Thread: Help with a (special) wedge..

Hey gents,

So I'm having trouble with a razor of mine and I could use a little help. I recently picked up and had restored a very cool GB razor which is a wedge. It was sent out to karlej and he did an absolutely fabulous job restoring it and put nice edge on it which easily passes the hht so I have no doubt about the quality of the edge.

But for whatever reason, I just can't seem to get this beast to shave comfortably. It pulls really badly on the first pass to the point of discomfort. After I struggle getting through the first pass I'm able to really finish up with an excellent shave. I've tried varying the blade angle, different soaps and creams, face prep, and different pressures but I just can't seem to make the first pass bearable. I've got several other big Sheffield choppers that all shave great so this one is a bit baffling. Does anyone have and ideas for me as I really want to love this razor?

A couple pics for inspection

On a wedge or near wedge I use 2 to 3 layers of tape on spine. Be sure to properly set bevel and progress from there. I have had a GB and they are great shavers. Good luck.

If it pulls it's not shave ready.

Examine the bevel. It probably was not properly set.

Have you talked to Karl?

Does the razor pass the HHT across the entire length of the blade??

That would have been my thought under normal circumstances but Karl reground and honed it so I'm fairly certain the bevel is set properly.

Originally Posted by RezDog

Have you talked to Karl?

No I haven't spoken to Karl about it yet as I wanted to make sure there wasn't some special nuance to a wedge that I was missing. In this case, with the razor being restored by him, I'm pretty sure it's the Indian and not the arrow

Yes your first thing to do s talk to Karl , we can offer advise, but he did the job. I can't imagine us telling him he did not set the bevel, his work has always been top notch and his knowledge is really well respected, so I,m sure he knows how to tape and how much but after his regrinds I,ll bet the geometry is spot on. There's seething that sent adding up. Do you shave with a wedge ? Tc

This is pretty strange. If you weren't experienced with razors I would think you had rolled the edge on your strop or something.
Are you shaving the same amount of growth you normally do or have you let it grow longer? You said it was giving you a good shave on the second pass, correct?

Did you shave with it as it came to you without doing anything to it (including stropping)?