Thread: First "Shavette"

First post!

I wanted to try out shaving with a straight but didn't have enough money to buy one. So over the weekend, I made a "shavette" using some brass sheet, pins, screws and some scrap wood.

Some day when I get my 2"x72" grinder running again and I can afford some steel, heat treating, and honing supplies I will make a real straight in a similar design.

Seenine

DUDE! That's awesome. I think you should start building those bad boys and distribute through SRD. I think you should PM Lynn and have him take a look at that and see what he thinks.

Seriously!!

i agree, thats a sweet looking setup.
well done!

That is sweet looking, I like the lines.

Charlie

Thanks for the compliments everyone.

I found a piece of stainless steel that might be usable in a frameback razor. Does anyone know a cheap place to get it heat treated? I tried contacting Peter's Heat Treat, but they said $37 plus S&H both ways. Also where to find some example dimensions for straight razors, like length of the various parts and such?

Love the shavette! What kind of blade do you have clamped in it? Would love something like that to hold a Personna Ridgid Back blade.
How about a pic of the reverse side?

It has half a Dorco DE blade in it because that's what I had. The back just has some thread sticking out instead of the screw head because I haven't gotten the chance to shorten the screw yet, and you can't see the pin hones. You actually weren't supposed to see them from the front either, but when I ground the bevels, the pins came loose and were no longer securely peened, so I had to re-peen and grind down the pins, making them a little short.

that looks really smart

id love to be as good as you with wood and metal.

Try contacting Paul bos heat treating I think he charged me 14$ for single blades plus shipping. Also you need to know what steel it is it may not be heat treatable. As for inspiration in razor making buy some vintage ones, look at pics on the web. Shave with them too you will get a better idea on what it's like. I cannot wait to start making my own razors as well good luck