Thread: I'm a razor maker (I think)!

So what are you looking for when you smash them to bit? If they've hardened all the way through? I have no idea, but find this really interesting!

Mark

Originally Posted by Milton Man

So what are you looking for when you smash them to bit? If they've hardened all the way through? I have no idea, but find this really interesting!

Mark

I'm still learning what to look for, actually. There are lots of bad things you can do to steel, so I'm checking for those. If you overheat the steel, for instance, you will develop a really coarse crystal structure that makes a weak blade. Also, how deep did the steel harden, and how brittle is it... Stuff like that.

If you don't sacrifice some blades by breaking them, you can't know whether you're doing things right or whether it just looks like you are. Really interesting stuff.

Josh

Shave Test Report:

Well, it's definitely a razor, not just a razor-shaped object. I used it for my shave this morning, and it removed hair from my face. Yippee!

The results are somewhat muddled, though. I got a fantastic shave yesterday, so I only had about a half day's growth to work with. I often end up with irritation the day after a really good shave, so I was already at a disadvantage.

The blade felt very good on my cheeks and sideburns. If I'd had my eyes closed, I might not have been able to tell the difference between this razor and a run-of-the-mill German blade.

There were a few spots where the edge isn't quite there--the heel and somewhere between the middle and the tip. These made my chin and the ATG attempt somewhat unpleasant. Either that, or the edge was giving out on me.

I'm still not sure whether the steel is harder or softer than what I'm used to. It's definitely different.

But... I made a razor. It was pretty cool to shave with something that I made from a raw hunk of steel.

Josh

Check your yellow pages and see if there's a metallurgy lab in your area. I got one to test the hardness of my Chronik, and they didn't even charge me since I didn't want an official legally-useful certification.

It's official..you're afflicted with steelitis. There's no cure I'm aware of. And it's much worse than RAD...debilitating, really. Sorry, dude.

Congrats Josh! While I know nothing about razor-making I would imagine that learning the ins-and-outs of forging your own steel will even help you with your restoration jobs as well, if thats possible! I am excited to see what you come up with.