The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-05-04
THE ART OF GRINDING RAZORS.

The grinding of a razor is a science in
itself. 1t can't be done by one of the
street grinders who run their tinkling
emery wheels and grindStones through the
streets, because they are likely to take all
the temper out of the steel the moment
they touch the razor to the emery. An
inexperienced workman may iniure II
valuable blade far more than he improves
it. That is the reason why the Swedish
razor grinder is so particular about his
workshops-and wonderful place it is.
The ceiling is full of slapping bands and
spinning shafts, small in size and home
made, and all about are the grndstone and
polishing wheels, before each of which
man sits sharpening some kind of instru-
ment The grindstones all come from
Germany and France-there are no really
good ones quarried in this country-and
for the hollow grinding of razors the edges
are curved on the arcs of circles varying in
size from eight inches up to two feet. Over
each of the grindstones hangs a can of water
which is fitted with faucet so small that
only minute stream falls upon the stone.
The razor is held s1uarely and firmly on
coarse stone by workman, who knows
just how many minutes the grinding should
proceed. Then it is removed to finer
stone, and so on, until the edge is sharp
enough The water must not cease drip
ping for moment, for if the razor heats it
is ten chances to one that the temper will
be injured.
The blade is now passed along to the
polisher, who sits close to narrow wooden
wheel coated outside with leather. This
he spinkles from time to time with very
fine emery dust and no water is used.
When the edge has been smoothed down
the razor goes for moment to the bufling
wheel, which is made up of hundreds of
layers of fine linen cloth, closely bound
together. Now the razor is ready for
honing, then for strapping, and it finally
takes its old place under the barber's
mirror.
Formerly the finest razors came from
Sweden, Germany, and Sheffield, England
but now just as good ones are made in this
country as anywhere in the world. But
they can't be made so cheap in America
owing to the fact that grindstones have to
be imported at a cost of one cent pound,
to say nothing of the duty, which, under
the new tariff, is pretty high. But the
Germans threaten to go to the front again
in the industry because they have recently
discovered a wonderful process for making
razors by machinery. A die bearing the
impress of the blade and tongue is screwed
at the bottom of huge drop hammer and
a corresponding die is fastened into the
anvil on which the hammer falls The
end of the steel bar to be used for the
razor is heated red and laid across the anvil
die. Up goes the hammer and when it
falls the metal is forced into the mold and
formed into a razor. The ragged fringe of
steel at the edges is trimmed and then the
razor is tempered and ground to the proper
shape Formerly razors were made wholly
by hand.
In order to keep razors in good order the
razor grinder says they should be ground
at least once in three months. They grad
ually get into state of dullness which no
amount of honipg will help.
Scissors and shears must be taken apart
and given slight concave grinding on the
inner side of the blades. Then the outer
bevel is worn down on the stones.
Polishing and but1ing are done as in the
case of razors.