Thread: Suggestions - Custom Razor Manufacturer

Hand engraving is something I can do with custom razors because I can engrave them before heat treating. Laser or electrochemical etching are options for finished razors with hardened steel.

Carl- I would have never thought of that, but I can immediately see why that might cause a problem. I don't know much about optics and/or heat generated from lasers so I, too, would welcome any advice on the matter.

Dave

Originally Posted by AspiringPolymath

Carl- I would have never thought of that, but I can immediately see why that might cause a problem. I don't know much about optics and/or heat generated from lasers so I, too, would welcome any advice on the matter.

Dave

I _did_ think of that.

Explain to whoever you're talking to, that razor's blade is _thin_ and _hardened_, and that if its temper is changed, it'll become useless.

Once the razor is ground and tempered, I think the alternatives for marking it are:

. . . acid-etching (which won't change the temper)

. . . grinding/engraving with tiny abrasive wheels (which might change the temper)

. . . laser etching (the laser vaporizes bits of steel) (which might change the temper).

But you'll learn more by finding people who do these things, and asking the right questions.

Charles

I envy quite a few custom blades on here that are made by members on this site.
I'm also pretty interested in the laser etching blades. I cleaned up a vintage blade I want to give to my brother and I have access to a $30,000 laser etching machine we use to label tools/parts for aircraft in the military.

If anyone has more info on this let me know! Perhaps the steel might not heat up enough around the edge of the blade to cause issues to the steel used for shaving. If that's the case then any design wanted on the spine/tang/top portion of the blade that got over-heated and had damage done to the temper wouldn't really matter, right?

Originally Posted by brooksie967

. . .

If anyone has more info on this let me know! Perhaps the steel might not heat up enough around the edge of the blade to cause issues to the steel used for shaving. If that's the case then any design wanted on the spine/tang/top portion of the blade that got over-heated and had damage done to the temper wouldn't really matter, right?

It would be fine, if the heat in the center didn't warp the blade (and the edge).

I would try it out on an "eBay special" first, before using it on a razor I valued.

. charles

PS -- If you try it, _please_ let us know what happened!

I read through a few of the other posts on laser etching but never saw anyone mention issues with it! Apparently the 'pulse' of the laser is fast enough and cools really quickly?? The guys that operate the machine here at work say you can touch the metal as soon as it comes out of the machine. You can also change intensity/depth/duration of the pulse on the one they have here, it's one that's capable of creating images in the centre of a piece of acrylic without marking the exterior surface. Think of the custom acrylic scales you could do with this? I have a few shitty blades that I think i'll put through the process and see what happens. Unfortunately, it seems like unless the steel is identical on the razor you're testing and the one you plan to finish on, the results will vary.

Some lasers use a colored paste they burn to the metal, much like a laser printer, others can "eat" metal.
If the college's insignia has some colors in it maybe that's the way to go.
Please give us some pics later will you...

The one I have access to doesn't use pastes or anything but is capable of doing designs on curved surfaces and basically any material. As well, as mentioned above, the 3D type designs in clear media.

Thanks for everyone's input here; it has certainly given me a lot to think about.

As for colors, Lemur, I hadn't really thought about doing it in color, as I figured that would make the process that much more difficult. I've been in touch with a couple of the members thorough PMs and hope to give it a whirl before the new year...I'm a planner so I'm not in a huge rush to get this done, but I wanted to thoroughly explore my options before attempting the final product.

In line with cpcohen1945's suggestion, I'll probably test the method (yet to be determined) on it before risking a quality razor.

With my cursory understanding of the aforementioned processes, I think I'd prefer to use the acid etching; unfortunately, with the narrow etching surface (the face of razors typically only run up to 1", right?), I'm worried the craftsman/etcher won't have space to get the requisite detail.

Below, please find a picture of the seal/insignia I'm looking to use. If, upon seeing the image, you think any of the methods aren't suitable let me know.

I had a razor engraved some years back. It was a W&B. The guy scanned the image put it thru his machine & the computer & diamond cutters did the rest. He did have to run it 4 x tho due to the hardness of the steel.