Thread: Problem Child

I bought this WB wedge in a local antique shop and took it home and tried to hone it up. I worked it a little on a 1000, 4000, and 8000 and noticed that it doesn't appear to be honing flat. In other words, the blade edge does not sit on the hone flatly.

Here are some pics. They are somewhat large. If you look carefully, you can see in the middle where it is nice and bright, but towards the heel and toe, it's not as much. You might think it is just how the light is playing on the blade, but it really does look that way when you are holding it. In fact, if you look even closer, you can see the edge in those spots looks a little ragged.

http://www.bathedandinfused.com/curtis/wb1.jpg

http://www.bathedandinfused.com/curtis/wb2.jpg

The hone wear was already present on the razor and I didn't add much to it, actually.

Is there something that I can do with a 250 grit or 1000 grit hone to fix this you think?

Thats one well-worn blade. And I thought the Rodgers frameback I was working on was worn! You might try honing with kind of a rocking motion that might allow an equalization along the entire surface. If the spine is as worn as it looks in the fotos your entire angle might be off and that could be affecting you also. If thats the case I'm not sure I have any answers for you.

Have you thought about sending it out for a regrind before honing it?

Originally Posted by FUD

Have you thought about sending it out for a regrind before honing it?

Well, after trying to hone it, I was thinking maybe that's what it needs.

Who can regrind wedges?

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Thats one well-worn blade. And I thought the Rodgers frameback I was working on was worn! You might try honing with kind of a rocking motion that might allow an equalization along the entire surface. If the spine is as worn as it looks in the fotos your entire angle might be off and that could be affecting you also. If thats the case I'm not sure I have any answers for you.

that is exactly what it needs ,slight transfer of weight from heal to toe as you make your pass across the hone .
Don't worry about the hone ware if you use the above method it will even every thing up eventually,however if you are after cosmetics by all means re grind
Kind regards Peter
(former honemiester)

Joe Chandler regrinds blades and includes a good honing too. I've had some "lost" razors reground by him and they look brand new.

Check out his "Before and After" thread in this forum. Large wedge regrinds seem to be his specialty.

Good luck,

Thanks for the tips, guys.


And yes, I did see those pics. It was pretty amazing to behold the transformation that took place on some of those razors.

Originally Posted by spacetoast

Well, after trying to hone it, I was thinking maybe that's what it needs.

Who can regrind wedges?

The first person I'd ask would be Bill Ellis, (urleebird). He's making his own custom razors and may have what's needed to do a regrind on a wedge.

The other question you should ask is whether its worth regrinding - just 'cause it can be done doesn't mean it makes sense to do it.

One of the razors Joe reground for me had about 3X the amount of hone wear as your razor. The bottome third (edge) and top third (spine) were flat. Only a slight belly in the middle remained. When I recieved the razor back it looked brand new.

BTW, I think I heard Bill mention that he is full up till past Xmas, but I may be mistaken on that one. Best to send a couple pm's.