Thread: i made this tonight...

i was at work the other night *(mechanic for AA) and was semi-bored so i started rearranging all my tools... i found a old file and got to looking at it.... and decided to make my own razor.... i roughed out the general shape i wanted and then took it home......... i was very careful not to overheat the steel as i started shaping the blade... working it down to what i wanted it to be....

it was truthfully a fast build.... using my table top belt sander and my 3" bench grinder for the heavy stuff... then when i felt i had it almost where i wanted it i started flattening out the side *(it is a wedge shaped blade.. as hollow grinding is beyond my capabilities here at home) with wet or dry 220 then i went to 400 and smoothed the sides...... i then put 3 layers of tape on the spine and set the bevel with my 1000 grit waterstone... then progressed to 6000 grit for final honing... followed by stropping on my homemade strop.... OMG is this thing sharp...

it is not a work of art by any means.... and is probably quite amateurish in most peoples eyes.... but *(seeing as i had already shaved tonight) my wife asked me to shave her legs from the knees down to give it a test run......... she was very impressed with the fact that it was MUCH smoother than her 5blade pos that she normally uses..... *(and i didn't cut/nick, or razor burn her)...

here are a few pics... please be gentle.... *(i may refine it in the near future... but the blade is straight.. the wedge is true... and i am afraid i may mess it up.... )

I think it is great first razor, you will go up from here no dobnt about it.

looks neat! nice use of old material. I like it. You said there may be room for you to improve, but that is a matter of opinion. If you wanna do better go for it, but I think it looks great! I am from the school of thought, if you worked to the best of your ability and are happy with the results good for you.
I really dig it. well done.

Originally Posted by paco664

i was at work the other night *(mechanic for AA) and was semi-bored so i started rearranging all my tools... i found a old file and got to looking at it.... and decided to make my own razor.... i roughed out the general shape i wanted and then took it home......... i was very careful not to overheat the steel as i started shaping the blade... working it down to what i wanted it to be....

it was truthfully a fast build.... using my table top belt sander and my 3" bench grinder for the heavy stuff... then when i felt i had it almost where i wanted it i started flattening out the side *(it is a wedge shaped blade.. as hollow grinding is beyond my capabilities here at home) with wet or dry 220 then i went to 400 and smoothed the sides...... i then put 3 layers of tape on the spine and set the bevel with my 1000 grit waterstone... then progressed to 6000 grit for final honing... followed by stropping on my homemade strop.... OMG is this thing sharp...

it is not a work of art by any means.... and is probably quite amateurish in most peoples eyes.... but *(seeing as i had already shaved tonight) my wife asked me to shave her legs from the knees down to give it a test run......... she was very impressed with the fact that it was MUCH smoother than her 5blade pos that she normally uses..... *(and i didn't cut/nick, or razor burn her)...

here are a few pics... please be gentle.... *(i may refine it in the near future... but the blade is straight.. the wedge is true... and i am afraid i may mess it up.... )

Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beholder!!

If it gives you a nice, clean and comfortable shave why mess with it??

Looks great to me! I love to see old files turned into useful things again and you've done a brilliant job. It doesn't have to look like art to do what it's meant to do as you've just proved. Nice one.

p.s. You've got lovely legs! heh heh

If it shaves I say leave it as it is. It may not be the prettiest but it serves it's purpose and if you continue to make razors it will remind you of how far you have come.

I agree with the previous post, hang on to that one and that way you will have one to refer to as your work gets only better with the practice of making more. Great job indeed!

BTW, I was hoping that pic wasn't of your leg...

Leave it as is, one of a kind that shaves well.........if it ain't broke don't fix it. Nice work.

thanks guys.... that leg belongs to my 6 foot tall amazon wife.....

That is a very cool razor. It is a great feeling to shave with a self made razor, enjoy it.

Charlie