I was wondering if anyone has tried, or has heard if it is possible to (cleanly) cut an alum block. If so, how? I was thinking about cutting off a 3/4" piece for travel use, as I hate to shave without it.
Maybe use a cheese cutter that has a thin piece of wire with handles on both ends? Maybe some strong dental floss could be used as a substitute? How about just a sharp kitchen knife? I've never tried to cut alum before so pardon me if you have tried these and it just crumbles the block.
I haven't actually done this and would recommend just getting a second block and a preferred approach. That said, if you're going to attempt this I'd definitely go with the slow sawing approach recommended above. Given the tendancy of Alum to cleave (crack along natural crystal faces) I'd use a small toothed blade and emphasise the SLOW part.
How about getting a piece of metal (knife, saw, wire, etc) really hot and simply melting through it? That might also get you a clean line
Be careful though, you could melt more than you want or worse, it could cool above and around the blade and you would have an "Excalibur" butter knife in the stone kinda handle for it.....You could also try wire, as if you were cutting foam. Other than that, hot knife sounds like the best approach.
or go for a hot wire... best of both worlds that's how they cute Styrofoam blocks at my old work. But that's not alum block but it gives you a clean cut, Could you just cut it and melt the whole thing into the shape you want? or even melt it into a stick like a shaving stick? I have never used alum block so this could totally be wrong or stupid. :ashamed001
Or if worst comes to worst, go to a beach and start using it on strangers....a year's worth of use in a day should flatten it down nicely.
A crush and melt approach - interesting. I don't really need to save $6 (what I pay locally for an alum stick), but I may do this at some point to satisfy my curiousity.
Let me know how well it works. Just might be easier to have it in a stick as a block. Especially for traveling etc. If it works i would be interested in seeing pics and how you got it to work.
How bout Razorock? May I suggest Razorock? It's perfect for traveling and is quite affordable at about $7. It's got a screw top and is about the size of a small shave stick. I never travel w/out it.
If you just want it in a stick, get either the Razorock or the Laffes brand deodorant stick that comes in what looks to me like the same container with a different label. I get Laffes from the local Natural Grocier for about $6 and it works as well as any alum I've purchased online. I like the plastic base over a plain block also.
I use the naturally fresh deodorant crystal. It is a 3 oz alum crystal and costs just under $3. I had originally purchased it as an under arm deodorant to use while backpacking. When I discovered this hobby, I realized I could re-purpose it. Works great.
Pardon my ignorance, but what do you do with an alum block? I have a styptic pencil, but I am trying to figure out what one does with a block.
It is used as an aftershave. You just wet it and rub it on your shaven area(s). It also is used as a deodorant.
It also works well to add grip to your fingers. It helps when trying to get the most out of a straight shave.
