Thread: Michael Waterhouse custom club.

Hi Steve - that's another beauty. You cannot get a transluscent finish on G10 so there's no point in unpinning. You can get a more polished finish but be careful because you may also lose the 'orange peel' effect.

Hi Steve, I'm so glad you like the razor

Rob is quite right, you won't make the scales much more translucent by further sanding/buffing. The translucent quality of jade G10 is really down to lighting.

Here is the very same razor under softer lighting and you can clearly see the wedge and pivot.



The scales are finished inside and out to 400 grit which I like on G10 as it retains a bit of texture, giving a nice grippy feel, but more importantly I think it looks nice

The strop is loaded with chromium oxide which you can use occasionally to put a bit of zing back into the edge if it starts to tug a little.

Hope the shave goes well!

Originally Posted by engine46

I know Chris, I am a dirty dog!!! Want the guard back?
Just kidding, my money is starting to run short so the buying needs to stop & the selling needs to pick up & work also.

I just noticed that the grinding is a bit different than others on yours. The jimps run straight up to the heel and the grinding stops past the heel. Reminds me of the Japanese Ribbon100 I have

Originally Posted by Trimmy72

I just noticed that the grinding is a bit different than others on yours. The jimps run straight up to the heel and the grinding stops past the heel. Reminds me of the Japanese Ribbon100 I have

Yes, very similar indeed. Steve's razor is the first one I've made to this pattern and I like it a lot. Someone has already placed an order for one to the same spec so it won't be the last one you see like this

Originally Posted by UKRob

Hi Steve - that's another beauty. You cannot get a transluscent finish on G10 so there's no point in unpinning. You can get a more polished finish but be careful because you may also lose the 'orange peel' effect.

No problem, I love the razor as it is!!!!! Thanks Rob

Originally Posted by mikew

Hi Steve, I'm so glad you like the razor

Rob is quite right, you won't make the scales much more translucent by further sanding/buffing. The translucent quality of jade G10 is really down to lighting.

Here is the very same razor under softer lighting and you can clearly see the wedge and pivot.



The scales are finished inside and out to 400 grit which I like on G10 as it retains a bit of texture, giving a nice grippy feel, but more importantly I think it looks nice

The strop is loaded with chromium oxide which you can use occasionally to put a bit of zing back into the edge if it starts to tug a little.

Hope the shave goes well!

Thank you very much Michael
I just got it yesterday & have been so busy that I haven't had a chance to thank you yet so here it is. Thank you so much for this one! I'm so very happy with it plus like Rob said, i don't want to lose that "orange peel" effect! I looked at it really close & I love that look anyway. After making that post, I thought to myself, "now why would I even think of changing such a beautiful piece or even attempt it"? Sometimes my brain overloads itself with thoughts too fast!!! I just barely got a few hours sleep because I have been on here replying to posts. Once the emails start, the they don't stop & just keep rolling in like waves on the beach!
The work is fantastic Michael, I just can't say enough. I'm so happy that you already have another order for one like this! I wonder who it was........
I almost went with the ivory Micarta but I thought the G-10 would be really cool! I really need a shave bad so I WILL be trying it out in just a little while. Again, thank you so very much Michael! This is my early Christmas present to myself. I couldn't help it. After I got the first one, I had to have another one! A man can never have enough straight razors....................

Originally Posted by engine46

Thank you very much Michael
I just got it yesterday & have been so busy that I haven't had a chance to thank you yet so here it is. Thank you so much for this one! I'm so very happy with it plus like Rob said, i don't want to lose that "orange peel" effect! I looked at it really close & I love that look anyway. After making that post, I thought to myself, "now why would I even think of changing such a beautiful piece or even attempt it"? Sometimes my brain overloads itself with thoughts too fast!!! I just barely got a few hours sleep because I have been on here replying to posts. Once the emails start, the they don't stop & just keep rolling in like waves on the beach!
The work is fantastic Michael, I just can't say enough. I'm so happy that you already have another order for one like this! I wonder who it was........
I almost went with the ivory Micarta but I thought the G-10 would be really cool! I really need a shave bad so I WILL be trying it out in just a little while. Again, thank you so very much Michael! This is my early Christmas present to myself. I couldn't help it. After I got the first one, I had to have another one! A man can never have enough straight razors....................

Now being on disability here, I need to save my money unfortunately & start something to make money! My monthly payments barely cover my rent & Social Security won't let me make any more than $740 gross per month before it affects my payment. I really need to get my lathe over here & start making brushes & doing other things here at home. My dog loves me so much also he hates it when i leave!

Originally Posted by mikew

Yes, very similar indeed. Steve's razor is the first one I've made to this pattern and I like it a lot. Someone has already placed an order for one to the same spec so it won't be the last one you see like this

I just showered & I also shaved with my new razor! It was so refreshing & invigorating! Very smooth shave...................
I love it! I'm going to have to do a SOTD on it!

Boxing Hares San Mai 7/8 #1:

This is the first in a series of razors that is a collaboration between Josh Burrell, a third generation blacksmith in the UK, and Michael Waterhouse, an artisan knife and razor maker. According to Michael, it's difficult to hand forge to the level of accuracy needed to make a well balanced and attractive looking razor. However, Josh is able to supply him with a razor blank that only needs the hollows grinding, so that you can still see every hammer blow on the spine and tang of the finished razor. They are also using silver steel used in vintage Sheffield razors, which is only produced in round bars, which is time consuming and difficult to hand forge into a razor shape, and which is why razor makers use steels available as flat bars or sheets. This is the first hand forged razor made of silver steel in a very long time, as far as Michael knows. They also chose to use a Japanese forging method called san mai, where a piece of high carbon steel (the silver steel) is forge welded between two pieces of softer steel. This creates a beautiful effect when the central core is revealed through grinding to show the lamination line, and over time the two steels will oxidize differently to create an obvious contrast between the layers. The accuracy of Josh's forging placed the lamination line perfectly central on both sides. This collaboration between Josh and Michael is called Boxing Hares, and this is Boxing Hares San Mai 7/8 #1, which shaves like a dream!

Totally would take away from the look of a kami, but throw a set of scales on that and I'm game!