Just got this guy on ebay. Looks good to me in the pics.
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewi...d=190766016643
It'll be the only really wedgey blade that I have. Anybody have any tips on honing a wedge like this?
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Just got this guy on ebay. Looks good to me in the pics.
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewi...d=190766016643
It'll be the only really wedgey blade that I have. Anybody have any tips on honing a wedge like this?
Very nice old wedge! great find. If it were me honing I would start out with two layers of tape and use magic marker to find the stroke that would cover the entire blade, then go down to one piece and finish as usual. These types of wedge are great shavers, Enjoy!
The most effective strategy I've come up with so far is to send it to someone else and ask them to do it. :p
That said, Martin's strategy probably works too. :)
Great lookin old razor!
She's going to look really nice when she's cleaned up. A nice grab.
I can't tell by the pics, but I would evaluate it under a loop, probably double tape, start on a 1000 if the edge has little chips, circles, then straight strokes on the 1000 (if 3" hone), until arm hair removal, replace the tape & work through the progressions.
***This is the first time I've ever given advice on honing with only looking at the photo.******
The plan could change after actually evaluating it .
Regardless, I would keep the stone cleaned of metal transfer, getting the most out of my grit.
Sometimes, with wedges, I pack a lunch also. :shrug:
Pack a lunch eh..
I'm feeling good lately about my honing on my double hollows and half hollows, but I've never honed a wedge like this. The one pic of the point it looks really really wedgey.
I'm excited to see how it shaves! I've never shaved with a wedge like that before.
Thanks for the tips.
David Miller & Son. The original company of that name was active from the 1820s to 1893.
Another company used the name and BROOM trademark from 1911 into the 1920s.
After which these were acquired by a third company, called Thomas Henry Blake, which closed later in the 1920s.
Attachment 114806
That's very much like the stamp on the tang. I wonder if this is an earlier or later one.
The edge looks like it's in good shape (no major nicks to hone out) and the existing hone wear looks like the bevel and spine are pretty small, so if it were mine I'd just hone it as is.
By the look of the razor I would say pretty early.Quote:
Originally Posted by maddafinga
I'm not well versed enough to be able to tell honestly. I feel like it's cooler to rescue and use older tools like that though. Not sure what it is exactly. It's definitely deeper than my compulsion to use my hands, and my need to polish. I do know that I'm totally hooked.Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin103
I can hardly wait to get this in the mail!
I personally think its so cool to shave with an old razor like this one and get a great shave from something that is pre-civil war!Quote:
Originally Posted by maddafinga
Absolutely it is! I can't help but reflect on the history every time I take them out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin103
Like Martin says probably 2 layer of tape and a marker. That being said you're heading into new honing territory. Let the blade shade shape dictate your honing strokes. Simple diagonal x's and such rarely work for me on wedges, I nearly always end up using some sort of swoopy, heel-leading stroke, rolling a little as I go and pulling the tip around. Experiment and have fun.
I'll bear that in mind and not try to force it into any particular stroke or anything.Quote:
Originally Posted by stimpy52
I'm dying to get it in and start to work on it!
Thanks for all the tips everybody.
So I popped in to work for a couple of hours to polish up that W&B that I posted last month and to actually get a little work done too. Here waiting on me is my broom razor!
Pics shortly. It's a real honey I think. I can't wait to get a shave with it!
My dilemma now is that I just finished restoring a shumate tungsteel with a beautiful smile on Friday, the W&B today and now I've got the broom in, which honestly needs very little work, and I'm just ready to put some scales on my self customized case blade.
Feast or famine it appears.
Ah well, could be worse problems. :D
Ok, so I didn't do any sanding on it at all, just ran over it with diamond polish and a boar bristle brush in my handpiece. Went over the scales with a buffer though, and man did they polish up beautifully!
My pictures are crappy, but the razor looks fantastic, the scales have a tiny bit of international delamination, but they're a gorgeous yellow translucent, you can see the blade through them, shiny and smooth and beautiful!
I put the blade to a straight edge and it's only the tiniest bit hollow. About a half a millimeter at best.
Attachment 115921Attachment 115922Attachment 115923Attachment 115924
Attachment 115925
This is the ebay pic of the point.
Beautiful work! blade and scales look very nice, real nice wedge Enjoy!
Thanks! I didn't really have to do much at all except be careful polishing it. I didn't want it mirror smooth or I'd have sanded it first. It's old and I want it to have character!
What is your handpiece you talk about? like a dremel?
It's the powered handpiece I use at work. Separate electric motor, variable speed controlled by a foot pedal. Extremely accurate from 0 rpm up through several thousand. I'll grab some pics in a minute. It's fantastic and sturdy but delicate. I use it probably 4 hours or so a day, so I'm very comfortable using it.
Ok, found pics.
Attachment 115941Attachment 115942Attachment 115943
It's like the thing a dremel wishes it could be.
Very cool! thanks for the pics!
The thing is really pretty awesome. I can use it to bulk grind porcelain or metal, then change bits and use it to delicately shape a .2mm porcelain margin without cracking or breaking it. Super versatile.Quote:
Originally Posted by Martin103
Dental work?
That thing looks AWESOME!
Where can you find used ones?
Hmmm, call dental labs in your area perhaps? They are awesome. You can control them by the unit or foot pedal, reverse the direction of spin, the handle twists to release the bit and lock it back. Really long throw on the pedal, so it's really controllable with a bit of practice. Super useful.
Edited to add, yeah Wullie, I make porcelain crowns and bridges.
So I finally got it completely honed last night. It was a bear to get the bevel set. I ended up using Martin's method more or less, except I used two layers of tape initially until the few tiny chips were out, then went to one and eventually got the bevel where I wanted it.
Seemed like it took forever to get the whole thing, even using marker and circles on the tougher to get areas, but I did get it fully there heel to toe. The rest was easy. :D
Shaved with it this morning, really nice shaver. Quiet and heavy, but just as sharp and good a shave as my union cutlerys and my Shumates. I'm planning on sticking with this one for the next couple of weeks, just to enjoy it and the history of it.
Thanks to everyone for the hints and tips on the honing.
Really glad it worked out for you! Enjoy!Quote:
Originally Posted by maddafinga
Is the diamond paste better than mothers polish?
Considerably.
But it's way expensive and I don't think you can buy it without being a dental laboratory with an account with a supplier. Unfortunately.
