Thread: Die Wackerfans!

Originally Posted by MichaelS

Hi Speckey

I have the 8/8. It's very light (x-tra full hollow/narrow spine), which makes it a joy to handle - however the narrow spine also make it difficult (for me) to hone. I do my own honing and I have't been able to get this one quite like I'd like it yet - not sure what to do next, is this just me, has anyone else come across this? Thanks Michael

Just a suggestion, but thin spine and that much distance 8/8 or 1" is quite a ways from spine to edge and you might try putting electrical tape on it and honing a NEW bevel to the one that is already on there. It will be a bevel starting about 1/2 way down the existing bevel and going to the point of the blade. It will increase the angle of the bevel a little. The thickness of the spine determines the angle of the bevel, and it's all about relationship between contact on the back(spine) and the edge. Further distance, means less angle. If you had a 5/8 extra hollow but very thick spine, that angle would be a lot steeper than if you had a 15/16 or 8/8 (which is a 1" blade) and the spine was not as thick.

Tape it and try.. might try 2 pieces. If yo don't like it, just re-hone it without any tape and it will be as before. One thing to note: Start at 1000 grit minimum or a little less if you have it for a starter for setting the bevel. Make sure that once you have the bevel set at 1000 grit, that you can cut hairs on your arm like the sharpest of knives, BEFORE moving up the scale to 4K, 8K and 12K or beyond. You cannot look at getting the edge sharp at those finer grits, it should be done at least at the 1K level. ALL the blade. If yo find it not poping hairs at 1K mid way in the blade, but OK at the toe or OK at the heel, keep working. It has to be sharp all the way from heel to toe. Then move on.

I've got another question of observation. I have seen Heribert Wacker (pronounced VaakeR) razors at John Crowleys site. I notice the Red Head with a Native North American Indian, and also the use of a Buffalo (Bison) same N. American species. Was there some interest in the Amerian Indians and Buffalos? Also of coincidence, which is odd, is there was a Buffalo Nickel, which had a Buffalo on one side and an Indian Head picture on the other side. I think they may even have a new Gold Dollar, .9999 Fine Gold, that is that way as well.

Thanks Vern, will give it a try and report back! Michael

Originally Posted by Gibbs

Just a suggestion, but thin spine and that much distance 8/8 or 1" is quite a ways from spine to edge and you might try putting electrical tape on it and honing a NEW bevel to the one that is already on there. It will be a bevel starting about 1/2 way down the existing bevel and going to the point of the blade. It will increase the angle of the bevel a little. The thickness of the spine determines the angle of the bevel, and it's all about relationship between contact on the back(spine) and the edge. Further distance, means less angle. If you had a 5/8 extra hollow but very thick spine, that angle would be a lot steeper than if you had a 15/16 or 8/8 (which is a 1" blade) and the spine was not as thick.

Tape it and try.. might try 2 pieces. If yo don't like it, just re-hone it without any tape and it will be as before. One thing to note: Start at 1000 grit minimum or a little less if you have it for a starter for setting the bevel. Make sure that once you have the bevel set at 1000 grit, that you can cut hairs on your arm like the sharpest of knives, BEFORE moving up the scale to 4K, 8K and 12K or beyond. You cannot look at getting the edge sharp at those finer grits, it should be done at least at the 1K level. ALL the blade. If yo find it not poping hairs at 1K mid way in the blade, but OK at the toe or OK at the heel, keep working. It has to be sharp all the way from heel to toe. Then move on.

I have a Wacker 6/8 modern wedge and I just don't care for it at all. I'm not sure if its just not dialed in or what. I think its beautiful and has a great heft. I just don't get the greatest of shaves. I recently got a TI Le Grelot and its posted the best shaves to date. I ordered a SRD Premium 1 strop and CroOx and will try that on my Wacker (razor). I hope that dials it in.

I was hoping to get a Wacker 5/8 from John, but the 00 Frictionite razor hone I was selling on ebay sort of went sour. I specified no international bidders and the high bidder was in Australia with only 1 feedback. He stalled and stalled and finally agreed to my request to terminate the deal. I sent a second chance offer to a guy that had bid 200.00 just like him, but it expired. Such a deal. So, for the time being, I'll just do a little saving up for the future.

Originally Posted by greenjosh

I have a Wacker 6/8 modern wedge and I just don't care for it at all. I'm not sure if its just not dialed in or what. I think its beautiful and has a great heft. I just don't get the greatest of shaves. I recently got a TI Le Grelot and its posted the best shaves to date. I ordered a SRD Premium 1 strop and CroOx and will try that on my Wacker (razor). I hope that dials it in.

I'm a long time lurker and have been shaving with a 6/8 Dovo Bismarck for 5 years until I recently started collecting Wackers to make a 7-day set. (I'll post up my Wacker razor porn later... )

I would bet that your wedge is not dialed in. I got the same 6/8 Wacker "Keilschliff" Wedge Ground Round Point last week and the first shave with it was sub par compared to my other Wackers. So I took it for 20 laps on my paddle strop with 1.0 micron paste followed by 25 laps with 0.5 micron paste. I let it sit overnight and the following morning did 50 laps on my leather strop. It was one of the best shaves I've had in a months.

Give it a chance and you won't regret it.

All I have is CrOx. You think I would be ok with just that?

Originally Posted by greenjosh

All I have is CrOx. You think I would be ok with just that?

CrOx would be fine. Start off with just a few laps, 5 or under. Do a few more if you think it could get a little better. CrOx works real fast and it is easy to over do it.

I would think that is should cut as good as my TI Le Grelot. I am hunting for a new piece right now. I was thinking a 7/8 full hollow Wacker or trying a Hart Steel. Any experience with a full hollow Wacker? and how does it compare to the wedge?

I've got 6 Wackers: a wedge, a 1/4 hollow, and 4 full hollows. The wedge feels noticeably different from the full hollows as gives a near silent shave unlike a full hollow where you hear the blade cutting through the whiskers. The wedge also feels much more solid and the blade doesn't flex as much as a full hollow.

Of course any properly sharpened razor should cut just as well as the next. It still sounds like you need to work on that edge a bit more.