Gentlemen,

the goal of this thread is to work on a list of razor related topics, such as a declaration of terminology, methods used for honing and repairing razors, etc...

Everyone is free to add to the list and suggest improvements for already present lemmas.

Once the list gains some maturity, we'll compile it into an article for the Sharpening Academy (see the main menu of this website).

We will also try to add cross-references and additional links.

Here's an example:



Smile, smiling edge: when the edge of a razor razor has a curve that bulges outwards. The opposite of a frown [link to "frown"]. Requires special approach for sharpening, see under: "rolling X-stroke". [link to drawing or picture of a smiling razor]

Tang: Part of the razor between the pivot and the shoulder of a straight razor. Used to hold the razor with a pinch grip, while shaving. Very often stamped with makers marks. Jimps for a better grip are often present.


Please feel free to add to the list.
We're in search of a volunteer to follow up this thread.

Bart.

Jimps: The serrations sometimes found on the bottom and/or the top of the tang. Their purpose is to provide a better grip on the razor, because things tend to get a little slippery when wet, and dropping a straight razor ain't a pretty sight. Their usefulness is subjective. Picture of jimps.

Frown, frowning edge: When the edge of the razor is concaved towards the spine of the razor, making it appear like a frown. Opposite of a smile. Frowns should be removed before honing the razor. Picture of a frown. Removing a frown.

Way to go Justin!

If all members throw in their 2 cents, we'll have a great Alphabet at no time.



Bart.

Bart, if you want I can create a text file with all this info in it, and keep it up to date. Then when it's time to get it up in the Sharpening Academy it won't be so difficult for you.

Justin

Excellent plan. Go for it. If you want, I can give you contributor's access to the back end of Coticule.be, where you could maintain the document directly, and make it available to the public when you're ready to do so.

Thank you, Justin,

Bart.

Straight razor = A razor consisting of a stiff steel blade hinged to a handle (scales) into which it slips when not in use.


Scales = protective pieces that a razor folds into. when folded into the scales, the blade is protected from accidental damage, and the user is protected from accidental injury. Handle scales are made of various materials, including mother-of-pearl, celluloid, bone, plastic and wood.

Strop = A razor strop is a flexible strip of leather or canvas used in sharpening a such as a straight razor. Unlike honing a blade, in which a whetstone removes metal bent out of alignment from the blade's edge, stropping the blade re-aligns the indentations without removing any material.

The strop may be a hanging strop or a hand-held paddle.

Tang = The upward curved metal end of the narrow part of the blade beyond the pivot is called the tang and acts as a lever to help raise the blade from the handle.

I would be honored, Bart.

Pivot: The point at which the blade is connected to the scales (handle) with a pin. It's located between the tang and the the tail. Straight razor diagram.

Tail: The end of the blade that continues past the pivot and curves upwards. Used to flip the blade out of the scales, and also used to help stabilize the razor while shaving.

Shoulder: Found by the heel of the blade; it's the transition from the tang to the heel. Not all razors have a shoulder. Straight razor diagram.

If anybody thinks something should be changed/added in an existing definition feel free to speak up.

An excellent idea, and one I'll try to add to soon. But I think perhaps we should credit our sources? I'm seeing a lot of Copy & Paste of broken links...

JimR:

An excellent idea, and one I'll try to add to soon. But I think perhaps we should credit our sources? I'm seeing a lot of Copy & Paste of broken links...

I'm sorry Jim, but I haven't got a clue what you're talking about. Could you elaborate?

jim

this is just a start. It is my opinion that we (coticule.be) rewrite the list when we have put something together. This will then be unique to this forum

At this stage I for one was just brainstorming using avaliable material

If this is wrong please let me know

Bart, I'm assuming that when a text includes mysteriously underlined words, like Razor Diagram, it has been copied and pasted from another place (say, Wikipedia?) where there was a link there. However, the link was not copied, only the underlined text. Thus it looks like a lot of these are copied and pasted from other sources, with no attribution. Or are the links just broken right now? I't's not clear.

The only reason I bring it up is, I have had recent problems with people taking my words without attribution, and it's a crappy crappy feeling. Unless you write your own material, you should always note your source in some way. It's just polite. I'm not accusing anyone of anything, just saying that if I notice it, then I am probably not going to be the only one.

I'm not the type of person to steal another persons work, let alone COPY & PASTE (that is the epitome of laziness ). I'm a scholar so I have respect for such things. Any similarities are merely coincidence.

These definitions are of my own creation, and I purposely underlined the words to signify where a link is to be placed.

Justin

Edit: I don't think the underline is copied over anyway.

Oh don’t worry about it Jim, the links don’t go anywhere just yet… they’re just placeholders for photos or diagrams to be added later.
Sure, when the number of posts have grown the text and graphics will be copy and pasted into a full text to be added to the academy… (Wiki?)

Hey don't forget this part that some will call the Toe, just because it’s at the other end of the Heel, the name is debatable. But whatever you want to call it… Round, Square, Spanish, French, or Notched (did I forget any?) you’ll get the Point.

Smythe:

Hey don't forget this part that some will call the Toe, just because it’s at the other end of the Heel, the name is debatable. But whatever you want to call it… Round, Square, Spanish, French, or Notched (did I forget any?) you’ll get the Point.

After running that through Google Translate I got this (not sure how accurate the translation):

Toe, Point: The tip of the razor, the end opposite of the heel. Toes comes in many different flavors. Round, Square, Spanish, French, or Notched. Pictures here