Thread: Wadsworth & Sons or Wiss & Sons?

probably either one - i doubt the differences can be determined just from the brand names. the only way to know for sure is to try them out after having an edge on them.

Pay day's coming up soon. Maybe I'll dicker for the both. Never know when I'll have some tough skinned badger to deal with.

Well, got them both. Pictures below. The WISS is the one on the bottom in the picture that has both of the razors showing.









When I was a kid, Warren had a funny looking flat stone near the sink that was absolutely flat and pretty shiny. Looked like marble. I wondered what that was, and now I think it was his honing stone.

They look to be in pretty good shape, a basic clean up and honing should be all they need to get them shave ready for you.

I'm watching gssixgun "One stone hone - part 1" and wondered something. Do you hold the razor flat against the stone, using the back or top of the blade to set the angle? Looks like he is holding it pretty flat as he made circular motions. That is about the way I sharpen knives on my Norton HS4 stone, but I used spit. I live near Fenville, MI, which means there are no stone quaries in a stones throw from here.... nor driving distance I know. Would better hardware or cuttelry stores have such flat stones? I don't think my 1" x 30" Harbor Freight belt sander is quite the machine for this job. Too bad.

The wiss has quite a bit of hone wear - notice how the edge is inside the stabilizer as well as the flattening on the spine.
The wadsworth is much better.

Originally Posted by Gibbs

Do you hold the razor flat against the stone, using the back or top of the blade to set the angle?

Yes, both the edge and the spine are on the hone at all times. You'll need three hones starting with 1000 grit and ending at around 8000 grit, or at least two and more time and quite likely using slurry if your lower grit hone is slow.
Almost anything can work, some though would be much better than others - e.g. norton 4000/8000.

Still, if you like your face it's best to have somebody experienced hone your razor.

How much hone work would they need? They both will shave arm hair, but don't cut a hair pushed against it or "tree top" as is sometimes referred to in the knife forums. All I have for a strop is an old leather belt and a latigo. Both are only about 1 3/8" wide.