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Apologies first of all if this thread is in the wrong section. I wasnt sure where it should go. Feel free to move it if needs be.
My question is exactly in the thread title. If I wanted to go out and make myself a razor from scratch how would I do it? And am I better getting an old blade made of quality steel, reconditioning it and making a handle for it?
Please guys, enlighten me.... :thinking:
Quote:
Originally Posted by sidneykidney
Well, I think the first step is to find a bunch of rocks rich in iron ore..........
Very good chuckles.... ;)
I think answering this question goes way beyond what could be answered here. Your question requires intimate knowledge of metal fabrication and a host of other related topics. The best recommendation is go to the library and take out a book on knifemaking. You will then get an idea whats involved. Then after dozens of attempts you might be ready to begin.
Really, if you wanted to make one from scratch, I would say find out if you have a blacksmith near you. If so, then see if he will do lessons on working with steel. Most of them are very open to sharing what they have spent a lifetime learning. Even a local Farrier should be able to point you in the right direction.
nope,Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenrup
first you need to take a big pile of you scratch money and send it to a razor maker then try and wait paticiently...
OK. Just thought it might be a really nice idea to have one made by myself. :(
Does anyone on SRP do it themselves? (and please, no lewd or dirty comments. Its 3am and i'm not in the mood. :ziplip:)
Sandy
For Dovo's viewpoint on razor manufacture, use the link found here.
Reconditioning an old blade would be a bit less expensive (IMO).
The machining alone can take a while to learn.
there are a number of custom razor makers here at SRP. But keep in mind that a custom razor is not an inexpensive propersision. check of the razor group buy thread.
I've been contemplating this question myself, and the answer is that it will take some time to learn, lots of money and equipment, and a little luck...
you might be able to grind the shape out of good bar stock, and send it to someone like mikeblue for heat treating... but you'd still have to do the final grinding and polishing, make scales, and all that...
Oh and one mistake means you get to start over from scratch...
the real masters hammer the metal into shape first, some even make their own damascus. they grind polish temper regrind repolish make scales etc... all before the final sharpening by hand.
There's a reason it takes them weeks to deliver a custom. you can do it, but it will be a long time before you're shaving with one you made.
sidkid,
Please let us know how this all works out. I've been tinkering with carpentry for almost 50 years and am daily amazed by what I don't yet know about my own trade. For one to pick up all the craft necessary to make one's own razor may not be as immediate as you appear to believe, but best of luck to you in that endeavor.
IMO this would be a much better/easier/more realistic start in my opinion. Once you master this and still want to move on then you will have a LOT of work ahead of you. Check out the Bill Ellis razor restoration CD to get you started restoring razors, that will keep you busy for a very long time.Quote:
Originally Posted by sidneykidney
its not a problem really
buy the right steel (not sure what you want to use)
grind a wedge about the easiest form as i can see it
heat treat
reagrind the wedge
make some scales
ok ok thats way not how hard it ready is its much worse
and im still learning
can you do it with a rock and plumbers torch i think so but be ready to learn and then get real tools to make a better razor
stop over at bladeforums and look at the knife makers sub forum lots of info there please try and read first tho as a ton of your questions have been talked about before
I once read an article by someone who made knife blades by grinding down files.
Thanks, now what do I do with this big pile of rocks?:confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by syslight
I am sure a straight razor can be made from flat file. The high carbon in the steel should be good for razor making.
You get ahead start because some flat files already have the basic shape (5/8"x3/16"x9").
Pick one up in a hardware store for a few bux.
A big question is where did the steel come from. If it's recycled steel you get a Zeepk. Recycled steel molecular structure is not nearly as cleanly defined and when hardened it is "lumpy" on the molecular level. To cut to the chase, files are great for knives. A premium quality steel file in high enough carbon content will be hard to come by. It might just be cheaper to buy a razor.Quote:
Originally Posted by smythe
:hmmm:I makes me wonder how the Wapencia is so good for so cheap?
Metallurgical content or the refining hardening/tempering process?Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenrup
Sure there may be files with questionable metallurgical content but many things in life is a crap shoot anyway… even a new razor.
There should be files made of high enough metallurgical quality out there.
Annealing, hardening and tempering may produce a decent razor. Only I am not sure if the steel can produce an edge at the angle of a straight razor (I must research that).
Sure it would be cheaper to just buy a new razor but it’s much more FUN to make one.
Yep, it's just like tying flies for fly-fishing. $200.00 vice, $150.00 for tools, $100.00 in materials and you can tie 50˘ flies all day long. Catching a 22" 5 lb. trout on your own fly---------------:yQuote:
Originally Posted by smythe
you can get good known steels starting from3-5 $ a Lb up to some of the stuff i have in the shop that shipped was 85$ a lb
get steel you know will work
if you want to spend the time at the grinder might as well make sure its with the right steel
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?Quote:
Originally Posted by smythe
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by heavydutysg135
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....
...
...
...
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.