Thread: First attempt at razors - WIP

Thanks, MikeBlue
I'll try to go to the forge as soon as possible, tomorrow maybe
Could you tell me more about the free hand grinding? I would certainly try it! I know that there are quite a few limits on this way of grinding, but I think it's the easiest way to grind razors that I know.

Do you have any links or pictures of how to grind like you said? I'm very interested

Thanks again
Kristian

Here is one text version: Grinder tips Bob was one of my teachers.

I'm stumped that there are no videos that I could find in five minutes online. There are a couple good videos of Jigs, but to me, that is no better than clamping them in a CNC milling machine. There's no "handmade art" in something that makes a perfect grind everytime. OTOH I can understand making a lot of something that all looks the same because you're in the business of selling blades. It's somehow more sterile and mechanical, not a craftsman working.

The push stick is meant to keep your fingers off the hot blade while grinding, AND, keep them off the belt if things slip. I use a 25mm by 25mm piece of scrap wood (actually a broken hammer handle) that I've ground a flat notch into the end. This leaves a shelf of about 5 mm where the blade spine rests. Then I can control the blade with one hand while I hold the tang in the other. I can give the blade much more even pressure into the grinding wheel. Another variation on this theme is to take a piece of wood and drill a hole down into one end and insert a brass or steel pin of the correct size. Then the blade rests on the pin.

I hold my elbows in tight to my sides and move the blade with my hips, not my arms or hands. Very minor changes in angle to the wheel can make very large changes in the blade. Most of the grind can be done simply by adding more pressure into the blade and letting the wheel do it's job. It's much more stable and the grinds will be a lot more even with less wibble wobbles.

Then practice, practice and more practice.