Forging to Shaving Video, The Whole Enchilada

For a while now I have been wanting to make a video that documents the whole process of making a razor. This is a soup to nuts video, I have included a little bit of most of the steps. I start with a chunk of metal and finish by shaving with the razor.

Charlie

intro 00:00
forging 00:44
rough grinding 08:39
file tang and jimps 13:02
drill pivot hole 15:23
rough grind again 16:46
make thumb notches 19:52
heat treat 22:31
final grinding 26:11
bevel setting 28:16
final grinding 29:22
etch logo 31:57
texture tang & spine 34:34
final grind 35:23
etch ferric chloride 37:08
make scales 38:16
texture scales 45:10
make thrust washers 46:23
make wedge 48:33
peening 50:03
honing 54:43
shaving 56:17

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvFO3TqhDj0

Charlie I haven't even started to watch your video but I'm very excited to do so! I've seen most all of your videos and they are wonderful! They tell and show what you are doing and why you are doing it and i find them very informative!:tu

I'll post later after I finish making the popcorn so I can enjoy the show!

Charlie, that was FANTASTIC! Thank you very much for posting that. :bow

I Am About 3/4 The Way Through And I Can Say This Is AWESOME!

THANK YOU for Showing The Whole Process!

Thank you, Charlie. We appreciate it. Thanks a lot!

Bravo Charlie! BRAVO! Well done! Just what I expected!:tu

You've made my long day so much better!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! :bow: :bow: :bow:

That is a 'GREAT' video...one of the best I've seen, and I've seen 'em all. Couldn't stop watching...

WP34

Absolutely amazing.

Beautiful work! Just out of curiosity do you recall the LPI count on the checkering file? Also - love the work space - great shop!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Swede686

Just out of curiosity do you recall the LPI count on the checkering file?

---

I will have an answer for you tomorrow when I get back home.

Charlie

That is a great video sir ! Pretty much sums it up.

I would love to learn how to mash iron into stuff like this. There is something about working on functional, stuff and fire (I am a mild pyromaniac). I love ceramics, but I would would like to learn how to make tools such as this. Does anybody know where I can try to pick up the craft in our around Los Angeles?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rocarule

I would love to learn how to mash iron into stuff like this. There is something about working on functional, stuff and fire (I am a mild pyromaniac). I love ceramics, but I would would like to learn how to make tools such as this. Does anybody know where I can try to pick up the craft in our around Los Angeles?

---

There are blacksmithing groups everywhere I have learned a great deal from other smiths when I go to a blacksmithing event I always learn something new. There always seems like there is a smith at the meet waiting to teach those who will listen.

I would do a search and find the nearest ABANA group near you.

Charlie

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Swede686

Beautiful work! Just out of curiosity do you recall the LPI count on the checkering file? Also - love the work space - great shop!

---

It was a grobet brand checkering file 30 lines per inch.

Charlie

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by spazola

It was a grobet brand checkering file 30 lines per inch.

Charlie

---

Thank you! next time I order tooling for gun work I will be sure to order one of those - it might come in handy on my next 1911 build as well - I've always ordered frames with the checkering done but now I have an excuse to give it a try as I may have other uses for the file :hmmm:

Brilliant video Charlie. Many thanks for sharing it and showing us. :)

Have watched the vid twice over two days,is without question one of the best Razor related vids I have ever seen.
I have zero aspirations of ever making a razor at my age but at least now I know how it is done start to finish.
Your attention to detail and intiment Knowledge of your tools and how you use them is a joy to watch.
I also enjoyed your eyeball approach to making the razor,IMO defines a true artist from a general machinist.
Thank for the vid.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Have watched the vid twice over two days,is without question one of the best Razor related vids I have ever seen.
I have zero aspirations of ever making a razor at my age but at least now I know how it is done start to finish.
Your attention to detail and intiment Knowledge of your tools and how you use them is a joy to watch.
I also enjoyed your eyeball approach to making the razor,IMO defines a true artist from a general machinist.
Thank for the vid.

---

You are welcome for the kind words about the video and my work.

I went to trade school and worked as a machinist out of hight school. I was trained to measure layout properly. Now days I am a big believer and proponent of TLAR engineering. That would be "that looks about right" usually if things look right in the shop they usually are.

Charlie

I do have one bitch about how you work Tho:)
Take off your wedding band,I have no nerves and very few tendons left in my ring finger,milling machine,1990,never did find the ring:(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

I do have one bitch about how you work Tho:)
Take off your wedding band,I have no nerves and very few tendons left in my ring finger,milling machine,1990,never did find the ring:(

---

I was thinking the same thing. Almost lost my finger to a ladder on board a sub.

Fantastic video. One day I'll have me a custom rszor.

Awesome video. Excellent production. I kept on thinking "Marty Staufer" when you were commentating.

Ive have to hand it to you sir simply amazing i have to come see you in action one day

I finally got time to sit down and watch the whole video, And being able to see the effort that goes into making a razor makes one appreciate them even more. There is something just so primal about fire and hammers, I think I might have to see if my grandfather still has his forge.

Watched this last night along with Glenn's honing videos. Marvelous work! :mexwave:

The video was awesome. I'm a second generation brick mason and traditional trades are very appealing to me, and blacksmithing might be the third oldest trade. Second to bricklaying (unless every journeyman tells that to their apprentices in every trade), and third to women of the night. But at the same time I used to listen to punk rock and spent some years on a skateboard and I really like what I think are Chucks you were wearing.

Thanks for the video. Very well put together, informative and a joy to watch and rewatch. I made one of those work rests you have on the contact wheel and it works great!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JazzWillie

The video was awesome. I'm a second generation brick mason and traditional trades are very appealing to me, and blacksmithing might be the third oldest trade. Second to bricklaying (unless every journeyman tells that to their apprentices in every trade), and third to women of the night. But at the same time I used to listen to punk rock and spent some years on a skateboard and I really like what I think are Chucks you were wearing.

---

The comments on bricklaying make sense to me.

Thanks for the feedback on the video.

Skating and punk rock has made up a large slice of life. After numerous skating and snowboarding mishaps, I finally had my ankle fused solid, that put an end to my skating. I see the resurgence of people long boarding now days and I am very jealous. At least I still have Henry Rollins and Mike Muir to lull me to sleep.

Charlie

I just found and finished watching this video on youtube and I have to say "Master work, master work!". I've been wanting to learn more about what goes into the process of making a quality razor and this has to be the most detailed I have found since. Thank you.

Great video and I'm envious of that shop!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by r3tic

Great video and I'm envious of that shop!

---

I just spent several days in that shop at the North Texas Meet. It is a very comfortable shop to work in, full of custom made tools to play with.