Thread: hammer and anvil

What is the purpose of using a hammer and anvil when razor making? What does it do? What can it do? When do you need to do it?

Those tools are used to reshape metal. Grinding will remove metal to achieve a different shape; forging will move metal into a different shape.

I suspect most modern razor makers use the hammer and anvil when they have messed up a blade and feel the need to get even with it.

I suppose it depends on what you mean when you say using a hammer and anvil. Do you mean to make small changes to a blade, or actual forging?

One of the things I think I have learned from JoeD is that forging steel creates a finer particle structure, and that should result in a finer edge. Hand forging would be one way to do this.

So is this process needed in modern razor making, or is this used only when you need to change razors shape?

Yes,sort of, except the hammer is huge and exert thousands and thousands of pounds of pressure, the anvil is part of the same machine. A modern forge creates the razor blank in very few strokes, the old hammer and anvil takes many blows to do the same thing. Kind of like this: Power hammer blacksmith air hammer Chambersburg 500 Lb - eBay (item 120554419610 end time Nov-04-10 11:49:41 PDT) but probably bigger.

I think most of the guys buy bar stock and remove metal from it - no hammering involved in that. I suppose the bar stock must be forged at some point?

There was that video of "razors" being forged in Pakistan with some machine linked above.

I know I have seen hand forged bars somewhere.... maybe it was a Livi video on or the DVD that comes with his razors? I don't know if any of the custom guys forge their own. There was a thread asking if anyone forged, but I didn't keep up with it.

As for whether or not any of the custom makers will do a little correction with a hammer - I guess they'd have to volunteer that information themselves.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

One of the things I think I have learned from JoeD is that forging steel creates a finer particle structure, and that should result in a finer edge.

Theoretically, yes, but it's been proven that in modern steels there is no benefit to forging over stock removal in things the size of knives and razors. Therefore, a forged razor will shave no better or worse than a non-forged razor (assuming all else is the same).

Originally Posted by Philadelph

...no benefit to forging over stock removal in things the size of knives and razors.

Here's a fair view of the whole process from ladle to bar. Manufacturing steel plates and sheets from ingots during WWII

All steel is forged. After the slab is cast, it's all forged.

What a bladesmith does to the very small remnants of these huge slabs is like a flea tickling an elephant. But, too many heats and not paying attention can still ruin a good steel.

Then, there's the heat treatment....

And this is the version of rolling a bar leaving the shop floor staff a little excited.

Rolling Mill Misroll - Video