Thread: My first "custom"

Good work Josh! Just be sure to drill the pivot hole before you taper the tang or heat treat. But I think you have already figured that out!

Looks good, Josh!

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Good work Josh! Just be sure to drill the pivot hole before you taper the tang or heat treat. But I think you have already figured that out!

My first batch of steel was hot rolled, and it was only partially annealed. I learned at the cost of several bits what that means when drilling.

One thing I learned is that my blade was actually easier to pin than many of the vintage blades I've worked on. I have concluded that many of these old blades are not ground straight. I had one where the point was off by something like 1/8" to 1/4". Often the scales on the original razor are bent to compensate for the warp/crooked grinding.

Mine wasn't ground very straight but it was still straighter than some of these blades.

Josh

So did you hone it yet, Josh? This looks great and I'm really interested to see how it turns out.

Now you've piqued my interest, and my wife may want to injure you...I want to make my own razors now...not just restore them!

How did you make your forge?

Mark

Very cool Josh! I would love to get in on this when they're available. Just think a Josh Earl custom in the shave den. Let us know how it is as soon as you hone it!

Mark,

My forge is made out of two soft refractory bricks and a high-output propane torch. Here's a link.

I can actually use it for forging, i.e. hammering hot steel, in addition to heat-treating. Eventually I'd like to learn to forge to shape, then finish the process on the grinder. It's a lot faster and more cost efficient once you know what you're doing. Until you know what you're doing, it's a good way to ruin a piece of steel.

Josh

Thanks Josh! Keep us posted on how it's going and post more pics of the process - this is taking straight razors to the next level!

Mark

Good work, Josh. When are we going to see some damascus?

Josh,
Are you comming to the Ohio meetup? If so please some of your work. I would like to get one of your razors before you get too famous. I might be able to afford one.

I also like your grinder. I am a machinist/mechanic and like to think I can spot quality work. It looks like he did a very good job building the grinder.

Don

Originally Posted by Kyle76

Good work, Josh. When are we going to see some damascus?

Maybe next week... I figure I'll have this grinding thing down pat by then, and the bordom will prompt me to master forge-welding...

Josh