Thread: The Butchered Blade

Originally Posted by JOB15

Made my first wedge this weekend.

I passed a fishing tackle shop, so I dove in there and purchased some lead weights.

The main thing is that I learnt a lot so next time I will do much better.

First mistake was not gluing the wedge pre pinning, therefore there were gaps rite at the end. I did the old tapping trick to fill in the gaps which in turn left me with more of a spacer than a wedge.

I need to buy some callipers so I can find the proper measurements. This one was just a poor guess which meant that the blade does not sit down as far as I wanted.

I'm about to put an edge on it and there is a lot of hone ware on the spine so I'm curious to see how the honing goes.

Nice first wedge for sure Job. Hammered flat to that shape I presume? I've never attempted wedges from sinkers, but think I will now that I've seen the results.
Thanks!

Thanks guys.

Lead is so supple, it takes a small hammer with soft blows to shape.

I really want to figure out brass wedges because brass goes so well with most wood IMO.

I just proved to myself that I can hone.

The toe end of the spine was significantly thinner than the heel end.

I started off with 4 layers of tape. I then added 2 pieces of tape to the toe end and used every stroke in the book and I even made one up. It took quite a lot of honing, also being a wedge or near wedge.

When I finished, I did some linen and leather, cordovan of course (show off)...

Then I went for the tree top leg hair test. I was thinking "No chance" .. Bingo they just popped off.

It's oiled and put away, I'll wait a few days and then test it out.

I'm so happy im gonna go and fry some eggs

Brass I make into wedges as I too love the look.
I use either brass shim stock when I do like a laminate wedge. Make an oreo cookie out of brass and aluminum, or brass and ebony etc. the brass shim stock on the outsides and whatever the middle material is is where the tapering is done, then CA them together and drill and sand to fit.
For solid brass I use conductive ground bars that are 3/8" thick solid brass and cut them down to size and slowly sand to taper on a wooden support.
Not very efficient as I lose as much brass in dust as I keep on the wedge, but I haven't gotten into smelting....yet..
Welcome to the club. Seems you are willing to dig in and experiment, and that's half the battle.

Enjoy your victory eggs!!

No before shots, but this is what's on the stones today.
Been working some deep forward rust and almost lost the etching in the process, but kept enough.
Still has some ripples but all the cancer is gone.

Originally Posted by MikeB52

No before shots, but this is what's on the stones today.
Been working some deep forward rust and almost lost the etching in the process, but kept enough.
Still has some ripples but all the cancer is gone.

Looks sweet mike.
Like the blade style.
That is what they consider a scottish point yes, or is it french?

Originally Posted by JOB15

Made my first wedge this weekend.

I passed a fishing tackle shop, so I dove in there and purchased some lead weights.

The main thing is that I learnt a lot so next time I will do much better.

First mistake was not gluing the wedge pre pinning, therefore there were gaps rite at the end. I did the old tapping trick to fill in the gaps which in turn left me with more of a spacer than a wedge.

I need to buy some callipers so I can find the proper measurements. This one was just a poor guess which meant that the blade does not sit down as far as I wanted.

I'm about to put an edge on it and there is a lot of hone ware on the spine so I'm curious to see how the honing goes.

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JOB15, the wedge looks okay to me. Sometimes you have to make 'em that way. I have seen very few straights that have more of a spacer than a wedge. I take old wheel weights & cut a piece off with a hacksaw & hammer it out to the shape I want, flip it & hammer again until you get what you're looking for.

Originally Posted by outback

Looks sweet mike.
Like the blade style.
That is what they consider a scottish point yes, or is it french?

Either Irish, or French point I believe Mike.
There is a slight difference in the radius between them but to me due to lineage, I call them all Irish, hehe. I have one authentic Irish made Bell razor with a similar nose. It's in my gallery pics.

Originally Posted by MikeB52

Brass I make into wedges as I too love the look.
I use either brass shim stock when I do like a laminate wedge. Make an oreo cookie out of brass and aluminum, or brass and ebony etc. the brass shim stock on the outsides and whatever the middle material is is where the tapering is done, then CA them together and drill and sand to fit.
For solid brass I use conductive ground bars that are 3/8" thick solid brass and cut them down to size and slowly sand to taper on a wooden support.
Not very efficient as I lose as much brass in dust as I keep on the wedge, but I haven't gotten into smelting....yet..
Welcome to the club. Seems you are willing to dig in and experiment, and that's half the battle.

Enjoy your victory eggs!!

That's a good idea. Mike T mentioned the same thing. Brass lined Lead wedges would look lovely. I will try to get some brass sheets.

My celebration eggs were the special blue kind. Although the camera flash has killed the colour.

Thought I'd share that

Originally Posted by JOB15

That's a good idea. Mike T mentioned the same thing. Brass lined Lead wedges would look lovely. I will try to get some brass sheets.

My celebration eggs were the special blue kind. Although the camera flash has killed the colour.

Thought I'd share that

Yeah they look great. I have some plans on brass lined wedge.

Originally Posted by JOB15

That's a good idea. Mike T mentioned the same thing. Brass lined Lead wedges would look lovely. I will try to get some brass sheets.

My celebration eggs were the special blue kind. Although the camera flash has killed the colour.

Thought I'd share that

I've seen brass sheets at both Ace Hardware & Hobbytown near me. Ace had a pretty nice selection thickness wise.