Straight Razor

[R.W. Deavers 80]

I made the blade a little while ago with a design in mind. As most projects go, during the build, the design goal became somewhat blurred and some aspects went in different directions, which got me off track for the handle design. I want to thank everyone on the Design and Critique section for their suggestions. Finally, this started to take form. The scales are made from a piece of old old butcher's block, the spacer is formed from copper plate, the pins are brazing rod, and the washers are cut from copper sheet. Now, I can breathe a sigh of relief with this one completed.

 

[Alveprins 359]

absolutely kickass shape and filework on the blade.

[R.W. Deavers 80]

Thanks. I was going for some Victorian style scroll work.

[Gary LT 203]

Excellent, excellent. I have a old relative who collected knives, pocket watches and razors. A real joy to handle these razors time to time. Most are Solingen, Sheffiled and US. I like your use of materials. I priced domed washers (found used on some razors) for a project before and not cheap!

 

Gary LT

[R.W. Deavers 80]

The small copper washers you see with the spacer pins were hand made by me. The were drilled, cut, and filed from some copper pipe that was split and flattened.

[Lukas MG 79]

Lovely. I am a bit miffed at the lack of other pictures though Come on, give us more than one!

[R.W. Deavers 80]

Lucas, I don't have any build pictures, just of the finished project, sorry.

[Kevin Colwell 171]

Never made a razor but love watching videos of people making them. That looks cool. I am intimidated by the thought of making one.

great outcome. Design change can be good.

[R.W. Deavers 80]

Kevin, the only thing I slightly felt intimidated by while making this was the hollow grind. For these though, I think I have it figured out, just patience and time.

[Timothy Artymko 39]

I really like it! I have been wanting one for quite some time now, but I have nothing to do a hollow grind with :I So for now I can't really pursue such a gentlemans tool!

[R.W. Deavers 80]

In the past, I have tried using a flap wheel on a grinder and a drum sanding wheel on a Dremel, but they never came out clean enough. About the only thing I can suggest is very time consuming and that is using sand paper on a dowel rod or something close. I'm sure there are other ways, but for now, that's what I came up with.

[Kenon Rain. 20]

There is a video somewhere of a guy with two grinding wheels rotating opposite directions and butted up almost together. They both rotate "up" where the wheels converge and the guy just runs the blade back and forth holding it edge down until he has a nice symmetrical hollow grind. I always thought It was a nice trick, for any hollow grind really but razors especially.

 

Really nice work by the way. I have tried to make one a couple times but never could quite swing it

Edited April 4, 2016 by Kenon Rain.

[R.W. Deavers 80]

Thanks Kenon. To do the hollow grind takes some patience and time. I have thought about making a grinder similar to that concept.

[R.W. Deavers 80]

Okay, while I'm still on the subject of straight razors, I have had this idea kicking around in my head for a while, so I decided to just get it done. Here is the progress I have so far for the Steampunk straight razor. The blade still needs to be tempered, then aged. After that, I get to set the rivets then tarnish the copper and brass. I have an idea or two on paper right now for the handle, but I'm still gathering parts.