spidey9
Lather Catcher
All SE all the time!
Posts: 641
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Post by spidey9 on Jun 1, 2015 11:13:49 GMT -6
I honed my very first ever wedge blade last night, using lapping film on a marble tile. I have a wedge blade that looks like it has never been used but I decided to save that one until I gain some experience. Instead, I picked a blade that showed considerable use, but no nicks. I started with 12u paper, the coarsest I had, to set the bevel. It was easy to monitor my progress with a jeweler's loupe, as whoever had last honed it had moved the blade diagonally on fairly coarse stone, so the hone marks were angled across the edge. I did at least a couple hundred laps until all the hone marks were perpendicular with the edge. Then I did 100 laps each on 9u, 3u, 1u and .3u lapping film, putting a sheet of paper under the .3u film. I used light finger pressure the entire time, just the bare blade with no tape. I finished off by loading the blade into a Kampfe Stropper and stropping about 50 laps on a leather Illinois strop. I confess to having the feeling during the entire procedure that I did not have the slightest idea what I was doing. However, when I was finished the edge looked much smoother in the loupe, so this morning I decided to give it a go. It actually went much better than I expected, a pretty close mostly BBS shave with little irritation, no nicks or weepers. See the SOTD for details. Overall I'm excited and happy with the results - after all, it can only get better from here as I gain experience. I'm thinking of getting an extra fine 8" DMT Dia-Sharp Diamond Stone to speed up the bevel setting process. Is this a good idea, or would something else work better? Any comments or suggestions greatly appreciated. --Bob
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fergie
Shave Master
Posts: 122
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Post by fergie on Jun 1, 2015 11:49:56 GMT -6
Thanks for sharing your experience's....... So Inspirational .....
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Post by IschiaPP on Jun 1, 2015 12:48:12 GMT -6
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Post by mjclark on Jun 1, 2015 13:09:09 GMT -6
Congratulations Spidey! There's no going back now, and getting a great shave with a blade you've honed yourself is a truly magic experience
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spidey9
Lather Catcher
All SE all the time!
Posts: 641
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Post by spidey9 on Jun 1, 2015 16:25:47 GMT -6
Thanks for the links, although the limitations of Google Translate become quite apparent. The advantage of the lapping films for me is that I am able to produce an acceptable edge with a very small cash outlay while deciding if honing is something I want to get more seriously involved with. I'm looking at different types of stones. The DMT diamond I mentioned above has the advantage of being relatively inexpensive and not ever requiring any lapping/flattening, if I understand correctly. Wow - a lot to learn. --Bob
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RocketMan
Gem Star
RazorAddict
Welcome To The Sharp Side!
Posts: 4,167
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Post by RocketMan on Jun 2, 2015 8:58:55 GMT -6
Great stuff! You realize there is no turning back now.
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Post by IschiaPP on Jun 2, 2015 9:01:46 GMT -6
The advantage of the lapping films for me is that I am able to produce an acceptable edge with a very small cash outlay while deciding if honing is something I want to get more seriously involved with. About this, films are unbeatable!! I've started with them. But a good natural stones give an edge faster and smoother. And the price is for more than one life.
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RobinK
Lather Catcher
Posts: 505
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Post by RobinK on Jun 2, 2015 10:51:42 GMT -6
The angle calculation tool is here. It's actually more of a "how many layers of tape will I need" tool. But extremely useful. I have an ODF version should anyone need it. That said, if you have the bayonet required for honing a blade (the metal tube that came with these razors, but is often missing if you buy one now), honing these blades is fairly straightforward. They take kindly to pasted strops (or other materials sprayed or pasted with abrasives like diamond, ferric or chromium oxide). Nothing magical about it. As always, the offer still stands. I have a few too many, and if you are in desperate need of one, let me know and I'll send you one at buying price - if you promise to not resell it. Those are Heljestrand wedges (actually, quarter hollow blades) which will work in all vintage lather catchers like Heljestrand (duh!), Henckels, or Star. New old stock found on site in Eskilstuna, and the last of their kind.
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Post by IschiaPP on Jun 2, 2015 13:33:50 GMT -6
... if you have the bayonet ... Nothing magical about it. Yes, I know ... but I ask about the little caged blades in Wilkinson Sword 7 Days Empire. As always, the offer still stands. ... New old stock found on site in Eskilstuna, and the last of their kind. Thanks Robin, I've some similar. Everyone will work for one lifetime ... so I think I'm ok.
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RobinK
Lather Catcher
Posts: 505
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Post by RobinK on Jun 2, 2015 14:27:05 GMT -6
Looks like those can be honed "by hand", Pierpaolo:
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