Thread: Motorized Sharpening

"Razor" sharp to most people isn't nearly razor sharp. Things like that are awesome for tools or utility knives, but horrible for anything you need sharpened evenly. They take off quite a bit of material and are not even in their sharpening. I guarantee if you tried to shave with anything off that you would literally tear up your skin.

If you notice on the first website, it says it's for lathe bits and other tools- not exactly razor sharp implements.

Do NOT put your razor anywhere near one of those. Besides killing your edge, there's a really good chance of warping it permanently.

You cannot sharpen a straight razor with a machine.

Originally Posted by heavydutysg135

You cannot sharpen a straight razor with a machine.

Yes you can. Nobody ever bothered to make such a machine because it is not worth it (how many would you sell vs what would it cost)

Given that feather blades are sharpened by a machine, it should be possible.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Yes you can. Nobody ever bothered to make such a machine because it is not worth it (how many would you sell vs what would it cost)

Given that feather blades are sharpened by a machine, it should be possible.

You are absolutely right, I thought that my comment might be taken the wrong way after I posted it. If we can put a man on the moon and get him back to earth alive then I assume that we do have the technological capibility to make such a machine; however, no such machine has been invented to put a good edge on a classic straight razor. If you want to go with a disposible machined blade version then you have several options though.

Hi and was reading your post on the razor sharpening machine. I though it was a good question! Ithink its a matter of ecomonics! Of course a machine could be made to put a super great edge! It would have to be very precise because of the spline and edge alignment. Be water fed of course! Then the stone! I have a sharpening grinder that is water cooled and is very slow! Probably would look something like that but much much more precise.
Would you be willing to pay up to $1000.00 for that machine..
I would think that the feather plant has a machine valued up in the ten's of thousands

I agree with others here, My uncle is a master carpenter and wood carver he sharpens his tools with a similar machine and gets them "razor sharp" last time i was home i showed him razor sharp, his reply was thats to sharp.

Thanks for the replies, especially the ones that stated why it couldn't really be done (on a small, personal scale anyways). Had never seen a machine like that, whenever I look up sharpening (especially knife sharpening) the most you usually come across are the rod systems on the net. (ie. Lansky, Apex Edgepro, etc. . )

Sharpening is my fault as it is, I can't seem to pick up the technique to sharpen a razor, let alone a knife, all that well (the reason I haven't tried shaving with a straight blade as of late, I think I ruined the edge! ha!) Currently considering trying a feather since that skill wouldn't be much needed!

And wasn't looking for an 'easy way out' (motorized sharpening) just genuinely curious if it could be done.

Glenn

There are machines (grinders) that green industry pros use to sharpen mower blades. Very precise, but no where near what is needed for razors. These cost around $1000 last I looked.
Some machine precise enough to sharpen a razor would be very, very expensive. Doubt there would be a market.
Keep in mind, your boss is sharpening wood tools, not razors. Razors take some 'feel', not that wood tools don't, but the issue is one of degree and the difference is huge. A razor edge does not work for wood working tools as it is too fragile.

Didn't Bill Ellis used to sharpen or at least rough in his blades with a strip sander? Of course he did a lot of restorations and made custom knives and razors to boot. I think it is a matter of a lot more practice than any normal mortal usually gets. I also remember a few blades catching an edge and shooting across the shop too.