Making the Blade Safety Jig

Here is a simplified version of how to make the "new and improved" version of the blade safety jig that Kerry Jones shared with me. There really isn't a whole lot to it and the materials photo should enable you to figure everything out. If not, then maybe razor restoration may not be something you should be messing around with... know what I'm sayin' there, three fingers?

The wood base can be just about any type of wood. Since you will be putting a piece of thin metal over it, wood hardness is not an issue. Instead of a popsicle stick, you could use any similar stick that is commonly found in any craft store. Or cut your own. Just be sure it is not thicker than the width of your razors because the extra height gets in the way.

I use T-88 epoxy for most of my needs when it comes to holding things together. To me, it's the best adhesive ever made. With that said, go ahead and ignore the wisdom and use your own dang glue to hold the steel sheet that you have cut slightly over sized to the block of 3/4 inch thick wood. Of course, that's after you have drilled three holes that are approximately 1 inch apart on a straight line 1 inch in from the edge of the wood. Make sure it's the left edge... (that's a joke, son, I say, that's a joke.) In place of the metal sheet, you could try some Formica, but still cut it a tad bigger than the wood. Contact cement works just fine for this. Works for the metal sheet too, come to think of it. It would be faster than the T-88 thing if that is an issue.

After the metal sheet isn't going anywhere, go ahead and use a file to take the edges down to the wood. That's really old school, but it works. Otherwise, use a belt sander to make quick work of it. Once it's done, run some pilot holes for some 3/4 inch brass brads to hold the popsicle stick down. Also glue it. Any of the aforementioned gluing procedures will suffice. It will look something like this when you are done. If you are intending to fasten the jig to a workbench, drill some holes for (2) #6 screws and countersink them.

This last pic shows how the razor is placed on the jig to keep the cutting edge down on the surface of the metal and help prevent damage or injury to you while you work on it. Extreme caution must still be your foremost concern. This jig will only help you keep your fingers... but it doen't guarantee it.

For those of you who still don't want to make your own, I should have some ready in the next day or two. You can go here to get them.