Thread: Razor Coffins

I use toothbrush tubes from Wal-Mart for shipping razors and when I'm traveling. They are 50¢ and they are more durable then the regular coffins.

Thanks guys,

Timberr59 - Thanks for the advice to post the razors looking for a box. I am working on a few of these and not sure I want to go through the trouble matching these out. I will keep your suggestion in mind.

Kenrup - that's what I was looking for. I needed a cheap solution to keep these things from bouncing around. Going down to CVS now.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by fitzer

Thanks guys,

Timberr59 - Thanks for the advice to post the razors looking for a box. I am working on a few of these and not sure I want to go through the trouble matching these out. I will keep your suggestion in mind.

Kenrup - that's what I was looking for. I needed a cheap solution to keep these things from bouncing around. Going down to CVS now.

Thanks.

CVS wanted $2.00 for theirs. I found better at Wally World for $.50

I got some toothbrush holders and they are really long. Are there shorter holders out there so my razors won't rattle around, or should I just stick some scrap cloth at the ends to "shorten" them?

Not to keep this going forever... but I saw some eyeglass cases (tubes the cheap reader eyeglasses come in) that looked like they could fit, though maybe tightly. Just a thought.


Thanks again everyone.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Alright! That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

Paper Mache coffins, here I come. Thanks Chris

James.

Hi Jimbo.
I've had some similar thoughts to you and Chris, of making some . The question I have is where did the thought of paper mache' enter? Am I missing something? I have only 4 or 5 boxes, no coffins- but none are made of paper mache'- that is if I understand: mache' has plaster of paris. Mine are only paper-card board.

I've been lazy in investigating but i was considering picture frame mat board/ and or acid-free paper
One thing holding me back is the realization I can even make a decently wrapped christmas gift- i'd nver figure out how to do the ends

I've heard the term papier mache used to describe using strips of paper dunked in a water/paste slurry.

The old black Sheffield coffins ((I would assume that's where the nickname came from since the black boxes are coffin shaped) when examined closely look to be made with thin sheets of paper formed around a stiffer cardboard inner layer. And, they're much stiffer than the typical razor cardboard/paper coffins prevalent at later dates. My guess is the process to make the Sheffield coffins was more labor intensive. It just seems like they were made using a different process than the traditional paper razor box.

Chris L

Chris L - I have a few old Sheffield coffins where you can actually see the edges of the strip of paper wound spirally around the inner box. The interesting thing is that the embossed design runs over the edges of the paper, therefore it must have been added after the outer paper was put on (and still damp, I would have thought).

Perhaps they used a "former" like the old camera-bellows makers used - a wooden blank the same dims as the inside of the box. The stiff card could be placed over it, then the whole lot bound with the outer tape, then embossed while the former was still in place to give it rigidity?

You could even papier mache over the whole former (like kids used to do with balloons at school - do they still do that?), let it dry (I suppose the former would have to be waxed or something to prevent sticking) then cut it along the joint. A card collar could be glued into place in one end, left protruding so you could slide the other end onto it.

The embossing would have to be a bit of a workaround. The plate wouldn't have to be that strong - perhaps epoxy resin could be used to make a cast?

Stage 2 would be an attempt at the double coffins!

Might give it a try one of these days...

Regards,
Neil.

I apologize in advance for veering the threat - anyone ever worry about old cardboard coffins being a disinfection problem? Got a couple old unused razors (engstrom and friodur) - sterilized the razors in barbicide and you'd never guess they weren't new. The boxes are functional, cool to look at but they look like they came from the time of moses. Its fun to use them, but any worries there might be germs in the boxes that are going to get onto the freshly cleaned blade? my guess is no - air is a good disinfectant.

No worries. Really nasy bugs like HIV, hep. B & C do not survive very long outside the human body. Common molds and bacteria do not pose a health threat. I never sterilize used razors.