Sightblinder’s eye on the Last Day

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •