Thread: grinding with maestro Livi

Hey everyone,

I was watching Livi grind a straight razor and wanted everyone's take on it . look at the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6DJedrjeK4

Look at the 33 minute mark .
He grinds with stone grinders . Has anyone ever looked into this as an option cheaper than using a multi speed KMG style grinder. Seems that if you took a bench buffer. but a grinding wheel on it . put a housing around the grinding wheel and feed water on top off the grinding wheel as you grind that it would work ?

well if nothing else it is fuel for thought. It would be interesting to hear everyone's take on this. Since I am new to building straights. Maybe this was covered in the past here ?

also , look at the way Livi grinds . He first makes a perfect wedge design. then uses progressively smaller wet grinder wheels until he has a full hollow , thoughts ?

David

Straight razors have traditionally been made using stone grinding wheels. Using belt sanders is mainly something that hobbyists do.

It's possible to use a bench grinder to make a straight razor(Baldy did it very well: http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...ile-razor.html) but I think that a good belt grinder would be much better suited for the task

I thought to myself. well, if one were to use a bench grinder. encapsulate the wheel and have water running on the wheel to keep the steel cool that would accomplish the same thing as a much more expencive variable speed belt grinder ? Obviously it "will" work but even Livi finishes the blade on a belt grinder. Just milling around in my head the idea of a better grinder method that what I use now but without breaking the bank .

I use a grinder or sometimes an angle grinder to just do rough in when I haven't cut as much waste off as I should have.
For serious grinder work, you have to constantly redress the grinding wheels and adjust for the wheel getting smaller. There is an art to doing that.
It's quicker and a lot easier to just change a belt.

In a production environment, using a grinding wheel is probably cheaper. For hobby work or one offs, I'd rather spend the extra $1 on a new belt than spend an hour dressing the grinding wheel and adjusting the guides.

I think making the wedge first is a good idea, I know several people who use that as a first step. I do not think that way, but I can see how it would work.

I have ground several razors on stone wheels. I did not enjoy the process, but it can be done. I also tried the wet grinding wheel setup also, it was better, but no cigar for me. I did learn to spin dry the wheel, other wise it becomes water logged on one side and goes way! out of balance.

I have seen several razors ground on bench grinders, I was impressed with what people can do.

I would say experiment and see if it works for you and your methods.

With this type of work a lot depends on the person behind the tool just as much as the tool. I think that Livi could grind a beautiful razor on the round part of the curb, he is a talented man.

I have a friend who makes beautiful kitchen knives that he finish grinds by hand with 4.5 grinder with a cut off wheel attached. I guess the point of the last sentence is there are lots of way that will work.

I say try it and experiment.

Charlie

thanks Charlie,

It is kind of what I figured . Obviously from the extensive experience from people on this site who have done it all i thought a belt grinder is the way to go. But always looking to save a buck, yet do the best job . Your answer helped me contemplate which i think is what i am looking at right now. seems getting a motor is easy , vfd drive easy. But first , scrap metal, square tubing , cutting to size, drilling, welding and the like to at least go in the correct direction. it may take months to do it myself. or if i come upon the funds a kmg grinder would be my first choice. simple, functional, all that i need. thanks again for the advice and thoughts,

When he said he was going to flatten something and reached for the angle grinder, I thought my head was going explode. Same when he heat treated RWL 34 in the forge. LOL. But, he gets it done and then some. Mad skillz with that angle grinder, i tell you!!!!