Wostenholm-Needs Work

Not sure if I should have posted this in here or in the restoration category.

For you guys who buy razors like the pictures below. Beware! This one was sent to me by a member who just wanted it honed. If you can see it in the pictures the spine has been ground very poorly which created a really crazy bevel and there is some deep seated rust with pitting that extended well into the bevel and edge. When this happens, the edge is really tough to get a comfortable shave as every time you get past a rust or pitted point, another follows and so on. You have to take off a ton of metal even using a low grit. In addition, the handle pivot pin feels like it's hanging on by a thread. Unless you are into total restorations of razors, a razor like this would not be one recommended. I have worked on this one to correct the edge and get it shavable by hand and it has taken almost 25 hours. Of course I never do these all in one setting, but a little bit at a time. The bottom line is that after all this time it is a definite shaver, but this razor really needs to be totally reground and re-pinned or handled to be of any long time use. The only real reason, I would ever keep one like this unless someone was doing all the work for me for free, would be that it had some kind of sentimental value.

You would be much better served picking up one of the guys shave ready razors or a new one.

Have fun and Happy Holidays,

Lynn

Yikes. I had one of those and not even 1k would help. A slow moving 2" belt-sander and re-pinning should do the trick. But yeah, only a small number of our members has the right gear to fix this one up in a reasonable amount of time.

Yes, BUT, what a neat set of scales! ('neat' = what a horrible word)

OH sure, the blade needs to be reground....but those scales, pressed horn? Those are in great condition. Just a slight clean up, lil' neats foot, maas, renaissance wax polish, WOW!

Repin the joints....

Almost want that razor so I can put those scales on a better blade!

I'm thinking for the blade, that Joe Chandler, Bill Ellis, Robert Williams could regrind that back to shape. That way Lynn can spend another 100hrs honing the edge..

What a set of scales......

C utz

The scales are not in bad shape Chris. Totally agree on a re-pin job. I sent it back to the owner shave ready. He will be sending it on the Mr. Chandler for the re-gring and this puppy needs the works. Maybe Joe will take on the task for gratis and really make this member's day.........The pics I saw of his regrinds look really good. I question here what the grind will end up being and how much razor will be left. Look forward to seeing any after pics.

Lynn

He did a re-grind one of my TEWs that looked a lot worse
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/6...rsfrontmg4.jpg
And he didn't have to remove too much to make it look pimp
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/8021/dsc01129yv8.jpg

Hey Lynn,

Just out of curiousity, since you have honed a razor or two in your day, when you see a high level of pitting in the metal, or pitting near the bottom 1/8" edge, do you think a regrind will help, or have you experienced a pitting in which no grinding or honing will help (the blade is shot)? In that the more you hone, the more these pits seem to show up......

I'm sure Joe or other blade restoration guys might have some insight on the grinding fesability....

I recently sent a razor to Joe that looked similar to this blade, perhaps even a little worse on blade-face pitting (but not near the edge). He reground the blade, and when it came back it had more of a hollow to it then when I sent it. All in all, it worked out fantastic! The blade looked mint, and the alignment between the spine edge and cutting edge was still intact, but now did not have to remove much metal to get an edge....

Another feature that Joe adds (and I'm not sure how long he will keep this up, if the orders start rolling in) is, he hones the razor too!

I hope he posts the before and after pictures.....

I'm thinking that you should collaborate with Joe, or recommend/suggest his (or other's) services for a regrind before you go through all that work getting an edge on those beast-of-a-razors!

C utz

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

He did a re-grind one of my TEWs that looked a lot worse
And he didn't have to remove too much to make it look pimp

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Hey Ilija,

Gary A. is sending a batch of razors to a guy he knows in Connecticut that can RE-laser etch the face on that razor.... He might already have the template of the stamping.

I think he plans on sending the razors around the first of the year....

Something to think about.

C utz

Thanks for the tip Chris, but I actually like the plain look. The reason I got this blade was b/c of the TEW steel and b/c it's a small French-point wedge (first one I've ever seen). Now I just have to figure out my options for a neon-green or yellow plastic liner for the chechen scales :D

Chris, Can you post that guy on the links section. That laser etching on a restoration would be awesome.

Ilija, he does do a really nice job on the regrinds. The Wostenholm is definitely worse than yours was, but I'm betting it would come out just as nice, just a little more metal missing......

Have fun.

Lynn

Quote:

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Originally Posted by adjustme69

The scales are not in bad shape Chris. Totally agree on a re-pin job. I sent it back to the owner shave ready. He will be sending it on the Mr. Chandler for the re-gring and this puppy needs the works. Maybe Joe will take on the task for gratis and really make this member's day.........The pics I saw of his regrinds look really good. I question here what the grind will end up being and how much razor will be left. Look forward to seeing any after pics.

Lynn

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Why would you first go through the effort of honing it, when it will be reground anyway?
Wouldn't it make more sense to regrind it first, and then hone it?

It was originally sent to me just for honing. After looking at it and finding that the pitting and rust was well into the edge, I let the person know that the regrinding was the recommendation because of the rust and pitting being so extensive. It was a rough razor to start with and I try to get an edge on these for new guys so that they can shave with them. Keeps the cost down. I have done tons of these for people who are just starting out and don't have a lot of money. The only thing with them is the time invested in the honing. Now that we have members who really can re-do a razor, I ask for a pic before taking one like this on just for honing. It's really not worth my effort, but is definitely worth it, if someone wants to pay for the regrinding service. In most cases, unless the regrinder is being generous, it's cheaper in the end to purchase a new or shave ready razor.

Lynn

I recently won a Wostenholm I XL on ebay and sent it to Joe for honing and a basic inspection. I wanted to make sure that it'd been looked at by an expert in case there was any damage I was unaware of. I'd expected to hear that it needed at least a buffing, maybe scale and pin replacement, etc.. A few days after sending him the razor I got an email saying he'd cleaned and honed it but other than that, if it were his he'd leave it alone and use it - definitely a stand up guy in my book.:tu

I'm also now the proud owner of that 6/8 Wolfertz "Allentown" that use to be on his website.
Jack