Thread: First Wedge

I acquired a Dubl-duck Satin Wedge with green translucent celullose scales off eBay last week and have spent this week getting a presentable surface on the blade. It's not mirror but it is much better.

Now I'm getting ready to try and hone it up. Any suggestions before I start. The edge looks ok thru a 10x loop and has some keeness at the toe. It's a butter knife at the heel. My tools consist of a Norton 4/8K, Yellow Coticule, a TM Canvas/Linen strop, and a TM Latigo/Brushed strop.

Any and all hints, suggestions, reccomendations, or plain instructins are welcome. I have honed up a few hollow ground blades, but this is my first attempt on a wedge.

Thanks,

The Satin Wedge should hone up pretty easily and should be a great shaver when it is done. I would hone it using a 45 degree angle (heal leading) and an X-Pattern. Some people tape the spine to slightly increase the bevel angle and prevent hone wear, but I have found this to be completely optional. If you have successfully honed full hollow razors that were in this condition (dull ebay razors) then this really should not give you much of a problem. Depending on the condition of the edge you might have to do a fair amount of work on the 4K to get passed the oxidized steel and set a good bevel. After this then it is just a matter of polishing the bevel to your prefference.

Use the same technique as for hollow ground (x pattern)
first on 4000 making TPT until is ready for the next stone
make 20-30 on 8000
Then make a full pyramid and after that 10-20 on coticule, strop and test shave

I have some Arkansas stones that I use for knife sharpening; do you think I should go as coarse as an Arkansas Hard stone or a Translucent before the Norton 4K?

Originally Posted by Jlander

I have some Arkansas stones that I use for knife sharpening; do you think I should go as coarse as an Arkansas Hard stone or a Translucent before the Norton 4K?

No, I don't think that the Arkansas would help you at all (they are too hard to use on razors). The 4K Norton cuts plenty fast enough and will establish a very good bevel. I would definately start there unless the blade has some serious issues that are clearly visible to the naked eye (i.e big chips or a frown).

Originally Posted by heavydutysg135

No, I don't think that the Arkansas would help you at all (they are too hard to use on razors). The 4K Norton cuts plenty fast enough and will establish a very good bevel. I would definately start there unless the blade has some serious issues that are clearly visible to the naked eye (i.e big chips or a frown).

No, nothing like that. As I said earlier, I've looked the edge over with a 10X loupe and it seems to be in pretty good condiotion. I feel better about trying this now, I was concerned there might be significant differences in honeing a wedge. Time to pour a Heiniken, light up a Hoya de Monterey and get out the stones (tonight of course; here at work they would not understand).

Regards,

Try Lagavulin with Hoyo de Monterey
It helps better in honing

The neat thing about the satin wedge is it was the last of the commercially produced wedges in the golden age of razors. It was designed for professional use because barbers wanted a wedge and no one else was making them. Though it is a wedge technically it is made from a light blank and is a small razor and so is easier to hone up than other wedges we're used to seeing. I hone mine with a heel leading stroke not quite 45 degrees and that seems to work real good. I'll use either the coticule or 8K.

Originally Posted by Yannis

Try Lagavulin with Hoyo de Monterey
It helps better in honing

You have good taste. It will definitely improve your honing skills

Originally Posted by Yannis

Try Lagavulin with Hoyo de Monterey
It helps better in honing

I try to avoid single malts when handling razors, firearms, and things that go boom.

Then, I agree Lagavulin is excellent (love the iodine twang), but I prefer either The McAllan 18 or Laphroiag 17.