Thread: Custom wedge blades for lather catchers

Originally Posted by Bruno

SE means single edge razor. Wootz is a special kind of steel that is made in a smelting crucible. It's special in the sense that because of the chemicals involved, you will get dendritic carbides in the steel that are both very pleasing aesthetically, as well as improving cutting performance. JP5 mentions it because it's what I am known for these days.

I am guessing that for something like this to work, it needs to match the dimensions of the original pretty closesly.
Do you happen to have one of those blades that is no longer shaving properly, but which I could use to use for copying?

I am curious enough that if you can send me one of these which I can keep as an example, I will try to copy it in new blade steel and send it to you as a test.
EDIT: Just to clarify and avoid complaints of sales talk on the forum: I do this one for free just out of curiosity. I only ask for shipping to be paid.

Bruno, I'd me more than happy to send you one of these blades to give this a try! I'm getting another one of these razors in the next few days with one of these blades, I shall send you that one!

I'm on the edge of my seat!!

Originally Posted by Bruno

They're probably fairly easy to grind. What dimensions are they? And does the exact radius of the hollow matter functionally?

I think that you could do this Bruno.

I could do it but you would be much quicker!

Approximately 20 X 40 mm wedge from what I see. You could bend the side holders if you wanted it a little more hollow ground.

Originally Posted by 32t

I think that you could do this Bruno.

I could do it but you would be much quicker!

Approximately 20 X 40 mm wedge from what I see. You could bend the side holders if you wanted it a little more hollow ground.

Yup, will be sending a blade + razor to Bruno for a test run soon. You're basically spot on with the dimensions.

Now that I know what Wootz steel is, having blades made from that would be incredible in these razors. Fingers crossed!

This is going to be so cool! Can't wait to see them.

Can't believe no one has done this before!

Originally Posted by animalwithin

Yup, will be sending a blade + razor to Bruno for a test run soon. You're basically spot on with the dimensions.

Now that I know what Wootz steel is, having blades made from that would be incredible in these razors. Fingers crossed!

This free blade will be not be wootz but something in layered damascus steel.
It will have a visible pattern in the steel, just not the organic wootz pattern.

Not really because of what wootz costs, but because bringing out the wootz pattern properly is pretty time consuming, and also my first attempt at this might fail.
Otoh I have plenty of bars of damacus lying around, and with my press almost in business, there is no reason to be frugal with the damascus I made earlier.

Additional reasons to not use wootz on my first attempt is that etching is going to be a challenge. These things don't have a tang or a convenient hole as far as I can see now, so I will need to makesome sort of clamp to hold this during the etching process. On one hand it should hold this in such a way that all sides are exposed to the maximum. Otoh it should be really solid because if it should slip out during etching, fishing it out of the acid tank might pose problems

Originally Posted by Bruno

This free blade will be not be wootz but something in layered damascus steel.
It will have a visible pattern in the steel, just not the organic wootz pattern.

Not really because of what wootz costs, but because bringing out the wootz pattern properly is pretty time consuming, and also my first attempt at this might fail.
Otoh I have plenty of bars of damacus lying around, and with my press almost in business, there is no reason to be frugal with the damascus I made earlier.

Additional reasons to not use wootz on my first attempt is that etching is going to be a challenge. These things don't have a tang or a convenient hole as far as I can see now, so I will need to makesome sort of clamp to hold this during the etching process. On one hand it should hold this in such a way that all sides are exposed to the maximum. Otoh it should be really solid because if it should slip out during etching, fishing it out of the acid tank might pose problems

I see, I see. No worries at all, I'll just be happy with a legit blade from any good steel at this point. I can definitely see how etching will be much harder on this smaller sized blade.

The dimensions should also let it fit in the stropping holder also.

I was thinking at least for a first attempt just holding it on the ends in a clamp while etching. Then polish the ends after etching the larger sides and the spine. That would give a nice contrast from the smaller sides to the top and bottom.

Here I go thinking out loud again!

I think there are a lot of us waiting anxiously to see how this turns out. Amazing no one has thought to create contemporary versions of these blades until now.