Thread: Getting Steel Heat treated

Originally Posted by WILDMAN1

No, I'm asking what is a reasonable price to pay for getting the blade treated so I can turn it into a razor.

Not sure you'll get a firm answer on this one. it might be best to ask for good people/companies that might be willing to treat your steel, and then reach out to them directly for pricing...

As for your bearing steel, I personally believe this is a good choice. although many here have very different preferences. it checks all the boxes though.

Yes. Everyone here has their own preference.
Butzy likes 52100.
Charlie lewis uses 1095 iirc.
Robert Williams uses 1095 a lot
O1 is a common tool steel.
I myself prefer O2 which I think is the best steel for razors (when looking at tool steel. Overall I prefer wootz but that is just my preference)

More important than the choice of steel is good and repeatable heat treatment. That is where the difference is made.

I contract alot of stuff, but only heat treat to stress relieve welded components. As such, my tips are mainly from contracting machining, but the general rules are the same.

From that stand point, there are usually 2 kinds of people. The large well experienced places that will cost more and the mom and pop shops that usually have very good service, cheaper prices, but less experience.

If you ahve a place close enough to drive to, it will eliminate shipping the blades both ways.

Doing a single piece at a time will be a fortune, doing a thousand will be cheap. So if you can get a good lot size, it should reduce the price.

I would also inquire whether the company has done heat treating on the metal you use. This will give them a better baseline to shoot for the hardness you want.

Thanks everyone for your help. I hope I don't need to spend $200. to treat/stress-relieve my razor. That is putting me way over what I was wanting to spend on it. I was hoping to be all in at around $300. maybe? I'll contact Mr. Lewis and ask him for a blank that needs finish grinding/polishing. I guess this is going to be a little more costly. Oh, well. I guess whatever it takes to get it in my bathroom, at a decent price is all I can hope for.

Im not sure how much experience you have making razors or indeed a forge with workshop to do it but the chances of you makeing a shaveable razor first time around seem pretty slim.
Bruno @ Snail Forge at one time used to sell part finished razors that required polishing, scales etc. This might be a more obtainable option.

When someone like MikeBlue told me to use 0-1 or 1095 for my first razor, I listened and went with O-1. I didn't use 1095 until a year or so later. The only other steel I have used for a razor is 0-2, which I got from Bruno as it's not readily available here in the U.S.

Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

Im not sure how much experience you have making razors or indeed a forge with workshop to do it but the chances of you makeing a shaveable razor first time around seem pretty slim.
Bruno @ Snail Forge at one time used to sell part finished razors that required polishing, scales etc. This might be a more obtainable option.

That is what I was saying. I want a mostly finished razor, since I am not a blacksmith and have no equipment or desire to forge it/ treat it. Thanks.

Originally Posted by WILDMAN1

That is what I was saying. I want a mostly finished razor, since I am not a blacksmith and have no equipment or desire to forge it/ treat it. Thanks.

Ok. Try PM Bruno from post #12, he may or may not be able to help. Here is a thread of his unfinished razors.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...de-club-2.html

Why not just buy a razor out if the Buy sell trade section and you won't even spend a hundred dollars if you watch for a good sale.

On the getting one from Charlie. Good luck with that, Charlies work n a razor will cost mire than your wanting to spend, his work is the finest. Tc

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

Why not just buy a razor out if the Buy sell trade section and you won't even spend a hundred dollars if you watch for a good sale.

yup. this is the 'correct' answer lol