Tackled Giant Wedge

[wdwrx]

Well, I tackled my first gianormuos wedge over the past few days. Just shy of 8/8, she's a classic "meat-chopper" by Joseph Smith and Sons. The bevel alone is easily 1/8 of an inch wide.
I started out repairing the bevel with 4 layers of tape, on my coti of all things, and then finally got around to honing her with a single layer of tape to keep the bevel angle cool.
As an exercise in futility, I started out with a super thick slurry on my vintage coti, but the closer I got to creating a new bevel, the further away it got. 20% percent of the work went into the first 80% of the bevel, and 80% of the work went into the last 20%.
I finally broke down and broke out the 1/4K JWS and with a thick slurry mangaged to get the new bevel set. I cheated a bit and ran up to 12k on my synthetics to put a really shiny mirrored finish on that freakin' huge bevel, and then put a second layer of tape for a nice little secondary unicot bevel on my coti. Stropped the heck out of her for a HHT 5 - the hair just falls silently away.

I have no idea when I'll actually shave with her.... she's just crying out for a weeks worth of growth, and that's something I just can't bring myself to do anymore. That, and it's kind of a a Paul Bunion sized razor! I've never had a beard that would do justice to this huge old razor.

 

[natchez]

Fine looking razor you have there. The bevel looks incredibly even along the edge- great job! It doesn't really need a week's worth growth

 

[Toff]

Beautiful chuck of steel! Thanks for letting me know that a bevel is possible on a cleaver!
Respectfully
~Richard

 

[professorchaos]

Betcha that is a smooooooth shaver.

 

[Wid]

Oh boy, that's a beaut.

 

[wdwrx]

Thanks guys

I got her as a bare blade from Ambrose months ago. I knew she was going to need a lot of work, so she's sat around waiting 'till i got the gumption.

I gave a lot of thought to attempting a single bevel, but by the time I'd worked my way through to getting it set, I had an entirely new appreciation for the amount of shear work involved with that much surface area, i didn't think I'd have a hope of a successful dilucot.

 

[ambrose]

Well done nice to see it

 

[danjared]

What are the scales made of?

 

[life2short1971]

That is very nice. I have a sweet spot for those big old Choppers

 

[Joe Edson]

Man, nice work! That bevel looks perfect. I'm saving my big choppers until I''m a little more experienced.

 

[honed]

That is a very clean bevel for being on a chopper!
Good work.

The wedges I have I always do a double bevel on.
And I really think that is what they did back in the old days too.
But then they did it by hand, hence the many uneven-bevelled old choppers out there.

I know the feeling that it needs a ZZ-Top beard to mow down the really do it justice.
When I take my 9/8 W&B wedge to only 24 hours of growth, I have a slight feeling of killing a fly with a handgrenade
But, all the big old Sheffielders I've tried work great for day to day shaving too.
They are so smooth that they are a pleasure to put on your face very morning for a week in a row if you fancy.
But

 

[wdwrx]

...
When I take my 9/8 W&B wedge to only 24 hours of growth, I have a slight feeling of killing a fly with a handgrenade
But, all the big old Sheffielders I've tried work great for day to day shaving too.
They are so smooth that they are a pleasure to put on your face very morning for a week in a row if you fancy.

No kidding! It is definitely overkill. I'll put off shaving till tomorrow, that'll give me at least 3 days growth. No ZZ Top beard for me.
I couldn't resist running her on my arm hair.... this thing is a silent assassin of hair! Deadly silent!

The scales are made from ebony, but they really have a couple of issues. I cracked them (the side not shown) trying to get the wedge in place and I somehow managed to get spatters of CA on the side shown. With the crack, i couldn't be bothered polishing out the CA splatter so the plan for the next job will be with some brass lined scales. But that's OK, you guys should see the first set I tried to make.... I thought I'd make my own Carbon Fiber scales.... can you say "fail"!

 

[rawface]

Betcha that is a smooooooth shaver.

A couple things will make for massive difference. Naturally, the wedge grind will, but another powerful ingredient for smooth is that nice big smile. The blade will share - put a big smile on your face.

I've had wedges that did have substantial feedback (wacker), but so far, none of the Sheffields. If it has any - it'll be tactile - not audible. Whether or not wedges are your cup of tea, that one should be an excellent shaver. My fav is a 1/4 -1/3 hollow, but I love the 3 wedges in the rotation.

And another thing!! 'Very beautiful work. If it doesn't stay with you, whoever winds up with it will be very happy w/ the shaves and the beauty. 'Grats on a great job.

 

[wdwrx]

Woot! Shave tonight! I've been putting it off for forever it seems, but I've got a good 4 day crop to mow down tonight (It's always a little depressing to grow out the whiskers and see all the grey that's come into them over the past few years.... and the strange places the whiskers have decide to grow now... what's up with that? Haven't they heard of "the beard area?")

I figure I'll pull out all the stops and go for a super luxurious shave!
Über-lather and the hot towel.... I might even shave sitting down!

 

[wdwrx]

Smooth is right! What a nice shaver that old girl is. The weight and momentum behind it were unreal. Super long strokes, no hesistating, or gettin' hung up, just mowed down the whiskers. Dead silent, with just a faint rumble that seemed to come directly through the bones of my head.
I am really quite impressed, it was a little intimidating just holding that monster in my hand, I wasn't sure how it'd play out in the shave with such a huge blade, but it was surprisingly manouverable, and as smooth a shave as I've had yet.