Thread: razor making process steps

Hi Guys,

I've been thinking for some years about making a straight (blade not frame back or scales).
With my technical background and some specific research it is theoreticaly possible for me to do this.

Not known for my patience, I was curious about the best sequeunce of basic process steps with the wealth of expert experience you guys have here.

I'm sure there are a ton of ways to do this, and I'm certain I'll make mistakes (I call it learning!). However there must be some pit falls that can be avoided or minimised particularly during heat treatment/hollow grinding.

I've watched loads of stuff on You Tube about knife making and heat treatment but have not found anything about making a straight blade, I'm sure I read somwhere there is footage of Meastro Levi at work out there.

I just want to get some stock tool steel and have a go. Any resources advise would be greatley apreciated. These questions must have been asked before - apologies for this.

Best Regards

Bob Allman has been gracious enough to send me a private message about this, what a cool guy. Thanks Bob, sorry I haven't called, your pictorals say it all.

Big thanks also to Chris Mheyar regarding heat treatment. Chris has been very helpful with where I am now experimenting with simple steels and simple tools.

Deckard

I use 1095 steel. It is cheap and makes a nice blade. Some of the guys recommend 1085. They say it is more forgiving during the hardening process but still makes a nice blade. In my opinion you gotta bite the bullet and buy or build a belt grinder with various size wheels for hollow grinding. They are not cheap. When I first started I used a bench grinder with an 8" stone wheel. You can do it, but it is a %^&*# to keep the blade cool. Maybe others can give you different ideas.

Bob

I must admit bob, hollowing has been playing on my mind.
I know I need a belt grinder.
If I can make a working proto to prove out my capabilities I will invest/or build.
I've had some encouraging results with a bench grinder on old files, i got some ideas to slow it down and get a slurry on the cutting surface.

Cheers.

I truly wish there was some sort of book, tutorial or guide on making razors. They say, follow your passion, and I think I'd be more than happy to keep this heritage art alive. I've had blacksmith friends and done some motorcycle maintenance, so I can be handy when I need to.

These threads sound fantastic but they are catered to someone who already knows what he or she is doing.

Advice greatly appreciated.

GREAT forums btw - been looking for this since 1996.

Go here and start reading: Index

It's all in there from soup to nuts, in basic language and completely based on a lifetime of grinding blades. I just wish Bob was still alive, he was a great man and one of my teachers and a good friend.

This next bit is an oversimplification but what you really intend is to take a rectangular bar of steel and cut, saw, lase, jet, EDM, mill, scrape, abrade, grind, file or chew if needs be everything away that does not look like a razor.

If you don't have a grinder, so what? Use a file and stones and make a wedge. Nobody seems to be making them any longer, why not be the first to resurrect that famous style?

Now, I'll give you that Bob and many other Knifemakers, make knives. But the knifemakers who have broken off the points of some of their knives have a good start on razor like objects.

And, many blacksmiths grumble that they don't know how to make a knife. Well, they can make chisels. The only differences are that a chisel has a tapered sharp edge that is perpendicular to the long axis of the tool and a knife has a tapered sharp edge that is parallel to the long axis of the tool.

A razor would be less pointy than a knife but kinda chisel shaped if you hold your eyes just right.

Originally Posted by Mike Blue

Go here and start reading: Index

It's all in there from soup to nuts, in basic language and completely based on a lifetime of grinding blades. I just wish Bob was still alive, he was a great man and one of my teachers and a good friend.

...

A razor would be less pointy than a knife but kinda chisel shaped if you hold your eyes just right.

Well, I'm sure I can get to the "rectangular bar in rough shape" point but from there, getting the crucial blade geometry right is where I'll be reading like crazy.

Thanks. I'm reading this resource as we speak.

Originally Posted by Mike Blue

And, many blacksmiths grumble that they don't know how to make a knife. Well, they can make chisels. The only differences are that a chisel has a tapered sharp edge that is perpendicular to the long axis of the tool and a knife has a tapered sharp edge that is parallel to the long axis of the tool.

A razor would be less pointy than a knife but kinda chisel shaped if you hold your eyes just right.

i too wander how craftsmen seem to not know how to make a knife or razor
sure ther are differences
HT beign one of them (defferent heat trat for different use)
edge thickness pre sharpening being the other one but other then that
razors are just extreme knives (and small ones at that )
i l be havign a ABS MS joining me to learn razor grinding in a month or so he is all worried about it and i told him there is not much different then a knife
so i hope its mostly jsut the tips and tricks that he think he needs (i ll give him the magic feather )