Thread: Rolls Razor Blades

Not sure if this is the spot to ask this and I know asking this might be heresy, but will give it a shot. I was reading a thread on a Rolls Razor kit and it got me remembering something I was thinking of awhile ago. Anyway I have a Rolls blade that is heavily damaged and would take some serious grinding to remove the chips and was thinking if I removed the chips and increased the bevel angle on one side would I be able to use the blade in a small homemade finger plane or spokeshave? Trying to figure out something to use the blade for instead of tossing it. I would have to remove to much of the edge to make it viable for shaving with the kit and since I have a few spare blades anyway might as well try and repurpose it. I originally tried making a handle for it to use it like a kamisori, but that didn't turn out to well.

I cannot see a single reason it could not be repurposed as a blade for a wood working tool. Also but grinding the edge back it will be thicker and more robust. I have no idea how much experience you have with this sort of tool making, but it is a viable idea.

that's a good idea. I would be interested in seeing any finished project you come up with.Traditionally the blade on a plane is thicker from the cutting edge and thinner toward the non cutting edge so that a wedge could hold it in place, but i'm sure there would be a way to mount a Rolls blade.

I think I will have to try it out. I was concerned with the fact that the bevel would be smaller than a normal plane iron and there would be less meat behind the edge for support. Might have to limit it to softer woods. The hollow grind might make placing a wedge difficult and cause a lot of chatter. If nothing else it will be a fun experiment.

They make great marking knives and carving knives for wood working.
They are also good for spoke shaves, dowel makers, taper makers, and laminate planes.
If you want to go nuts, you can reforge the blade into a chisel tip or plane iron edge and forge weld it into a backer metal.