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

Good day everyone!

This is my first post - I am looking for resources on how to make a razor with hand tools only. The biggest issue, mostly, is that I don't have a grinder and probably won't be having one for a long time. I do, however, have several files and am looking into getting a couple hones. I'm pretty sure there must be a way without machinery considering its long history. Does anyone know any sources on where to start?

Thanks so much in advance, and I'm thrilled to become involved with this forum and its community!

Bronwyn

Hello mbronwyn, welcome to the forum, I am sure there will be someone along shortly to point you in the right Direction.

Thanks for the welcome, scs1980 :)

Hello, and welcome. You can certainly use files etc to end up with a razor shape. The one thing that is going to pose a problem, is the hollow. Files can get you to a triangular shape, but then you need to 'scoop out' some steel to end up with a hollow. In the olden days, they used a stone wheel to grind out the hollow. You can still find such manual turned wheels at flea markets for little money.

Failing that, you can always to it the cheap way: a curved piece of wood, coarse sandpaper, and lots of elbow grease. It will be a shallow hollow, but it will do. Just be sure to start off with the correct stock thickness so that the width - thickness ratio is between 4:1 and 3.5:1

Also keep in mind that you'll have to leave some thickness near the edge, before heat treatment. Roughly 1/16" at the edge, and you'll have to remove this after HT so doig this manually is going to be a time consuming business.

Bruno has the right idea for sure. In the "old" days they also used a forge as well to get as much of the shaping done as possible. If you don't have access to power tools, then I would guess that you don't have access to a forge as well.

A forge may be possible.. I'm still looking around for blacksmiths who may be willing to rent out a couple hours and I know someone a little further away who's willing to teach me a couple of things. For now though, I'm doing purely stock-removal to get the hang of it.

Thanks for the help Bruno.

By any chance, do you know what the manual turned wheels are called? And is there no way of hollowing it by a round file and smoothing it out via sandpaper?

What is the reason that you don't have access to power tools? If it is just money, you can set up a pretty effective "shop" for very little. If it is space, you can have some very small power tools that can be stored away when not in use.

A power drill with a grinding wheel can do in less time what a file can. Hand tools will cost you more in time than what it would cost for power tools.

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Originally Posted by guitstik

A power drill with a grinding wheel can do in less time what a file can. Hand tools will cost you more in time than what it would cost for power tools.

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Agreed. A $30 bench grinder can do the work of a file in very short order. It will also do a hollow grind. It is not near as good as a belt grinder, but it is miles ahead of a file with sand paper. Also, it would still be handy to have around even if you did end up getting a belt grinder later on. Sure, with a stone wheel bench grinder you will still have to use a file and sandpaper for the finish work, but it will save you multiple hours.

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?

Here is a jig that Charlie made for cutting the frame:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/forge...le-blades.html