Thread: Is there a metalurgist in the house?

An up and coming maker named Warren Thomas has been experimenting with this process but taking it a different direction that normal...

Instead of laminating a core with lighter weight metals he actually has been laminating the core with carbon fiber! Then in another process he has developed he uses Titanium for the core and welds carbide particles to the blades edge are which increases the blades ability to hold and edge over normal titanium.

My maker just dropped out on me. He's over booked as well and can't add anything new to his plate. Back to the old hunting grounds I guess...

Anybody know where I can find someone that can grind straight razor blades?

Originally Posted by Gawker

Anybody know where I can find someone that can grind straight razor blades?

You can try DOVO factory, and I'v heard there are some guys in France and Italy that do this...

I'm not sure how to take that Superfly...you're usually very helpful so I'm not sure if that was meant as facetiously as it sounded or if I missed something...I already tried to contact Mr Livi about this to no avail on several occasions so that rules out Italy (at least I think that's what you were hinting at) and do you really think a major company like DOVO would be willing to waste time on somebody from podunk Texas with a special project like this or was that the sarcasm I'm not catching...if so how would I go about contacting someone for that?

Take it as a joke, ofcourse.

There are only few grinders left in the world today. I think Lynn mentioned in a chat somewhere that even DOVO is having troubles with only one master grinder... That contributes to (high) prices on razors, too. So, contacting "major" factories is not a good idea. I know that Randy(dance) and Bill Elis (both members here) were toying with the idea of grinding razors, and I think Bill even got his equipment, so you might wanna wait for them to go trough learning process (and Bill to finish his house). I have seen razors grinded from knife makers, Jeff (treeput) posted this not so while ago, which are not bad (infact, gorgeus looking), but their grind is done with simple, large diameter wheel (not compound radius blade), something like 1/2 hollow blade. They usualy don't have the experience with razors, and grind the bevel as a knife, with raised spine from the stone, which require lot's of work afterwards... I think you'r best bet is to contact as many knife makers that you can, and see if anyone is willing to take this "challenge" and try grind a razor for you. At least, you will end up with nice exotic wedge, or 1/4, 1/2 hollow, (which I prefer b.t.w.) And, don't give them your Damascus blades to practice on. This was no joke

hope this helps,
Nenad

About the steel... I think any modern quality (and expensive) steel will do the job well, as long it is treated right. I give the edge to the CPM (crucible particle metalurgy) processed steel, because of their structural and chemical characteristics... The CPM produces very homogeneous, high quality steel characterized by superior dimensional stability, grindability, and toughness compared to steels produced by conventional processes. Also, the aditives in modern steels (like chromium, vanadium, molybdenum) will add to the quality of the edge, and ease the maintainance of the razor. The vanadium carbides replace chromium carbides, resulting in higher wear resistance. ... Old razor grinders didn't have these chemical aditives, but I am sure that if they had them, our favorite razors would not only be stainless, but with longer lasting edges, too. It is time to not only return the use of the straight razor, but improve it's design...

Nenad

Ok good I figured it was a gag...but it sounded half sarcastic and half sincere so I wasn't sure

I actually talked to Bill already regarding this but unfortunately he quoted me way higher than I can afford. (Don't be mad if you read this Bill I just haven't got that much per blade once I factor in the cost of the steel. I guess it's ok now to let the cat out of the bag on who my mystery maker was since he's not going to be able to do it...Mr. Darrel Ralph. I may have some more surprises from him if I get lucky this year but this set of razors isn't destined to be in them.

The steel I have picked out is from Mr Delbert Ealy and from what research I've done would produce fantastic razors if only I could find someone to grind them. On the grinding...I would have thought a simple belt grinder running about a 3 inch contact wheel combined with an EXTREMELY steady hand or a well made jig could be used for this and produce a blade similar to what I'm used to which I THINK is a "full hollow" without too much difficulty. The problem there is the need for a coolant (seeing as how the blanks have to be ground POST hardening unlike normal blades) and finding the steady hand. I assume that if a blade is ground within the geometries of a razor it would perform like one. Meaning that if a 7/8 wide blade were ground with a 1/4 inch or thinner spine it would be a very nice working blade. I'm not entirely sure that a compound or two wheeled grinder is an absolute necessity.

I'm already feeling out knife makers but the prospects are less than promising. I've not found a single one outside of Darrel or Bill who is even willing to humour the idea. I'm trying to broaden my search to the best of my abilities but as you said the ready made equipment is so rare these days that it's proving almost impossible to find anyone to do it. I think I'll wait a little longer hoping to find someone but if nothing pans out I may just spring for a single unit and let Bill grind it for me. I just can't afford his quote per blade for a 7 day set.

Slight correction...I contacted DARREN Ellis about this and he quoted me too much. BILL Ells is who I had in mind to make the scales for the project but I have NOT spoken to him yet. Didn't know he ground razors or I'd have already got with him. Will have to do that today.

Originally Posted by Gawker

I would have thought a simple belt grinder running about a 3 inch contact wheel combined with an EXTREMELY steady hand or a well made jig could be used for this and produce a blade similar to what I'm used to which I THINK is a "full hollow" without too much difficulty. The problem there is the need for a coolant (seeing as how the blanks have to be ground POST hardening unlike normal blades) and finding the steady hand.

Actually, there are some realy nice videos from both DOVO and TI showing the process of grinding the razor's profile. I think special rig with two wheels spining in oposite directions and spaced razor's witdh between them is a must. There were some pics showing them here in one of the posts, but I don't have time searching for them now, sorry... I am not sure if someone can grind razor with just one wheel, no mather how steady his hand is... The coolant is not necesary, since the temperature stays rather low during the grinding process. That is why the grinders hold the blades with their bare hands, no glowes, to monitor the temperature of the blade. I also think that the blanks are pregrind to some degree before hardening, and the after-grinding is finishing and cosmetical. But, as I stated before, there is nothing wrong with 1/4 ground blades, too...

have fun,
Nenad

I would think coolant would be necessary for grinding a razor, as the edge is so thin. Even holding it bare-handed, the edge would heat up before you could stop it, and ruining the temper in spots. I used to do it with knives, and they're dozens of times thicker at the edge than razors. I finally mastered not burning them, but it's still tricky with a full-hard blade. Most of the older factories use, or used to use, water cooled grinding wheels with the final grind. I'm not saying you're wrong, superfly, but it's counterintuitive.