Thread: i made this tonight...

Very good Paco! Glad to see that you made the leap. Grinding an old file is about as difficult as it gets. Keep that razor. You will like it more & more as time goes on.

I like it! Congratulations on your first build! Looking forward to seeing more!

changed it up a bit last night.... the wedge shape i made didnot jive well with the bevel i put on it.... while it worked fine on mary's legs when i tried my face it was unsatisfactory.... soooooo.... i put a slight hollow grind on it *(at work... ).. i lost about 3/32 of height on the blade..... when i got home i did the 220/400/1000/6000 thing again...

there are grind marks on the flats that i have to remove... gonna make a special "tool" out of dowels and a high speed cordless drill using varying grits to polish it out without cutting off a finger/hand/arm/neck....

i need to get my hands on a 8000g stone...

photos will follow...

You mean to tell me you shaved your wife's legs before you tried it out on yourself...shame on you...

Originally Posted by shooter74743

You mean to tell me you shaved your wife's legs before you tried it out on yourself...shame on you...

i had already shaved.....lol....

it was her idea....

the devil made me do it....

You shouldn't let anyone run down this fascinating piece of work because it looks a trifle rustic. It should remind us that file steel is perfectly good razor steel, and while obtaining a shaving edge demands care and some scepticism about crafty labour-saving tricks, it needn't be some sort of higher science or black magic.

A razor with short tang and scales may be handier to use. Hollow grinding will make it balance better, and reduce the tendency for lather to drip around. A good polish is a big help in preventing rust from starting. But those are refinements. You did the hard bit.

Well, not entirely perhaps. It should also remind us that blades may shave arm (or presumably leg) hair very convincingly , and yet fail to shave a face. But I think you will get around that all right.

Originally Posted by Caledonian

You shouldn't let anyone run down this fascinating piece of work because it looks a trifle rustic. It should remind us that file steel is perfectly good razor steel, and while obtaining a shaving edge demands care and some scepticism about crafty labour-saving tricks, it needn't be some sort of higher science or black magic.

A razor with short tang and scales may be handier to use. Hollow grinding will make it balance better, and reduce the tendency for lather to drip around. A good polish is a big help in preventing rust from starting. But those are refinements. You did the hard bit.

Well, not entirely perhaps. It should also remind us that blades may shave arm (or presumably leg) hair very convincingly , and yet fail to shave a face. But I think you will get around that all right.

thank you!!

it did shave my face.. but something about the wedge shape of the blade was unsettling to me in the mirror........

now however i have put a semi hollow grind on the blade... and honed it back out and i have 2 shaves with it.... i am enjoying it more and more.....

there are a few refinements i will do sun-mon while i am off work.... i hope to be finished with it completely by monday night...

photos will follow....

thanks again for the kind words...

I was thinking about doing this also and Baldy directed me to this thread. Well I am gonna try it, I just got done restoring a Wade and Butcher and I feel this is the next logical step. Thanks for the inspirration!!!!
P.S. you don't have to know how to spell to make a straight razor......I hope.

Originally Posted by Mastershake

I was thinking about doing this also and Baldy directed me to this thread. Well I am gonna try it, I just got done restoring a Wade and Butcher and I feel this is the next logical step. Thanks for the inspirration!!!!
P.S. you don't have to know how to spell to make a straight razor......I hope.

lol... spelling not necessary...

just remember to take your time and keep a container of water handy for dunking it...... when you feel heat on your fingertips immd cool it... that way you won't chase out the temper and have to send it off........

i find this one that i made to be especially pleasing to use.... has a kinda warmth to it that the other one i have don't.... i honestly think it has something to do with not being fully hollow ground and the thicker blade and heavier weight are comforting and easier for me to control *(im a good sized guy with big hands)...

best of luck with your attempt i hope it makes you as happy as i am with mine........*p.s. i am going to be selling off some of my eclectic collection of razors...lol...