Thread: First Post! How do you make a razor without grinders? (Hand-tools only)

Does a tredle grinder count as a hand tool? It's powered by your feet and definitely a step back into history. You can build a more modern one with an old bicycle and a grinding stone. One big advantage of a tredle is that the motor automatically detects contact of flesh with the stone!

You can also take a grinding stone and shape it with chisels and files to a custom profile for hand use. Essentially it becomes sandpaper with a profiled shape.

You can also use files. There are some custom metal files that can do the work. I can't remember the maker, but they are French and cost a few hundred dollars (US) each.

I'd still go with a bench grinder first or an angle grinder and a bench vise second.

Welcome to the forum!!! I can't add much here, but I must say this is a very ambitious first post! I am curious to see what the end result is so please post pics after.

Another hand tool to consider is a "sen". Basically a scraping tool for work on metal. I don't have any pictures, but you should be able to find something on the net. Japanese razor makers used them to cut the hollow on the front side on a kamisori. I found a source googling "sen metal scraper"

With great difficulty is the quick answer. As long as there is clearance between the bevel and spine it doesn't have to be hollowed, you could shape a kind of faux frameback. In fact you could just make a frameback.

Look around for whet stones and sharpening wheels for the older manual grinding wheels. I see them pop up time to time in local classifieds.

It's more so the money... although I have a pretty good balcony but not as useful as a garage, shed, or backyard so I'm still looking for what's suitable for my situation. That's life living in the city...

A shaped charge of plastic explosives works well and can usually be made with harmless household chemicals.

Deckard was on to something. Search out member "Spazola" here on the forum by a search. He has a tutorial on a frameback that he uses just a dremel IIRC. You will still have to get the blade heat treated, but that can be done by post/mail.

After a while of research, I definitely will Thanks for the welcome!

Do you mean a round file/ half round file?