Source for black horn in Canada? - and copper frameback?

[pmaster]

Hi gents,

I was wondering if anyone had maybe a good source of black horn in Canada? I've been ordering most of my horn from the same UK seller on ebay, but the only dark horn I got from this seller was rather more of a dark brown than a full black. I searched a bit around but I'm having trouble finding a decent source of such horn, and I've acquired 2-3 more razors which beg to be scaled in full-black horn. Any help would be very much appreciated!

Edit: I was also restoring an old frameback razor, with the missing spine/frame. I've seen a few threads on this topic and it seems I should be able to fix this with a thin brass tube, but looking around at the hardware stores, the pretty much only have some copper tubing. Would that do the trick as well, or be too soft and prone to oxidation?

 

[Bear_Blade]

There are a couple vendors on eBay, that have good quality black horn. Not many suppliers deal with razor makers so stock is usually cut at 5 inches. You could look at Jantz Supply, usaknifemaker, or texas knifemaker. As for rod or tube, you can get brass/bronze brazing rods at welding supply shops in different diameters, Home Depot carries brass rod to 3/16", and most well supplied hobby shops would have rods or tubes in different diameters.

 

[pmaster]

Thanks for the reply bear. I've been getting most of my horn from ebay already, and thought I had well-searched but now I feel stupid, upon searching again I find a few hits from suppliers like you say who sell what looks to be nice black horn (although at a higher price that I usually pay for).

I wrote at Jantz supply yesterday, still waiting for an answer related to the sizes they have and shipping to Canada.

I'll have a look at some local welding supply shops, I hadn't thought about that. I need it to fix this hopefully with a small diameter brass tube:

 

[MattCB]

You can also check out the hobby shops for small bar, sheet, and tube in stock. May have brass, aluminum, steel, ect..

 

[pmaster]

You can also check out the hobby shops for small bar, sheet, and tube in stock. May have brass, aluminum, steel, ect..

Yeah I already checked but don't have such hobby shops nearby. I think I will make a shopping list for next time I drop by Montreal.

As a side note, I've located a seller on alibaba for some horn plates. I suspect most resellers in the US take their material from there. If the prices are good (including shipping) i'll put in a bulk order there and let you guys know how it works out.

 

[Chaloney]

I have some brass tube. I think 1/16", 3/32, & 1/8". They supposedly fit inside each other. Don't think I checked all of them. I can send you some if you are only looking for small pieces. They'll fit inside an envelope easily enough. I'm out of town til the weekend so I can't send til probably early next week. Let me know if that's what you are looking for

 

[pmaster]

That is very generous of you to offer!

I will look up at a few places this coming weekend, if I don't find anything I'll msg you. I think 3/32 is just about the right size I think (a guy who fixed a frameback in another thread used a 4mm tube).

Thanks!

I have some brass tube. I think 1/16", 3/32, & 1/8". They supposedly fit inside each other. Don't think I checked all of them. I can send you some if you are only looking for small pieces. They'll fit inside an envelope easily enough. I'm out of town til the weekend so I can't send til probably early next week. Let me know if that's what you are looking for

 

[pmaster]

And another generous offer, gotta love this place

I'm waiting for a quote for the horn. There's actually a few horn sellers on alibaba, mostly from India, but I haven't ordered from there a lot in the past so I tend to be weary. From the price listing the guy sent me, black horn goes for $1/plate, and lighter colored goes from $2 to $5. I'm thinking it will depend on how much shipping costs, and what are the minimum orders (I asked him for ~20 plates, figured I'd have enough until my RAD goes away). There's also some camel bone which would come to about $2/razor (before shipping). I'll keep you posted!

If a bulk order is more material than you wish to acquire I would consider going in on the purchase with you as I will surely use the material up. If it is way more than you need I would even consider making the purchase and selling you your required amount at cost. Just offering if it helps you out.
W.S.O.

 

[pmaster]

I just got a reply from one source. They sell the black horn is 1.50$/piece, and flat 30.00$ shipping. I'm inquiring about other colors and asking for pictures...

Anyone ever order from India?

 

[pmaster]

Still in the process of deciding about the horn sellers from India.

For the frameback, I bought some copper pipe at homedepot, I understand that copper is more prone to oxidation than brass, but still I can't image it being so bad. Anyhow I couldn't find any brass pipe at 4 hardware stores.

I started fitting the pipe on the razor and I think it will require some finesse to do a decent job. I measured the bevel and with the frame on (slightly squeezed in on the frame), it should be in the sweet spot at 15-16 degrees. I'm pissed though, I broke the scales while trying to unpin the blade. Its the first I broke in probably 15 razors, but it turned out it was a washer-less pin, so it was mushroomed quite large and I think the only way out would've been to drill through.

 

[pmaster]

Its been a long time since I created this thread, but I finally got around to fixing a brass tube for the W&B frameback. The hardest part was to cut a straight line on the brass tube to then install it on the frameback. I also wasn't sure if I was going to hammer it in place or just stick it there.

After some trial and error, what I did was actually take the tube to the belt sander and sanded off the bottom of it, so it then slit perfectly on the frameback. This was much better than using the dremel cut-off disk and try to cut straight, and then open up the tube.

I haven't scaled the razor yet, and haven't glued the frame in place, but here's how it looks so far:

 

[Chaloney]

Do you remember how thick the spine was to begin with and what size brass tube you used? I have a narrow-splined 8/8 that will have an 11° bevel angle as it is currently and was thinking of doing the same thing

 

[pmaster]

I just checked, the spine is 0.14inch thick, and with the tubing I used it is 0.22inch (7/32 inch tubing) I still need to check what kind of bevel angle this will give me, but if still too narrow I'll just use some tape on it.

 

[pmaster]

Here it is rescaled:


I didn't do a perfect job for the wedge, which annoys me, and the scales aren't exactly like the old ones even though I used them as a template, but its not bad anyway. Its really the best patina I've had on any razor, and its really nice in contrast with the brass frameback.

 

[TimS]

Not bad at all; in fact, very, very nice!!!

 

[pmaster]

Thanks Tim!

I'm looking forward to seeing how it'll hone. I still need to measure up the bevel angle to make sure everything is right but I'm confident it should be in the 16-17 degrees. I'll probably use tape unless the angle is way too high, since the brass seems pretty soft and will probably use a lot faster than the razor's steel.

 

[Sando]

That looks great!
I like the look of the shiny brass and the patina on the blade.

 

[Thomas Martin]

Here it is rescaled:
View attachment 438827View attachment 438828View attachment 438829View attachment 438830

I didn't do a perfect job for the wedge, which annoys me, and the scales aren't exactly like the old ones even though I used them as a template, but its not bad anyway. Its really the best patina I've had on any razor, and its really nice in contrast with the brass frameback.

Sweet. That bevel rocks!

 

[pmaster]

Sweet. That bevel rocks!

Yeah, that's actually the old bevel though. I'm not sure how the new one will be, haven't had time to hone it yet, but it should be relatively the same size if the previous owner didn't try to hone it without the frame!

 

[Heespharm]

that is way cool dude