The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-04-27
The Art of Grinding Razors
From the Chicago Record.


The grinding of a razor is science in
itself 1t can't be done by one of the
street grinders who run their tinking emery
wheels and erindstones 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 mex
perienced workman may iniure a valuable
blade far more than he improves 1t. That
is the reason why the Swedish razor grinder
is 50 particular about his workshops-and
wonderful place it is. The ceiling Is full
of slapping bands and spinning shafts small
in size and homemade, and all about are
the grindstone and polishing wheels before
each of which a man sits sharpening some
kind of instrument The grindstones all
come from Germany aud France-there
are no really good ones quarried in this
country-and for the hollow grinding of
razors the edges are curved ON the ares of
circles varying in size from eight inches up
to two feet Over each of the grindStones
hangs can of water which Is fitted with
faucet SO small thar only minute stream
falls upon the stone The razor Is held
~quarely and firmly on coarse stone by
workman, who knows just how many min
utes the grinding should proceed Then
it is removed to finer stone and 50 on.
until the edge is sharp enough The water
must not cease dripping for a moment, for
if the razor heats it is 10 chances t" one
that the temper viii be injured
The blade Is now passed along to the
polsher. who sits close to a narrow wooden
wheel. coated outside with leather This
he sprinkleS from time to time with very
fine emery dust and II" water Is used,
When the edge has been ,moothed down
the r,,vor gees for moment to the buihug
wheel. which Is made up Of hundreds of
layers Of fine linen cloth closely bound
together Now the razor Is ready for
honmg, then for strapping. and ii finally
take, it, old place under the barber mir
ror
Formerly the finest razars came from
Sweden. Germany and Sheffield England.
but new Just a, good ones are made 10 this
country a, anywhere il the world But
they can be made - cheap IN America.
owing to the fact that gTindstone~ have Co
be imported az cost Of cent pound G"
say nothing Of the duty. which, under the
new tariff. Is pretty high But the Ger
mans threaten to 81 To the front again IN
the industry because they have Recently
discovered a wonderful process ior making
razor> BY machinery \ die bearing the
impress Of the blade aud tongue i screwed
at the bottom Of a huge drop hammer and
a corresponding die Is fastened into The
anvil on which the hammer fall, The
end Of the steel bar to be used for the raEor
i heated rcd and laid aerp,- the anvil die
Up eces the hammer and when u falls the
metal j. forced into the mold and formed
into 4 razor The ragged fringe 1t steel
al the edges Is trimmed Of aud then the
razor j. tempered and ground to The proper
shape Formerly razors were made vheiiy
by hand
10 order To keep raznrs IN aod order
the razor grinder says they should h,
ground at least once IN three months
They gradually cei into state Of dnllues,
which no amount # houias will help
Scissor and shears must he taken apas1
and gwen a slight eoncave grinding on the
inner side af the blade Then the cater
beyel !, worn down on the >toue> Polish
ius and butiin1 are dome - IN the ease #
raHar,