Thread: Something interesting I found.

"Did you realise….
…that some of the grinding wheels used to give the blades of open razors their special shape are made of walrus hide with a coating of grinding sand applied by hand?"

Wow! I didnt know that...!

I guess the walrus hide has slightly more "give" in it than a pure stone grinding wheel, giving more control on a delicate razor.

What do they bind the sand with? I'm guessing it must come off fairly quickly?

If you dont mind my asking, where did you find this? I'd be quite interested in reading more about it..!

Now that would be great to see, I did a quick search for pics but I couldn't find any. I would love to give one a try one day

Originally Posted by Stubear

Wow! I didnt know that...!

I guess the walrus hide has slightly more "give" in it than a pure stone grinding wheel, giving more control on a delicate razor.

What do they bind the sand with? I'm guessing it must come off fairly quickly?

If you dont mind my asking, where did you find this? I'd be quite interested in reading more about it..!

It came from the Giesen & Forsthoff web site and that is exactly and all they say.

John

John,

I finally paid attention to your signature line -- and chuckled loud and long.

Very interesting - it must be due to the toughness and thickness of the leather. I found this at refinishcoatings.com:

Walrus – Leather made from the hide of walrus. Walrus hide is of such thickness that it is generally used for leather for buffing wheels. When split it is used for bag leather. It is difficult to distinguish between leather made of seal and walrus hides after tanning and splitting and the names are often used interchangeably. “Walrus Grain” is sometimes imitated on cattlehides, sheepskins and goatskins as well as on splits from hides of various animals. In such cases, the proper descriptions are “Walrus-grained Cowhide” or “Walrus Grain on Goatskin,” etc. The term “walrus leather” when used in the luggage industry is generally regarded in the trade as being genuine sealskin leather on which a simulation of walrus grain has been embossed.

Although the leather is tough it is often split into thin layers - the layer after the first has to have an artificial finish - and is then used to bind books because it is so thin, soft and pliable - it finds uses at both extremes!

Incidentally, I have been coating close-stitched cotton buffing wheels with abrasives in a similar fashion - they are very effective.

Regards,
Neil

Oh man! Now some PETA person is going to get straight razors banned!

I googled "walrus buffing wheels" here and came up with some references in google books and elsewhere. Seems that they used the walrus hide glued onto wooden grinding/buffing wheels.

Hello, everyone:

This stuff is fascinating. John, thank you for starting the thread.

Regards,

Obie

I am the grinder
they are the grinder
I am the walrus
Goo goo g' joob