Search found 27 matches

by Tim Zowada
Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:48 am
Forum: Straight Razors
Topic: Possible Northern Michigan Seminar
Replies: 6
Views: 4381

After much thought. I have decided to put this on hold until 2013. Ending my affiliation with Classicshaving.com has taken a toll on any spare time I had to work on the seminar. Ten weeks is just not enough time to do it right. Here is the good part, instead of rushing to put together a "get to...
by Tim Zowada
Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:55 am
Forum: Shopping
Topic: Zowada Razor Sales
Replies: 0
Views: 1142

Zowada Razor Sales

For the last 4 ½ years, Zowada Custom Knives and Classicshaving have maintained a successful business relationship. We are now off in different directions. This decision was difficult and not taken lightly. I am grateful for Classicshaving, they have provided greater exposure for my custom razors, b...
by Tim Zowada
Wed Feb 22, 2012 1:23 pm
Forum: Straight Razors
Topic: Possible Northern Michigan Seminar
Replies: 6
Views: 4381

Actually, it would be just South of Petoskey.
by Tim Zowada
Wed Feb 22, 2012 12:03 pm
Forum: Straight Razors
Topic: Possible Northern Michigan Seminar
Replies: 6
Views: 4381

Possible Northern Michigan Seminar

I'm thinking about putting together a Northern Michigan seminar for this July. It would be similar in scope to the Ashokan Seminar (www.knifeseminar.com), except all about razors only. The idea would be to have top razor makers and honemeisters come and lecture and demonstrate. This would not be the...
by Tim Zowada
Sun Oct 30, 2011 5:43 am
Forum: Straight Razors
Topic: Double Honing
Replies: 27
Views: 12355

drmoss_ca wrote:Aye, Tim, but I don't use up all that tape! :wink:

Chris
Yea, but I have all those funny lines on my razors. As for the extra layers of tape, I guess I must have some sort of a weird proclivity for tape.
by Tim Zowada
Sat Oct 29, 2011 4:33 pm
Forum: Straight Razors
Topic: What oil is best for short/long term razor storage?
Replies: 10
Views: 8713

I like Ballistol.
by Tim Zowada
Sat Oct 29, 2011 2:02 pm
Forum: Straight Razors
Topic: Double Honing
Replies: 27
Views: 12355

Chris, You've stumbled across one of my "secrets". I've been doing a variation of this for about a year and a half. My face, and my 1250X Zeiss, both agree it is worth the trouble. My hard hone routine goes like this (we can discuss the tape thing later): 4k, 1 layer of tape, 20 passes 8k,...
by Tim Zowada
Tue Aug 30, 2011 6:07 am
Forum: Straight Razors
Topic: Hart Steel 7/8 razors
Replies: 5
Views: 3861

Huh. That's surprising.
by Tim Zowada
Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:01 pm
Forum: Straight Razors
Topic: What would cause this? Bad Steel?
Replies: 43
Views: 23902

I doubt if it is one of yours Tim. Gary has recently obtained a Hart and has found it acceptable. We really need him to show the blade to someone who knows about these things. It is more likely to be a problem of the grind (I assume it has been carefully honed) than one of the temper (I refer to th...
by Tim Zowada
Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:06 am
Forum: Straight Razors
Topic: What would cause this? Bad Steel?
Replies: 43
Views: 23902

I had another thought on this that no one mentioned. :idea: Maybe it could be re-heat-treated to correct the problem. Can completed blades be heat treated? Razors cannot be re-heat treated. They are just too thin after the final grinding. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I could throw it on ...
by Tim Zowada
Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:33 am
Forum: Straight Razors
Topic: Thoughts on refreshing edges
Replies: 20
Views: 10445

I agree with Glen. Having a system, and regular routine is important. Then, as you vary things, you have a baseline to go from. My usual refresh routine is: Norton 8K, Escher, Balsa with Chromium Oxide, Leather hanging strop with Chromium oxide, Clean Horsehide Strop It's interesting how we all deve...
by Tim Zowada
Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:37 pm
Forum: Straight Razors
Topic: Shaving the Neck
Replies: 7
Views: 4132

The Feather clamp system forces you to use an angle far more obtuse than you would with a regular straight razor. That leads to razor burn and other nasties, unless you are very careful. I suggest you try a traditional straight razor. Use as shallow an angle as possible. The spine, of the blade, sho...
by Tim Zowada
Tue Jan 04, 2011 8:57 am
Forum: Straight Razors
Topic: Hart?
Replies: 43
Views: 18694

matt321 wrote:Nice acquisition Gary.

I wonder if the scales on these are interchangeable?
Chris is correct. The only thing is: after the 7/8's come out, the 6/8's scales will only interchange with the 6/8's. The 7/8's scales will only interchange with the 7/8's.
by Tim Zowada
Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:24 am
Forum: Shopping
Topic: Lake Superior Sand, Smelted, Michi-gane Razor
Replies: 17
Views: 3669

Ah, Lake Superior! Do you make other stuff from that metal? I would love to carry a bit of the North Shore in my pocket. *sigh* - Will (who has backpacked Isle Royale and climbed the rocks of Gooseberry Falls) Will, I hadn't thought of that. I'll give it some thought. Maybe a watch fob, or somethin...
by Tim Zowada
Wed Dec 15, 2010 6:37 am
Forum: Shopping
Topic: Lake Superior Sand, Smelted, Michi-gane Razor
Replies: 17
Views: 3669

I tried translating fencing into sword collecting. The prices quenched that fire, but I covered some fascinating material. A smith processes his own ore and on the other end produces viking swords for $5000 each. An acquainance thought that silly and paid a few hundred for a indian made replica. It...
by Tim Zowada
Tue Dec 14, 2010 4:54 am
Forum: Shopping
Topic: Lake Superior Sand, Smelted, Michi-gane Razor
Replies: 17
Views: 3669

Wow, that is amazing and beautiful! How many of these are you making? - Murray murray, They will be a regular part of my production. With all the work involved, my best guess is that I will make between 10 and 15 per year. The next thing I want to try is to laminate it with some meteorite... Tim Z.
by Tim Zowada
Mon Dec 13, 2010 2:28 pm
Forum: Shopping
Topic: Lake Superior Sand, Smelted, Michi-gane Razor
Replies: 17
Views: 3669

Lake Superior Sand, Smelted, Michi-gane Razor

Those of you familiar with my work know I don't post here often. Life is just too busy. But, I have done something recently that some of you may find interesting. Since there will be very few of these razors, I decided to post a few photos here. This is my very first razor made from Lake Superior be...
by Tim Zowada
Mon Nov 22, 2010 5:29 pm
Forum: Straight Razors
Topic: Escher and Thuringian
Replies: 17
Views: 8338

Jeez Chris, I had to Google shibboleth to find out what it means. Thanks for the language lesson! In answer to the original question, a Thuringen would make as good a finisher as an Escher. That is, if it is of similar quality. Some of the Thuringens are pretty coarse as to the grain size and often ...
by Tim Zowada
Thu Nov 04, 2010 5:28 am
Forum: Straight Razors
Topic: Dovo Lead Quench
Replies: 4
Views: 3065

Most likely, it is heating (austenizing) in molten salt. Actually, the salt works better than lead. Hart Steel uses molten salt as well.

The actual quench (cooling) in the Dovo video is in oil.
by Tim Zowada
Thu Nov 04, 2010 5:24 am
Forum: Straight Razors
Topic: Hart?
Replies: 43
Views: 18694

The Hart razors are available with a few options: polished, satin, round point square (French) point. Currently, jimps are also available on the round point, polished models. I think, sooner or later, they will all have jimps. The Mark II designation has been dropped. It was getting too confusing. I...