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Thread: So Here's The Thing...
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08-22-2011, 08:34 PM #1
- Join Date
- Jul 2011
- Location
- Jacksonville, FL
- Posts
- 142
Thanked: 20The only way to know for sure is to try to restore a couple junkers and try to make some scales. This is the place to learn how to do it in theory, the only way to learn for real is to practice in your own shop.
You'll soon find out if you are committed or not. Yes tools make life much easier and are essential if you plan to do it professionally.
My advice, try to see what you can do with a couple old junkers and then compare that work to what you see on this forum by some of the pro's. Do you think with some practice you could come close to their work?
Then you weigh the pro's and con's and try to see if it will be worth it to you to devote much of your free-time to restoring razors.
The real test for me personally was being able to unpin a razor without damaging the scales, believe it or not, that is the most nerve-racking part of every rebuild for me. So much can go wrong in the tinest fraction of a second, you slip and all of the sudden you have broken someone's prized set of scales.
Practice on your own junkers for a while and see how you feel about it.
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to UPD For This Useful Post:
HigherFasterNow (08-23-2011), pcg (08-23-2011)
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08-22-2011, 11:54 PM #2
My advice - don't leave a job that pays your bills for something that won't do the same.
Spend $5 on sandpaper and try to clean up a razor. Powertools are just doing the same thing faster, and are extremely useful to ruin a perfectly good razor.
You'll probably have to figure out the honing part too, as I doubt anybody wil trust a restoration service that won't result in shaving razor, for all they know you may have just ruined the temper in the pursuit for money.
So, do this as a hobby for a while and then you'll see if you can get enough work at enough profit to replace your day job.
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The Following User Says Thank You to gugi For This Useful Post:
HigherFasterNow (08-23-2011)
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08-23-2011, 12:11 AM #3
As a guy who's been self-employed for 25 years, I want to emphasize that all of these comments are excellent. Make sure your razor business is pulling in real dough while you're working full time elsewhere. Don't quit a good job w/o having all the licks down first. 10,000 hrs may be an exaggeration, but there's also a lot of truth to it. I'd recommend spending a year or more doing this as a serious hobby, and then if you still feel as passionate about leaving your "real" job--and only then--send some private mail to three or four of the master restorers who hang out here and ask them if it's possible to really make a decent living restoring and honing blades.
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The Following User Says Thank You to pcg For This Useful Post:
HigherFasterNow (08-23-2011)
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08-23-2011, 04:43 AM #4
I think you get struck with lightning and bells ring around the world as pixies dance and your name is put into songs... LMAO
Thanks, I believe that starting slow is a good plan. I'm working on 2 razors as we speak. Its been quite a learning process, but I've enjoyed every second of it.
Thanks for the advice. I've got my junkers sanded up. The first I got to a mirror finish. I learned quite a bit. I had to reshape the point after I damaged it... hehe oops. It looks quite good though. I had no trouble unpinning, I used a file and some electrical tape, it worked wonders. Now Ive gotta figure out how to repin it
Of course you are correct. As much as I want to leave my job, your right I should stay. It puts food on the table. I've committed to buying the sandpaper and a dremel (I know its not the preferred tool around here, we use them at work so I'm pretty good with the thing). As for the honing, I recently sharpend 7 razors of mine, some with some small crack, some that were NOS. I did quite well, I'm kinda proud of that point... however my first attempt about 4-5 months ago didn't go so well LOL I'm still to scared to try and fix what I did to that poor razor of mine oh well live and learn right?
Thanks for the advice, I think every comment here is right, I'll start this as a hobby, and I'll see if I can sell a razor or 2, and see where it goes
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08-23-2011, 11:34 AM #5
I think while you're still saying things like this you shouldnt go into restoring and making blades full time. If someone had sent you their grandads razor to clean up they'd want it back mint.
I've been at this hobby a few years now and I've just got into restoring blade myself and its definitely trickier than it sounds! I also recently did a bladesmithing course and thats definitely way harder than it looks a well..!
I agree with the other guys, start out as a hobby and then see how things go. If you still like it and you start restoring for others see whether its feasible to make a living out of it. But definitely dont give up a bill paying job without another one to replace it!
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The Following User Says Thank You to Stubear For This Useful Post:
HigherFasterNow (08-23-2011)
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08-23-2011, 01:12 PM #6
OK
Everybody gave great advice on keeping your job and such. But what about the doing?
Below are 4 great books that are more than enough to get you started. These books with a few hands on or at least watching seminars will give you what you need.
Step by step
$50 knife shop
How to make knives
The Complete Bladesmith
And last but by far not the least join Don Foggs bladesmithing forum.
Many of the very best are there and they love to share. Plus there is years of information in old posts and pinned topics.
Best on the net in my opinion.
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Danocon For This Useful Post:
FacialDirt (08-24-2011), HigherFasterNow (08-23-2011)
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08-23-2011, 03:08 PM #7
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08-23-2011, 01:14 PM #8
Good points I know I'm not ready to do it full time. This is just the beginning
Roger that. For now its just a hobby. You are right of course, as is the wisdom of everyone thats posted here. I really appreciate you and everyone has taken to share your thoughts. Now I've got to trudge off to work LOL.
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08-23-2011, 04:47 AM #9
Thanks so much for the post, believe me I'm really paying attention and I really appreciate all the comments and advice. I think the end goal is I want my own business. I'd love it to be part of something that I have a real passion for. I won't quit my job, but boy do I wish I could LOL. I'll take my time and learn all I can. I'm hoping to find a bladesmith in my area. And if I'm lucky I'll get him or her to teach me somethings Thanks for your advice, and your time limit on beginning this journey
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08-23-2011, 04:57 AM #10
I might be wrong, but I would be surprised if most of the custom razor makers didn't have full time jobs in addition to the razor making.