Thread: Forging Services?

Does anyone know where I can have straight razor blanks forged?

I don't have the room for forging equipment. I have a design in mind and would like to polish, hone and create the scales myself.

Much thanks
Rob

Why does it have to be forged? Why can't you get some stock and cut out your design and go from there? Do you know how to HT and temper, all of that stuff?

Get in touch with Mike Blue on here he can point you in the right direction

Hi guys, a member already contacted me and is making one for me.
dfafs I wanted it forged for centamential and research reasons. I've done some research into making a straight razor and understand the basic steps but not the nitty gritty. I've found out yesterday that comercial forges can be small, so I might have the room in the future for one.

I also have very little expierence working with metal and want to know if I have the patience and want to make a set of custom metal works for a hobby because I'm getting kinda over Australias import regulations, finding suppliers and Australias prices for 'exotic' wood.

Try to find a local blacksmith, not necessarily a blade maker. You want the general working skills they can teach. They'll get some coal smoke up your nose, make your snot turn black, turn your skin dirty, maybe allow a burn or two. You need to know how to manage a fire and some basics about striking hot metal. Making a basic tool like a chisel will help learn how to get steel hard enough to be a working tool. There's a lot more to making a razor in a forge than it seems like on the surface.

All that being said, it's a bad disease, incurable. There is no worse kind of needle to find in your arm. Just so's you been warned.

Hi Rob,

I'm following a similar path, I'm doing a weekend blacksmithing course over a month at the moment. I've learned basic blacksmithing skills, and now I'm a member of the blacksmithing group so I can go to use the forges and power hammers and all the equipment they have there on weekends when I'm free. They do advanced classes as well which i might take once I've learned a bit more. But i'm sure there would be something similar in Perth.

Hi saitou,

I've checked out WA blacksmithing associations.... They seem to be doing a revamp of the places and services. I won't know if there is anything offered until they get back on their feet. I know in VIC there is a lot of places that teach and courses to go on. I wish I lived in the eastern states you guys seem to have a lot more to offer than WA.

That's a shame mate, well you could always just build yourself a little makeshift forge and get a piece of railway track for an anvil and give it a go! modernblacksmith on youtube has a lot of good vids and Charlie Lewis has some video's where you can see his gas forge setup, gas might be the easier way to go if you've got fire regulations and stuff i think. there's a gas forge you can build called a "coffee can forge" you just need a blowtorch with a long pipe i think they call it a roofing torch in america, and a coffee can and some Kaowool.

For a charcoal fire you can use this as an example.
Building a forge | onikudaki.be

It's what I currenty use with some minor modifications.