Thread: First Resto, and issues.

Hi guys,

I asked a little while back on how to go about starting a restoration on a Joseph Smith & Son wedge.
Well I've gone and done most of it to my satisfaction. However I've run into some problems.

I have a wave in the mirror finish on one side of the blade. It's ever so slight, but still noticeable; could this be from my dremel tool?

I tried setting the bevel. But this too has a wave and is un-even. In fact the edge appears to be too large. Do I have to re-sand the blade to reset the bevel properly?

last but not least. After getting over over my imperfections I tried stropping the knife. However I noticed that I didn't get the same sound as I did from my other knives. I did use tape when I honed the knife. Do I need to use tape when I strop as well?

Any insight much appreciated.

(I'm sorry if these all seem too much like honing questions, but I didn't know where to post these queries.)

You mention "knife" is that a razor or knife you mention at the end there?

Not sure what your calling a wave, you have the ability to put up some pics?

Wedges can be a bugger, and being a first one to boot, I'd really love to see pics.

Wedges will feel and sound differently on the strop since there is considerably more steel making contact with the leather. I've worked with a few wedges and found that if I honed with tape on the spine, stroping with tape gave me better results. That wave you are talking about is jumping out at you because you are looking at a more flat surface compared to a normal hollow.

You mention that the edge seems to be too large. I wonder if you are applying thoughts about a hollow here. Wedges are ment to be one "wedge". They didn't tape the spine 100 years ago, they layed the razor flat and honed it or at least that was the original intent. Our adding the tape is actually shortcutting. Lynn mentioned to me once in a thread that he wasn't a fan of wedges when it came to honing & I later found out why...and now you are too.

I may have missed your question entirely, but it sounds like you have done right and may be second guessing your handywork...but it sounds like you are on track. Try to tape the spine and strop, then shave with it.

I see the before pics here correct???

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...mith-sons.html

I really think pics of what your describing would really help...

I can tell you from my experience that Dremel can't create unevenness on the surface of the blade unless you deliberately ground on the same spot. It could be that the blade is just not flat, pics will help as Glen pointed above.

Okay, so here be some photographs. Try as I might I couldn't figure out how to show the ripple in the blade. However the overall project and help has been encouraging.