New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-05-14
Manufacture Of Razors.

The manufacture Of razors, like that of surgical
instruments, is one of the highest branches OF cut
lery handcraft on which the very superior work
men are employed. They are made of rods Of cast
steel, half an inch broad and Just as thick as a
razors back, which rods are first attacked al the
razor forge" To manage the operation two men
are Tequired-a maker and a striker. The maker
manages, with bis left hand, the rod glowing red.
while he uses the hammer with his right; and the
striker wieds a sledge hammer delivering his
strokes alternately with those given by the maker.
The sounds issuing from the smthes where these
double hammers are at work weighing respective
y q lbs. and lbs have not only found commend
ration IN Handels Harmonious Blacksmith but
In the poems OF one Of our poets, who dwels over
Nulesns strong sons, who, with nervous arms around
The steady anvil, and the glsring
flSuening the steel.
The anvil for razors is little rounded at the sides.
which enables the iorger to give the blade thin,
ner edge, and thereby save the grinder much
trouble The razor blades, soon as they leave
the anvil, are hardened by being heated to white
heat, and then immersed in cold water. They are
next tempered by being laid side by side, with
their edges upward, with fiat iron plate over the
fire, until they have acquired yellow brown color
which leaves them still very hard. The grinder
now takes possession Of them and in his hands
they are subjected to three operations
glazing, and polishing. From the coacavity of the
razor blades, they must of necessity, be ground
upon stones of very small diameter; and the object
OF grinding the blades upon one Of four inches is 10
impart to the edge or cutting side uniform thin
ness Of a certain width that shall supercede the
necessity of grinding after use. Indeed, we con.
slider that requires grinding TO be no longer
tit for Office Il ought to be cast off like an old coat
or superannusted and exempt from further work.
like q broken down excisemm; or else, like an old
bloodhorse in dung cart, condemned, when worn
out, to a less noble office, that of cutting
Germs. As rszors, ike most eating instruments.
require certain temper, they are ground on a
milestone, which has its trough filed with water
sufficiently that the edge of the stone NAV as il
passes, Just touch the waters surface The next
operation is glazing. which consists Of applying
successfully emery Of different degrees of fneness
until the article is rendered as smooth as il can
possibly be made by such means. The tool for
glazing is composed of circular body of wool
formed Of many pieces put together in such man
ner that the edge Of the instrument ALWAYS pre-
sents the end OF the wood. The pieces are placed
in this position in order that the contraction of the
materials may not destroy the circular figure.
which would otherwise be the case, as the wood
contracts laterally. The surface Of the glazing
tool is prepared for by frs: touching i, with
shsrpened hammer. and then filing up the notches
with emery and tsllow. Polishing is next performed
by means Of a circular piece Of wood covered with
buff leather which, from time TO time, the work.
man covers with the brown.redoxide OF iron called
crrcus The speed Of the glazing instrument in
is fo:a.icn, Il pboui 6feea hgpdrc. fee: il