Thread: How's this sound?

MAKING A STRAIGHT RAZOR BLADE

1"x6"x1/4" 1080 steel
1-Heat till magnet will not stick to steel
2-Hammer shape blade
3-Reheat using magnet test-hold temp for 1/2 hour?
4-quench in oil
5-Temper in oven at 450 degrees for 3 hours
6-Grind to shape without over heating blade

Does this sound good or am I going to end up just wasteing ALOT of time?

Willy,

You're close but not quite there. The steel is a good choice. Heating to just non-magnetic is too cool for forging. You'll need to get up into the red-orange range before the steel starts to move like it should. Forging at a lower temperature is just asking for trouble.

For a simple carbon steel like 1080, you don't need a long 30 minute soak time. Maybe a minute or two at non-magnetic is fine. Long soaks are for more complex steels like O1.

I would temper at about 400 F. Going to 450 might leave the blade a little soft for a razor.

Good luck!

Josh

Thanks Josh!
One more question while I got your ear.
Is shapeing the blade by hammer better than just grinding to shape ? or doesn't it matter?

Originally Posted by willy

Is shapeing the blade by hammer better than just grinding to shape ? or doesn't it matter?

Guys have done serious research here and the answer is: makes absolutely no difference in terms of the final product.

I agree with Philadelph. Forging doesn't impart any magic qualities, and it has the potential to degrade the steel when you're learning.

However, I find forged blades to be way cooler, and I forge almost all of mine for that reason. There's just something about shaping something with fire and a hammer... It can be a time-saver as you get better, too. Grinding away steel is slower than pushing it around at 2000 F.

Josh

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

However, I find forged blades to be way cooler, and I forge almost all of mine for that reason. There's just something about shaping something with fire and a hammer...

That being said- unless you leave rough hammering in the steel when all is said and done, one should not be able to tell the difference aesthetically between a forged blade and other... Forging is fun though, yes!