u/Good_Author9370

Been doing it like this for a long time and thought it could be interesting to share. Disclaimer: it's very time-inefficient and also not for people that easily get annoyed handling small, fiddly things.

1. File the rod at ~45° and dome it over. Keep the middle flat and punch-mark the center.
2. Drill. Ideally, deep enough for one collar.
3. Cut off at the bottom of the domed part. Being precise saves a lot of corrections later on.
4. Flatten both sides on sandpaper.
5. If you didn't manage before, drill through. Also extend the hole a bit by wobbling. You always want a bit of play for peening later.
6. Corrections and polishing: If the intial filing and sawing was precise this is a lot easier. I use this piece of aluminium to hold and sandpaper/scotch brite to take out the scratches. Then polish with some leather and metal polish.
7. Can also quickly brush over with a Dremel.
8. 4mm/3mm diameter rods // 1.5mm hole. The larger rod is better for 6/8s+ razors and wood scales where the collars tend to dig in. Also easier to work and shape since they're bigger.

There is obviously a little unevenness and variance, but when put on a razor you won't notice at all. I like to make a bunch (it's also more efficient to do each step for multiple collars) and then later sort them by size. Although I'm relatively consistent by now.

I know it's rather primitive, but I don't restore professionally and don't mind investing the extra time into my own collection.

I'm definitely open for suggestions! I've tried some other things, but this is the process that stuck.

Just came in. Very typical for toolset german barbers probably from the 50s-80s: small blades, some quite hefty. One's a Wiener Schaber and two are near-wedges which is quite rare for Soligen razors. Overhoned toes but that's no surprise, barbers love that part of the blade. Aaand of course the lovely faux tortoise cell-rot...

Paid 60€, otherwise I wouldn't have interrupted my SR shopping blockade. Also partly for glass box and the shears. I've never restored or even properly sharpened shears. And these are quality Solingen brands you may recognize from SRs (Eicker, Gotta, Tondeo).

I've also picked up one these chinese mini belt sanders/buffer for 40€. I'm usually really against such stuff and in favor of quality tools, but I thought it might be handy somehow. I'll report on that when I've done some testing.