Thread: Upper Midwest Shaving Club meet

Originally Posted by rodb

This is a REALLY good idea, especially if there's a few "junker" practice razors available. I know for me I had to go to antique stores and buy a few "very used" razor for honing practice before I would touch my new Dovo or NOS Henckels. Unfortunately this started a "horrible" addiction to antique store razors and hones, but that's another story.

I agree; that's a great idea. I have hones but my bad first experience scared me off. Something like this may help me get back into it.

I agree. There is a ton of knowledge in this group and I'm sure with a bit of forethought a great agenda of things could be accomplished given the time we have. I think that a timeframe for different things could be done like have ChrisL give a demonstration of strop making, Randy does a honing demo and a someone does a shave demo, someone does a scale pinning and maybe a refurbish of a razor. I would love to help organize and figure out an agenda for the next meeting.
Bill Wilcox

turbine,

...but also we have welding and forging the bundle to a workable size for forging the damascus blade, grinding the blade, hardening and tempering, finish grinding, making the scales, and then we get to pinning, honing, and the rest... A busy day, but the talent and craftsmanship are there in the group to do it all. Now ain't that something?

It makes a fella wonder why some even bother with going to the antique shops when right here in River City a razor could be made to shame the vaunted brands of old.

If there would be interest, we could have a meet up at our cabin. It's about 40 miles north of Eau Claire. We don't have a forge or anything like that. We do have a lake, some kayaks, a canoe, fire pit, and I make some of the best coffee you will ever have.

If it's during the winter, there is room for cross country skiing, snowmobiling and we have some snowshoes for you to try out.

That is a beautiful area and a good location for an outdoor gathering. Lets keep this in mind for the future.
Thanks for the offer!

Slightly of topic but here's a cool map (that gets updated) of places in the Twin Cities that sells higher end and or exotic shaving supplies

Minnesota Shave spots - Google Maps

If I remember right this is from the Badger And Blade forum

rod, I just had the overlapping memory of a poker run surface in the mind puddle...LOL

Imagine, a bunch of razor heads traveling from shop to shop. It's in the city so snowmobiles wouldn't probably be that cool but the idea remains active.

Well now that the winter has come upon us, if this is going to come to fruition, we need to do it on a non snow day so we don't get caught in hours of bumper to bumper traffic. But thanks to Rod for putting this together.

Originally Posted by turbine712

Well now that the winter has come upon us, if this is going to come to fruition, we need to do it on a non snow day so we don't get caught in hours of bumper to bumper traffic. But thanks to Rod for putting this together.

I wish I could take credit, but I did contribute some to the tread on B & B

Here's the full tread anyone here from Minneapolis? - Badger & Blade

I think there is some way to update the map and add more shops, but I haven't tried it yet

Ok, so I missed the meet. But it seems like we have some really experienced guys living in the upper midwest.
The last few weeks have been a giant study period on metallurgy and razor creation. At this point, I'm thinking about building my own forge and grinder, but I have been known to "go overboard." Can someone tell me what this means?

Before I build a nice little workshop, perhaps I should get my feet wet first. Is anybody interested in hosting a forge to face workshop? If so, what sort of time frame would this require, and what costs would be involved? I don't have a job right now, so time isn't an issue for me, but I can't pay the price of a custom razor. If this is unreasonable, I'll just have to pay attention so I don't miss the next meet!

Thanks,
Jonathan

P.S. I'm in Milwaukee, WI. but I have a place to stay in Eden Prairie, MN.