Thread: Win some, Lose some

Originally Posted by ignatz

...In particular I would like to remind everyone that the new series of blades coming from Thiers-Issard (135 Carbonsong steel) are hardened all the way through, end-to-end. Anyone trying this same 'straightening' routine with one of these new blades is asking for trouble.

Not that I would know any different, but I read this at Martin's site:

Due to a new hardening process the back of the razor is a bit "softer" than the edge. Thus is giving the razor's back more flexibility and more sharpness and shaves to the edge.

The First Thiers Issard Silverwing LE

Originally Posted by spazola

I have put the blade in water with the tang sticking out and heated it up with a propane torch till the metal turns from brown-blue-gray, let air cool then bend in vise.

I have also clamped the razor in a big vise with the tang sticking out and used the vise as a heat sink. The advantage here you can bend when still hot.

Mike Blue and Butch were the ones that told me these methods.

Charlie

Old school blacksmiths used the color rings in order to tell what type of microstructure they had on the ends of axes, pick axes, etc... Yellow = matensitic structures (hard) and blue = pearlite structures (soft). This was done without the use of microscopes, micro-hardness machines, tensile machines, etc. Pretty incredible what they people where able to achieve with the use of heat, hammer, water, and the naked eye.

You may be a redneck if you save with a razor containing JB weld, Duck Tape, coat hanger welds and spray paint.