What's new

First wedge restore, and first huge bevel set.

I've been working on my first ground-up restore of a Sheffield Wedge. It's a King Cutlery, measuring in at 13/16. It was a rust bucket, in busted scales. I've reset it in some black TI. Scattered evenings over the last week have been spent with attempts to hone this beast into shape. I started with my cheapskate 1000 grit on a scrap slab of granite. That was taking forever. I finally skipped out to a local hardware store and snagged a generic DMT-style 750. After a few hours on that, it finally started to show some resemblance to a good bevel. Then I moved to down the films.

I'm no honemesiter. I've got some restores under my belt, but they're almost exclusively hollow, even quarter hollow. This is my first full-on, big 'ol wedge. The process has taught me a lot, though I still have some confusion.

I was watching the progress through a loupe. It seemed that each time I went down a grit, it polished from the edge inward. The highest point on the bevel was almost immune to the successive grit. I was hoping for a huge mirror bevel, but that's not exactly what I got. The edge is polished, but as I move in, I still have scratches from the lower grits. I gave this tons of time, but maybe not enough. I'm considering starting over tomorrow. Somehow I'd had my heart set on that wide mirror bevel, it's not quite here.

photos are below.

I've not shaved with it yet.

Here are some pictures. That bevel is 3/16 (4.7 mm) at it's widest.

Any guidance would be appreciated.
 

Attachments

  • $King Cutlery (1 of 4).jpg
    $King Cutlery (1 of 4).jpg
    23.9 KB · Views: 148
  • $King Cutlery (2 of 4).jpg
    $King Cutlery (2 of 4).jpg
    24.3 KB · Views: 147
  • $King Cutlery (4 of 4).jpg
    $King Cutlery (4 of 4).jpg
    24.2 KB · Views: 148
Last edited:
Hard to say - have you used tape on the spine at one point?
Kinda looks like you raised the angle of the spine somewhere along the way.
I suppose the fake DMT might not have been all that flat.. could have a hand in it.
 
The reason you get lower grit scratches above the polished bevel is that the lower grit stones wear the tape down faster and the honing angle will change as this happens causing the scratches extending higher up the blade than the high grit stones.
 
Yes Sir. I used one layer of tape. I thought as that tape wore down, it would make the bevel angle shallower, not steeper. (scratching head)

And yes, the fake DMT (Simpson's I think) had a faint high spot in the center. Maybe that's the culprit. (That's what I get for saving a few bucks. lesson learned.) I could feel the high spot, but I could also feel a slight smile. I had to add a bit of a rocking motion to wipe sharpie off the full edge. Perhaps that contributed a little.
 
Looks like you changed the tape after you used the fake DMT?
Seems like you may have some work ahead of you to smooth that out.
 

Kentos

B&B's Dr. Doolittle.
Staff member
If the edge is nice I would almost hate to try again as the angles might change again as you start anew with fresh tape on the lower grits. Nice resto tho!
 
well...dull the edge...or just start on the 1k and go upward on grits (you dont NEED to dull the edge as I never noticed a difference personally from just starting again on your 1k)..it might take you an hour this time as the edge isnt 100% dull..but might take you 3 hours to get 110% shave ready..I can honestly say I have been there..and did that...:lol:....I wish you luck ;[)


p.s. Don't forget to always tape the spine...
ST
 
Thanks gents. It looks like I have some more honing time ahead of me, if I'm gonna make it pretty. Lots of learning on this one...


current plan:
1- put the fake DMT in a drawer
2- fresh tape to the blade
3- sharpie the existing bevel
4- my 1k paper on granite until that sharpie is gone
5- down the grits from there.

I'll keep you posted.
 
Last edited:
Thanks gents. It looks like I have some more honing time ahead of me, if I'm gonna make it pretty. Lots of learning on this one...


current plan:
1- put the fake DMT in a drawer
2- fresh tape to the blade
3- sharpie the existing bevel
4- my 1k paper on granite until that sharpie is gone
5- down the grits from there.

I'll keep you posted.
I have honed a few wedges. I had a couple that had some chips in them. I used 100 grit wet/dry on the back of my dmt to take them out. The thickness of the paper will leave a very large bevel and scratches. I know it sounds drastic and it is but the amount of metal that needed to be removed would have taken hours instead of minutes. I then polished the top of the scratches of the bevel with dremel buffer. Marker the edge. Then I went to 325 dmt then 1000 then norton 4/8 then 12k naniwa, .3 grit lapping film linen then bridle and its good. Lot of work though. But i have 6 wedges and I think Im good(for now) LOL. Good Luck!
 
I was lucky to not need tape.They are near wedges. I dont like to use tape because I can touchup on lapping film or my 12k anytime while Im shaving.
 
Yes Sir. I used one layer of tape. I thought as that tape wore down, it would make the bevel angle shallower, not steeper. (scratching head)

And yes, the fake DMT (Simpson's I think) had a faint high spot in the center. Maybe that's the culprit. (That's what I get for saving a few bucks. lesson learned.) I could feel the high spot, but I could also feel a slight smile. I had to add a bit of a rocking motion to wipe sharpie off the full edge. Perhaps that contributed a little.

Getting a wedge done felt like forever.

As tape wears down angle the bevel angle decreases, and bevel line goes higher up the blade.

Gotta keep that tape change up. The sharpy was the best indicator of where I was as it wore off.
 
Thanks for the help gents. It's not perfect, but it's a darn sight closer.
I'll let you know how it shaves.


Does anyone recognize the stamp?
That was a bad rust spot on the center of the blade face, not etching.
 

Attachments

  • $King redo (1 of 3).jpg
    $King redo (1 of 3).jpg
    27.7 KB · Views: 107
  • $King redo (2 of 3).jpg
    $King redo (2 of 3).jpg
    25.2 KB · Views: 107
  • $King redo (3 of 3).jpg
    $King redo (3 of 3).jpg
    24.2 KB · Views: 107
I guess should be consistent about which face I present. Y'all keep me honest ....

I had just put some oil on it, and shelved it for tomorrow. Here goes.

It looks hazy near the point in this photo. Not sure why. Poor photo skills. It's actually uniform down the length.
 

Attachments

  • $King redo2 (1 of 1).jpg
    $King redo2 (1 of 1).jpg
    25.5 KB · Views: 105
I'd say it's in the grind itself. Nothing short of a re-grind will fix that. It happens with those old Sheffield razors, use it as is.
 

Mike H

Instagram Famous
Looks very nice, congratulations on a job well done. Bevel setting looks like serious work on that razor.
 
I bet that with a little more work on the bevel it'll shave great. Takes time to get the hang of setting bevels on them.
It's not hard - just different. Nice work... congrats.
 
Top Bottom