Thread: WB Wedge Restore Advice

I just acquired a nice Wade and Butcher wedge that needs some loving. There's rust on the blade, the horn is warped and decaying, and the bevel is getting pretty wide. The blade has a cool etch that says "Wade and Butcher's Celebrated Fine India Steel razor".

I think that I want to give the blade a light regrind to remove the pitting and even up the bevel. Unfortunately, I like the looks of the blade etching. I also think I have to replace the scales.

What I want to know is what you experienced restorers would do with this razor. I want to maintain the feel of the original, but also make it into a functional tool.

Phillip

Well, I think people (who aren't named Phillip) would buff it with a series of greaseless compounds to eliminate pitting then progress up through to rouges. Others might sand the blade following a similar grit progression. I tumble most first, then assess what they need from there. You have less limits than most of us when it comes to tooling. If the pitting is deep enough and the blade thick enough you could do a full regrind. Knowing your ingenuity you could even scan the etching and restore the etching for a bit of template money.
Also I would try to use the scales as templates to make similar horn scales.
Whatever you decide to do I want pictures.

Originally Posted by deighaingeal

Knowing your ingenuity you could even scan the etching and restore the etching for a bit of template money.

It wouldn't be super cheap, but I sure could do that. Time to get the camera and a heavy dose of photoshop.

There's plenty of steel for a little regrinding. I think it was originally ground on about a 12" wheel. I just want to clean up the bevel width a little, it's really uneven.

I want to do this one right, so I think I'll look for some buffalo horn and pins that match the original. The spacer wedge is integral to the scales, pretty neat.

Phillip

P.S. I don't even own a buffer. They kinda scare me and hand finishing works just fine.

Is your mom tired of sanding your blades yet?

Originally Posted by deighaingeal

Is your mom tired of sanding your blades yet?

Just the one. She needs to focus on leather work now.

Do you have photos of the blade? Ultimately it will come down to your own preference, but I'm curious what I would decide based on how the blade looks.

I do have a photo, but I can't seem to upload it from my phone. Maybe Brian would be so kind as to post it for me?

No problem Phillip, glad to help.

great looking razor! looks like there is almost no hone wear. good luck with the restoration!

LOL what ya do is, pack up some stuff, including that J-nat and a few of yer blades so we can mess with them too and head on over to my place again, and we go out to the shop and tweak that baby up

You remember the directions ???