Thread: Criteria

I see beautiful work in custom razors. I would like to know what criteria you use to choose a blade to restore into a custom razor.
1. Do you choose by the reputation of the maker?
2. How deep are the pits you will accept in the blade?
3. How deep are the pits you will accept in the tang?
3. By restoring are you willing to eliminate the makers identity?
4. How important is it to have original scales?
5. It would be a shame to put a lot of work into a razor the does not shave well. At some point before extensive work is done, do you sharpen and hone the razor to see how well it will shave?

Originally Posted by htmitten

I see beautiful work in custom razors. I would like to know what criteria you use to choose a blade to restore into a custom razor.
1. Do you choose by the reputation of the maker? Within Reason, no crap Chinese or Pakistani blades
2. How deep are the pits you will accept in the blade? There is no way of knowing that until you start trying to take them out, you have to pay attention to actual integrity of the steel
3. How deep are the pits you will accept in the tang? Of no importance
3. By restoring are you willing to eliminate the makers identity? No
4. How important is it to have original scales? Not at all
5. It would be a shame to put a lot of work into a razor the does not shave well. At some point before extensive work is done, do you sharpen and hone the razor to see how well it will shave? Always check for good steel before you start restores at the edge with a fast bevel set and a loupe

You might want to read this thread

Beginners Tips: Feb 2011

and always keep in mind you don't really decide how far the restore can go the razor does, you can decide how far it doesn't go though...

Was gonna say YMMV ... But Glen said it better.
I think the answer to #5 is crucial.