fergie
Shave Master
Posts: 122
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Post by fergie on May 31, 2015 1:49:37 GMT -6
Thanks for the Intel Chaps.....I live in the UK.....I will look into this....I am really keen to start the ball rolling with this as I've a number of Old French SEs, including a nice Perfecta coming in the post, a German Rapide and a Star/Kampfe Lather Catcher....I am quite excited about this....I want to use these old SEs the way nature intended..... Billy
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Post by mjclark on May 31, 2015 2:13:06 GMT -6
That's a Lovely Razor Sir...
Now that my Schick's have been "Out Schicked" by Pauls Christy and I've recovered from all my Schick dreams being shattered..... I have bought two decent Wedge Blades from Flea-Bay to begin my Wedge Blade shaving journey.....
Problem is I haven't a clue where to start in terms of how to sharpen them.......Can someone offer me a Beginners Guidance towards what I now require to sharpen/hone these blades....Any Intel would be very much appreciated.....
Billy Plenty of good info here and those are gorgeous razors!! And as has been said, using the original wedge blades reveals the true excellence of these razors. With a well honed blade it gives a shave that is very efficient and at the same time supremely comfortable, in many respects similar to a straight but more manouverable. And of course you get all the fun of blade maintenance which is a bit like cookery - it's a place where science and art meet. The fundamental goal of getting a shave ready blade is easy to attain but beyond that the possibilities are endless I agree that lapping film is an excellent option here - it's very easily obtainable online from international sellers and really does give great results. I'm in UK and have an open offer to all members of this forum to offer my services to hone their blades for the cost of postage and maybe a small trade. But of course undertaking the honing adventure yourself opens up a whole new world - your shaves will never be the same again!
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Post by bayamontate on Jun 6, 2015 9:10:37 GMT -6
Now that I have several shaves in I have to say that the Kronenberg is an amazing shaver, it's easier to clean than I initially thought as well.
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RobinK
Lather Catcher
Posts: 505
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Post by RobinK on Jun 6, 2015 23:12:11 GMT -6
From the one picture, I'd say the razor looks very much like a Henckels Rapide. You can narrow the possible date down to the twenties or thirties. Here is a very nice looking DE they made. This Etsy ad has one that looks exactly like an early Rapide I had. But even the leading German forum knows nothing about these razors.
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Post by bayamontate on Jun 7, 2015 12:34:28 GMT -6
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Post by bayamontate on Jun 7, 2015 12:39:41 GMT -6
From the one picture, I'd say the razor looks very much like a Henckels Rapide. You can narrow the possible date down to the twenties or thirties. Here is a very nice looking DE they made. This Etsy ad has one that looks exactly like an early Rapide I had. But even the leading German forum knows nothing about these razors. Awesome information, thanks for sharing. The Etsy ad you referenced is the where I got it from, I saw the Kronenberg while looking at a coticule I ended up purchasing from him
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fergie
Shave Master
Posts: 122
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Post by fergie on Jun 7, 2015 20:13:56 GMT -6
Thank you for the Intel on the lapping film to get me started....I just might take you up on the offer of sharpening a blade for me so I can get some idea of what a finished edge should feel like....
Much appreciated .....
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RobinK
Lather Catcher
Posts: 505
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Post by RobinK on Jun 8, 2015 10:31:55 GMT -6
Lapping film is interesting, but seriously, I would consider getting one hone that can do most sharpening work for you. In my personal experience, a Coticule can do just that. Or a comparatively cheap modern Thuringian. There are others (Welsh slate, Apache something, Zulu...). But the effect is, basically, the same. Once you have learned how to use the slurry stone, these hones can be conveniently used for knives, too. Yes, I know. Bevel setting is a pain. But you can get cheap 1k synthetic hones - or take Marcus up on his offer and use the natural hones for maintenance only. I find them fun to use, because a natural hone is what was used when these razors were built. Synthetics or lapping film feel like cheating Full disclosure (to put an end to a potentially boring honing discussion): Once properly honed, a cheap balsa hone is all it takes to maintain a blade for years unless you damage the edge.
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Post by bayamontate on Jun 8, 2015 11:49:01 GMT -6
Lapping film does sharp very well, smooth not so much.
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