Re-purposing a junker into a Kamisori-like razor

[ladykate]

So... I got this junker from eBay that was so bad that I asked for my money back. The seller actually jumped right on it and refunded my money and part of the postage and told me to keep the razor.

OK... now I have a razor that I'm not going to use. Might as well make something with it. I trimmed it and added handles. Essentially, it made a Japanese style razor that was reminiscent of a Kamisori.

I shaved with it this morning and it works great. The small footprint is quite manageable and it sharpened up nicely. Took a few more passes and it isn't a Kamisori but at least now it will be used.

If mycarver is watching this... I apologize for the rough appearance. ;-}

Oh... and ... it was a Joseph Rodgers... eek... sorry... it was just too far gone to be a respectable razor.

[gnoils]

Interesting! Can you post more pictures maybe with a darker background? Can't quite see what you did clearly.

[tomjr]

nice save

[Blade Boy]

pretty cool.

[diyguy]

Cool. I'm curious how you made the handle section.

[Doc226]

Before pictures would be great.

[Obiwan]

very cool. I'd like to know more about handle too.

[ladykate]

very cool. I'd like to know more about handle too.

Sorry about the delay in answering... couldn't find any pictures of building one up but found the same method for a real Kamisori and just took a picture of a bare blade with the sticks.

I've noticed the handles on the old Kamisoris - when they had handles at all - were very much 'homemade' with every thing from paper to gauze to plastic used as handle material. It seemed that any reasonable handle material that kept the old world charm should be appropriate.

I've tried making Kamisori handles a couple of ways. Wrapping with string and then dipping in tool dip works for a regular Kamisori. I did that on one but decided it was too much 'new on old'. My next solution was to take a right triangle of denim or other heavy cloth, oil it, and then wrap it tightly on the handle with the triangle tailing out to the back thus building up the handle in the rear just a tad. That gives a nice handle that can be repaired/replaced easily. Then wrap that with blond waxed seine cord. The seine cord looks more appropriate but is still modern and tougher than all getout. For putting a handle on a European blade, the curves don't lend themselves to wrapping with cloth or cord. So I started putting thin paint sticks or ice cream treat sticks on the sides - tacked with 5 min epoxy - trimming the sticks so they blended into the blade and then filling the gaps with epoxy and wrapping that with the seine cord. This works very well and makes a nice handle that is easy to hold. I put the same handle on two other real Kamisori razors. Popsicle sticks were available in 18th century Japan, right? ;-}

The epoxy sounds like a harsh solution but in reality it chips off the blade handle fairly easily. It is tough enough to hold the handle firm but can be removed for repairs by just scrapping with a box cutter.

Here are some pictures that should give you the hints - they aren't of this particular project but should show how the handle is made. This is a very easy fix - you can do it in about 15 minutes. The first picture is of a handle made with oiled cloth or paper wrapping underneath. The second is of a notional blade getting sticks attached. The third is of wrapping a real Kamisori with wood handles. These pictures represent three different projects. I guess I am only allowed one picture per project. ;-}

Edit: Oh... and I'm sure 18th century Japan had cyanoacrylate glue so I used that on the front and rear of the cord to secure it and to seal the front from wicking moisture.

[Obiwan]

Awesome, thanks. I have a couple of "forced shorties" I'd like to do this too.

[Skrymr]

Very nice use of the popsicle sticks. They all look great.

[ladykate]

Very nice use of the popsicle sticks. They all look great.

For those that cringe a bit with the Popsicle sticks, they make bamboo paint stirrers that can be cut down easily. I've used them for wedges on scales and other such things. That might be a bit more appropriate for the vintage stuff. Putting a Popsicle stick on a 150 yr old Kamisori could cause some to choke a bit. However, it is just wood so I don't have a problem with it. The epoxy makes whatever you use fairly indestructible.

[cleanshaved]

as long as you don't lick what is on the end of the Popsicle stick I can not see any harm in it myself.

[ladykate]

as long as you don't lick what is on the end of the Popsicle stick I can not see any harm in it myself.

How am I supposed to tell if the blade is sharp?