New US Razor Maker

Hi Guys,

This past weekend Charlie Larman and I had the pleasure of getting to meet, watch and be instructed by Mr. Tim Zowada in the fine art of straight razor grinding and making straight razor handles. Tim is a premier knifemaker here in the US and has been forging his own Damascus for the past 20 years. Check out www.tzknives.com

What a great experience to learn how to grind my own razors and refurbish as well.....now on to the practice part........lol.

Tim is going to be making his Damascus Straight Razors exclusively for Classic
Shaving and they should be available in the very near future. I have had the opportunity to hone a few of these and shave with them and they are wonderful.

Stay tuned........and have fun.

Lynn

Exciting.

Thanks Lynn. :tu

Very interesting!

Would we see an "official" evaluation? As well as what it takes to hone (as I remember quite a few members have said Damascus blades can be a bear to hone)

Cheers
Ivo

I actually saw when Tim Zowada registered on SRP, and immediately started to correspond with him. I too was excited to hear of another knifemaker picking up straight razor production.

On his "What's New" page is one of the prototype razors that he will be making for Classic Shaving.

Nice knives...

So does he fold his own steel?

I hope
1) the razor perforns great and
2) doesn't cost an arm and a leg

Cheers
Ivo

Both lynn and I had a great time with tim Z. his razors are awsum...he makes his own dam steel in fact he is one of the best 2-3 people to produce this steel...I brought home 5 of his razors and honed them up easily...no problem...you guys will love his razors...charlie

Ooh very nice, someone else my girlfriend will hate. :)

I was wondering about the arm and leg factor as well.

These razors take a really nice edge. Damascus straight razors can be a little finicky sometimes on the honing. That's the reason even some of what you guys call old timers have trouble or can't hone them or tell you they can't be honed. You will like these.

Lynn

PM sent.

Kidding, but I did leave a voicemail and also e-mailed Tim to see if I can get one of these prototypes

Now in waiting mode

Cheers
Ivo

I love damascus....

I too hope it doesn't cost an arm and a leg....

YES!

I love to hear that there are more razor makers.....

:D

Great news!

C utz

I see Tim Zowada uses O1 and L6 for his Damascus, both are good carbon steels and any knives made from either steel 'take an edge like a razor' .

i look forward to seeing the razors when they are available.

EDITED:

oooh look what I found on Tim Zowada's site

http://www.tzknives.com/whatsnew.html

:y :y :D

Ivo,

You must have missed the part about these being available exclusively through ClassicShaving...........

Lynn

Quote:

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Originally Posted by adjustme69

Ivo,

You must have missed the part about these being available exclusively through ClassicShaving...........

Lynn

---

No Lynn - I was asking him for some of the prototypes. From what I understand, custom makers have a couple of prototypes they experiment with before "official" releases...

Anyway, we'll see what happens

Cheers
Ivo

I guess I should start saving now. My guess is that these are going to be up there in price, though worth every penny I am sure.

The question is, will they come shave ready?:hmmm:

Matt

They will be coming shave ready I believe.

Sorry Ivo, I will be more specific next time so that you will be able to understand better.

Lynn

this is a newbie kindof question....but what is dimiscus exactly? Is the patterns on the blades natural? It looks like more of the artistic knife maker types used this steel. So is it a better shaver, or just nicer looking metal??

I hope by that you mean for Easter.

I was just thinking about a Pierre Thiers hand forged but i think i will wait and save a few more pennies. When will the pre-ordering begin?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rblair

this is a newbie kindof question....but what is dimiscus exactly? Is the patterns on the blades natural? It looks like more of the artistic knife maker types used this steel. So is it a better shaver, or just nicer looking metal??

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There are at least two current threads on damascus steel, on in the general section and one here in the razor section

Bacically there are 2 types true old fashion type or "wootz" and pattern welded steel. they are both beautiful and yes lots of custom knives are made from them, mainly hte pattern welded type as the outcome of the pattern is somewhat more predictable and defined.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bruno

I was wondering about the arm and leg factor as well.

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Me as well butconsidering that they're very nice and that a folder pocketknife costs $1200 US on his website I'd ay once again that quality doesn't come cheap.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rblair

this is a newbie kindof question....but what is dimiscus exactly? Is the patterns on the blades natural? It looks like more of the artistic knife maker types used this steel. So is it a better shaver, or just nicer looking metal??

---

In my opinion, Forge welded steel (what we call "damascus") usually won't be as good as the lesser of the steels used all by itself. The multiple forgings under very high heat cause decarburization, particularly in 0-1. But it is very, very pretty stuff and that alone will make it "superior steel" in the eyes of many people. One cannot argue, however, that the best makers of modern damascus are doing some really gorgeous designs.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PapaBull

In my opinion, Forge welded steel (what we call "damascus") usually won't be as good as the lesser of the steels used all by itself. The multiple forgings under very high heat cause decarburization, particularly in 0-1. But it is very, very pretty stuff and that alone will make it "superior steel" in the eyes of many people. One cannot argue, however, that the best makers of modern damascus are doing some really gorgeous designs.

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If you leave a grinding allowance, decarburization shouldn't be a problem. Tim has a very good reputation, and I'm sure he allows for it.

One of the steels that Tim uses in his Damascus is 0-1. These things hone up and shave beautifully as well as looking Mahvelous......

:tu

Lynn

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PapaBull

In my opinion, Forge welded steel (what we call "damascus") usually won't be as good as the lesser of the steels used all by itself. The multiple forgings under very high heat cause decarburization, particularly in 0-1. But it is very, very pretty stuff and that alone will make it "superior steel" in the eyes of many people. One cannot argue, however, that the best makers of modern damascus are doing some really gorgeous designs.

---

but, Tim Zowada does say that he has a homoginised 0.85% carbon in the steel so it definately will take a good edge as the carbon range in O1 is between 1.2 % and 0.8 % depending on the manufacturer.

Tim makes damascus about as good as it can be done from what I've heard and at .085, it's like 1085 steel, which is adequate. Heck, it would be better than most of the old Wade and Butchers, which usually ran about 58 HRC. Everything is a trade-off and for Damascus, you trade of some of the better properties of the steel for the artistry. I think Tim's damascus should make a good razor where a lot of Damascus steel would not. Being hard pressed to hit 57 HRC, I'm pretty sure Tim's should be able to go close to 60 and should have a reasonably fine grain. Tim's got the equipment to heat it to forging temperature quickly and minimize the decarburization that's inevitable and I'm postiive he's got an exceptional heat treat for it, so I think his razors will be pretty darned good, not because they're damascus, but in spite of it and that's a serious tribute to Tim's craft.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Joe Chandler

If you leave a grinding allowance, decarburization shouldn't be a problem. Tim has a very good reputation, and I'm sure he allows for it.

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Joe, that's not the problem. You can't leave "grinding allowance" for the individual plates that are being forge welded. Decarburization occurs during very high heat and the longer the steel is at a temperature higher than critical, the more decarburization you get. You are correct in alluding to the fact that decarburization occurs on the outside of the steel, but remember --- pattern welded steel has many "outside" surfaces until it's welded together and then again those surfaces are exposed as it's hammered flat, folded, reheated, etc.... O-1 is particularly susceptible to this, but is also an excellent steel and takes readily to forge welding. It's a trade-off.

Using thicker plates of steel (harder to heat to forge welding temperatures) and hitting forge welding temperatures very quickly is the key and that's a big part of how Tim can make the excllent Damascus steel he makes when a lot of Damascus makers don't.

That's just the nature of Damascus steel and that's why there are no perfect blades or knife steels. Everything is a tradeoff. I like Damascus, particularly when made as well as Tim makes it. But I realize some of the edge holding capability is given up in trade for the beauty of the pattern welded steel designs. One other nice thing about Damascus is that it's very low maintenance for a carbon steel, able to be "cleaned up" quite easily and although it will stain, the stains are not noticeable because the steel is already etched. That's a pretty nice "plus".

Here is an excellent link authored by Master Bladesmith Kevin Cashen. If nothing else, it can help provide an appreciation for the work and care that goes into producing a quality Damascus like Tim makes. It's a lot of work and a lot of effort put into the steel before even starting to fashion a blade out of it.

http://www.cashenblades.com/Info/Pattern%20welding.html

Awesome! Thanks for the link and the excellent rationale. :tu