Thread: Angle not the blade

I purchased a Wade & Butcher from a very reliable source and the razor came in with a very sharp edge. Bevel looked even and smooth. When I shaved with it I wasn't happy with the quality of the shave. It was very sharp but not smooth. Having a large assortments of stones including a new JNat I set out to make things right. After hours of trying different honing techniques and different stones I still wasn't getting a smooth shave. I shaved with a old Genco and the shave was fantastic. I was ready to send it out to be honed when I decided to try one more thing. I changed the angle of the blade when I shaved. I usually can shave using the same angle with all my razors but this one just wanted to be very flat with almost no angle. Has anyone had a similar experience with a razor requiring a much different angle then you usually use?

With a rotation of razors exceeding 130, you better believe I have.
And of the same brand and grind as well.

My first wedge was an old Tory and it took me a few tries to get it right. I believe I posted on the forum asking what the deal is and people said go low with the angle. I think that probably was a catalyst in getting me to always use a lower angle, because all of my razors shaved better after I conquered the angle with the Tory wedge. Sometimes you never know where you will get your next lesson or make your next big aha moment.

For me wedges always need a closer angle, it could be that the spine is wider and it throws off our usual perception of what the angle should be

I have a super thinly ground shumate that requires the spine to be practically on the face. I have another Boker ~1/4 hollow that can shave at practically any angle, and comfortably at that, probably the most "angle-proof" razor I own.