Kamisori (Japanese Razor) WIP

[carbonsteel928]

In the following days I'll be taking a break from grinding traditional Western Razors and will do a short run of Kamisori style razors. Please stay tuned.

Sketching out the Razor pattern is probably the hardest part for me. Getting the proportions right is quite the challenge especially considering how just a few thousandths of an inch can affect the final angle.

Once the pattern has been established, I photocopy it and use cheap spray glue to transfer it over onto the steel. On this occasion, I will be using some 9/32" thick O1 which is a just a bit oversized from the final dimensions.

The following steps are pretty self explanatory.

Once everything has been ground to the exact profile and squared up, I flip the razor on its edge and mark the area to which the hollow will be ground.

 

[carbonsteel928]

The shot here shows the razor ground pre-heat treat with a 4" contact wheel and a worn 36 grit belt. Notice that I did not grind to the lines as I have to clean it up to 220 before heat treating.

The reverse side is left unground as I've had terrible luck with thin edges warping on me with these asymmetrical razors.

 

[carbonsteel928]

I skipped the heat treating process due to its mundane nature; nothing more than just your typical O1 heat treat.

Post heat treat the flats are trued to remove any decarb and to start tapering the handle.

The Ura (back) is hollow ground taking special care to keep edge straight without cutting into it or the spine.

A quick shot of the rear hollow.

Cutting that Katanogoshi (waits) which allows a better grip while shaving.

This is a shot of handle after tapering. Tapering the handle is important in keeping the weight and overall geometry of the razor correct.

Truing the Katanogashi using a spindle sander.

Hand sanding the flats to 400 grit. Rhynowet and baby oil make things move along quickly.

 

[carbonsteel928]

Had bit a snafu with my camera and the shots which included the rapping of the handle with rattan and impregnating it epoxy disappeared. There are nine more to finish so with any luck, the corresponding photos can be taken then.

 

[seionage]

subscribed!

 

[carbonsteel928]

Thank you for subscribing and reading this thread. My apologies for the poor photography; much respect to all of you who do these WIPs on a regular basis with quality photos.

BTW, I didn't catch it until posting these photos but it seems as though I'll have to go back and clean the blade with some acetone to rid it of the nasty blotches caused to handling with dirty epoxy covered gloves.

 

[keithf]

Hey nice job on the wip. Photos are better than I can do lol. How does it shave?
Cheers Keith

 

[carbonsteel928]

Hey nice job on the wip. Photos are better than I can do lol. How does it shave?
Cheers Keith

Thank you Keith. It passed the hanging hair test after a 6k water stone but I still took her to a Kitayama stone and strops and pastes topping out at .25 micron on the paste and then stropped on kangaroo leather. After that splitting a beard hair 4 times was no issue. Tried it out on my face and it was extremely smooth and performed at the same level as my Iwasaki Kamisori.

 

[Mitchell Knives]

Very nice work!

I may have to try to make one of these myself.

 

[gregorio]

Thanks for the post of your WIP.