Thread: 4th Annual North Central Texas Razor Meet at Charlie Lewis Razor Workshop

Originally Posted by BloodOrange

Have you ever finished a straight razor using scotch-brite?

Scotchbrite comes in all sorts of forms including belts for bench grinders. Given the limits of the selection of grits available it's possible to do what you ask. It's not going to be a mirror polish by any means. The finest grit is specified 400-600. I think it's a gray color. There are finer grits (white - maybe) but I can't recall seeing them for power tools.

Originally Posted by Mike Blue

Scotchbrite comes in all sorts of forms including belts for bench grinders. Given the limits of the selection of grits available it's possible to do what you ask. It's not going to be a mirror polish by any means. The finest grit is specified 400-600. I think it's a gray color. There are finer grits (white - maybe) but I can't recall seeing them for power tools.

Using it can be done by hand—and there's even scotch-brite wheels—and even though it probably can be done at low rpm's, putting a razor on a lathe (could be, fixed to a lathe using the pin hole in the razor—or have a vacuum fixture made, recessed, making up the difference for the finished surfaces of the razor) then turning it (going w/ the direction of the edge), finishing with pre-cut to size (say about two fingers width wise), scotch-brite pads might be—well—IS—dangerous but not necessarily undoable.

Done right, I've always thought a matte finish, worked from 7440 to 7447, then finished ever so slightly—and evenly, with 6448, so long as the surface is near a 3.00 to 1.00 finish (but this is subjective—and likely submits to having been turned), while not easy to do, aesthetically, is by far a better finish in my opinion, than 'mirrored' or 'chromed' finishes. I've worked with a lot of silicon + aluminum + copper alloys machining and finishing high end semiconductor parts when I was working my way thru school, but not so much carbon steel save for making brake piston parts out of SAE 1006 a few times, so—I can't speak to working with it using scotch-brite other than maybe removing scaling after hardening, turning at high rpm's on a lathe, but that's about it, or if using scotch-brite to finish a straight razor made of carbon steel can even be a thing worth doing.

I appreciate more the matte finish, when turned, using the right pressures and the right amount of coolant on other parts. From my point-of-view, a finish that's clean and even, the right pressures—not too much coolant, like the pressures, just enough to get the job done says a whole lot more about craftsmanship than mirror finishes. Having said that, I absolutely concede I don't know anything about making by hand, straight razors and that in no way are machined then finished by hand, silicon, aluminum, copper alloy semiconductor parts on an equal plane with handmade straight razors.

I agree scotchbrite in general leaves a pleasing scratch pattern, makes for a good matte finish.

Charlie

Do you guys have a definite headcount yet? Trying to bring some crawfish if I can keep them from spoiling.

I think Randy Tuttle is keeping the headcount/cat-herding. Send him a pm, heck, maybe he will make it public...I don't care.

Originally Posted by paco

Do you guys have a definite headcount yet? Trying to bring some crawfish if I can keep them from spoiling.

paco , did I see you were bringing your Rv? Where are you staying? , at the KIAat the border? Just wondering,Mauser I,m picking my Rv up and was going to use it. Tc

I am kind of curious about the head count also.

Charlie

Well Guys I just got permission from Lynn to make up a giveaway package and have a drawing for it. This will be for everyone that is there including SRP admin, except for me of course. I will post pics when I get it made up.

Rolodave had a super idea and that is if any of you want to donate to the monthly giveaways to bring them to the get together to save on postage. Rolodave is bringing some things to donate to the monthly giveaways and also Lynn is bringing some things to give away at the get together. Engine46, if he can make it, is also bringing some donations. I just read his PM and he said that his Harley is not doing so good. He just rides it short distances until it is fixed up right. If any of you live around or can drive by and give him a ride send him a PM he lives in Sugar Land which is in the South West part of Houston, hint hint.

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

paco , did I see you were bringing your Rv? Where are you staying? , at the KIAat the border? Just wondering,Mauser I,m picking my Rv up and was going to use it. Tc

Tc, I'm staying at the Lake Arrowhead state park and will be arriving there on the 10th.
It's about a 30 min. drive to Burkburnett from there.

Might have to get some name tags...