Thread: How do you make a razor from scratch?

Yes start with the 3-5 $ a Lb steel, a little elbow grease, a few tools and you may just end up with a serviceable razor who knows it may be a better razor than a new one.

Bastard file from the hardware store…. $5
Tools you already have in your garage… $
Bench grinder… $50
Barbeque grille… $...
Old bucket with used motor oil… $...
10-50 hours heat treating, hacking, grinding, filing, sanding, buffing, honing and all that FUN… $$$...
Getting a BBS from your first hand made razor… $$$$$...

So why be discouraged by the cost of equipment currently used by the successful blade manufactures. They all started with simple cheep tools/stock and some creativity.

Originally Posted by smythe

Yes start with the 3-5 $ a Lb steel, a little elbow grease, a few tools and you may just end up with a serviceable razor who knows it may be a better razor than a new one.

Bastard file from the hardware store…. $5
Tools you already have in your garage… $
Bench grinder… $50
Barbeque grille… $...
Old bucket with used motor oil… $...
10-50 hours heat treating, hacking, grinding, filing, sanding, buffing, honing and all that FUN… $$$...
Getting a BBS from your first hand made razor… $$$$$...

So why be discouraged by the cost of equipment currently used by the successful blade manufactures. They all started with simple cheep tools/stock and some creativity.

Have you ever actually done this successfully or is this just speculation?

Originally Posted by heavydutysg135

Have you ever actually done this successfully or is this just speculation?

Not with a razor, but close… in another life I used an old file to make new cutting tools for a lathe... Use the torch to soften the steel, cut it up, re-harden, and grind to shape. They worked great.


I believe the same can be done to make a razor.

I think that JoshEarl had the right approach to learning to make a straight razor without a background in knife making. First he learned to hone all types of razors very well. After this skill he went on to learning to restore and rescale vintage razors. Finally he moved on to building a grinder, and learning to grind knives and razors. This is the approach that I think that you would be most successful with if you have a strong enough desire.

Ha - didn't know Josh is making razors that would be something interesting to look for and try...

Many knife makers certainly have some applicable skills and tools and if more of them start actually using a straight I think we may see a wide variety of new custom razor makers - obviously for them it doesn't seem like such a big deal / jump

Cheers
Ivo

step one : obtain suitable metal

step two : heat metal till red hot

step three: pound metal with hammer repeatedly (bonus points for grunting and wearing a helmet with wings)

step four: seek treatment for burns and smashed thumb

step 5: return to "forge" and look at your creation...

step 6: throw away "frankenrazor" in disgust and contact Robert Williams or Joe Chandler.

Step 7: justify purchase to other half.

Failing step 7, we move on to....


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Step 8: Set bedding on couch or tent in yard

I've started making knives lately, and hopefully I will move up to razors. I was board and started looking for information on the net.
The steel is easy to find and cheap enough, or expensive enough, if you know were to look. The filing and grinding is not the hard part, just takes some time. Since I have no grinder it takes a long time. The heat treating is the hard part, I have farmed that out to our local machine shop that I also get the steel from.
The steel for my first blade was free from the owner at our local machine shop, also got some free time with oven for tempering. The company I work for spends a lot of much money with him I got some freebies out of the deal. He cuts me a deal on on the steel if I make one for him.
Before I move to razors though, I have a lot to learn.