Thread: Changing tip shape

So I'm just curious have any of you ever changed the tip style of your razor for no other reason than you prefer a different style?

I myself do not prefer round points, it's my least favorite of them all. An I recently purchased a Ralph Aust (solinger handarbeit) it's brand new an I got it for about a 1/3 of the cost I've seen it listed everywhere else that's why I purchased it, well it's a round point an I'm tempted to just make a small adjustment to it to make it what I prefer. Any thoughts.

It can be done but you have to do it without heating the blade enough to prevent ruining the temper of the steel.

An alternative option would be to sell it and buy the version you want.

Totally up to you Brother, I like the French tip and Hate square points, though it is good to have one or two to trim straight lines. What point are you aiming at??

Thank you Utopian I already understand that as I have a dubl duck special No1 that I purchased sometime back that was NOS other than a chipped toe an I had to take 1/16" off of that razor to repair it an then reshape the the upper portion of the toe/spine (I guess that's what you would call that area). I was able to take that job on with no ill effects.

I took most of the metal off with a grinder as I didn't have a belt sander at the time an did all the shaping with a set of diamond Needle files and finished just sanding an polishing.

Her are a couple of pics of that duck

FAL I believe I would just go with a square point slightly rounding the toe/spine area like other razors have. Just kinda go simple to get what I want.

Thank you Utopian I already understand that as I have a dubl duck special No1 that I purchased sometime back that was NOS other than a chipped toe an I had to take 1/16" off of that razor to repair it an then reshape the the upper portion of the toe/spine (I guess that's what you would call that area). I was able to take that job on with no ill effects.

I took most of the metal off with a grinder as I didn't have a belt sander at the time an did all the shaping with a set of diamond Needle files and finished just sanding an polishing.

Her are a couple of pics of that duck

FAL I believe I would just go with a square point slightly rounding the toe/spine area like other razors have. Just kinda go simple to get what I want.

I would not change it unless it was damaged all ready. Why take a chance???

Why not take a chance. I mean worst case I ruin the blade an I learn a lesson best case I make it what I want an I'm the only one that has one.

An please don't think that I'm dismissing what you've said, I'm not it's the whole reason I asked the question is to get other people's input. I was however hoping to here that more people around here did it to some of their own blades because they wanted to or could not just for repairs.

Sell it and buy a different new razor with the style you want?

Not to say you can't do it, you certainly can. If it's just to play around hacking up razors, there's plenty antique buys for probably cheaper in case you mess it up. It doesn't sound like you're really attached to it, so why not part with it, make a couple bucks and buy a fist full of blades to restore? Otherwise, you'll cut the toe, sand it smooth. Then polish, clean and re-hone. Seems like too much work for a functional razor, but I'm lazy.

Personally, I have a few razors, all with different ends. None of them work differently to me, I just prefer the look of a notched toe. Not to say that I don't or won't own round, spanish, square points, etc. I do and use them regularly. Would I put a notch in them? Absolutely not, I put work into those edges and want to keep my blades as pristine as I can for as long as possible.

Go ahead it's your razor, make it yours. Not a fan of round points myself butttttttt,',,,,,, (there's always one) after the round is gone will your scales still look right with the big gap at the wedge? Tc

I have a fust full of blades I'm working on already (off the top of my head it's 6+). The work really doesn't bother me I enjoy it, it's relaxing. I've thought of making my own blades quite a few times but I still don't think I know enough to jump in or maybe I do an I'm holding myself back. Either way if I change the blade I'm out 30 something dollars.

Just because I change the toe doesn't mean that the blade wouldn't be pristine I'm a perfectionist at the things that I do ( maybe that's why I haven't tried making blades) more would end up in the trash because I would say they weren't good enough which would cost me more in the long run.