Thread: How is a wedge supposed to feel?

2x6 1200 dimond hone runs about $35 or so. Iuse it only for whipping EBay blades back into line, so I don't need the big 3x8 (~$60).

Oh, I hadn't realized there was a smaller version. That is much more reasonable.

Yeah Mr. Seraphim has tempted me as well...

OK, another 100 passes on 1.5K sandpaper did the trick. The edge does indeed feel as sticky as any of my hollows. Tomorrow we'll see how it shaves.

Originally Posted by Johnny J

OK, another 100 passes on 1.5K sandpaper did the trick. The edge does indeed feel as sticky as any of my hollows. Tomorrow we'll see how it shaves.

Do I understand that you plan on shaving off of 1500 grit sand paper?

Wedges, how I love thee!

Seriously, I absolutely prefer heavy wedges over full hollows hands down. The shave is just as good, but there's a smoothness that doesn't always occur with full hollows. They are also very quiet, almost silent, while hollow ground blades tend to make a scraping sound as they cut the whiskers.

You'll find that more passes are necessary on all of the grits up through a progression, if you haven't already, but the end rresult is favorable in my opinion.

Originally Posted by JMS

Do I understand that you plan on shaving off of 1500 grit sand paper?

***NO!*** I mean, if it won't shave hair, you ain't got a bevel yet. After 100x1K + 100x1.5K I had a nice grabby bevel that would cut standing hairs off my arm, so I proceeded with polishing: 50xC.S.hone + 50xGem + 30xSwaty + 50xChinese12K. I'm about to go shave with it now.

OK, I just shaved. The wedge indeed feels very forgiving. I like the way it plows through all obstacles. But the shave is not quite as smooth as what I can do with a hollow. Is this a characteristic of wedges, or am I not there yet with the edge?

If it's not a smooth shave, you're not quite there. I actually find that my wedges glide more smoothly over my face than hollows, and the closeness of the shave with both types of blade is equally as smooth.

(Regardless of how you use the word smooth, the shave should be just as smooth)

OK, I took 'er back for another 100 laps on the C.S. hone, then 100 on the Swaty and 100 on the Chinese 12K. All I can say is...WOW. What an utterly phenomenal shaver. This was totally worth the work it took!

Addendum: my honing ability took a quantum leap after feeling Glen's edge & having it as a benchmark to compare my own work to. Thanks Glen!