Discussion Thread for 6/8 Wacker Quarter Hollow Review

**joel** · 12-12-2006, 10:39 AM

This is a discussion thread for THIS review. Note: Over the next few days I will be posting quite a few straight razor reviews. We only have three as of now... lets beef it up fellas!

**moses** · 12-12-2006, 10:53 AM

Ok, I am officially really bummed about having jumped on this bandwagon. Of course, the upside is that mine has few, if any, of the quality problems that Joel mentions. The scales are even, it opens smoothly with no issues and just the right amount of friction, there is no scratching on the blade, it closes properly and onto the third pin. It seems like maybe he has problems working with horn?

I have no idea about shaving with it, of course. Have not gone there yet, or had it honed. I will definitly have someone else hone it.... Although the needing to be honed after every use is telling me I may not be using it much for a while, since I'm not sure when I will have the honing skill for that.

-Mo

**mparker762** · 12-12-2006, 11:42 AM

I've got a Wacker 6/8 stippleback. They are very hard, and a cast-iron female dog to hone because of the microchipping problem. I finally found a hone that would sharpen it without microchipping, which has solved that issue. The only other problem mine had was the pivot was a bit loose, but I hammered it tight and it's been fine since then.

**jnich67** · 12-12-2006, 12:37 PM

Mine doesn't have the quality issues Joel experienced. It took a long, long time to hone (I didn't opt for the honing services and I'm new to honing), but now that its in the zone it shaves very well. Sounds like this is a bit of hit or miss.

Jordan

**SSLStudio** · 12-12-2006, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by moses

Ok, I am officially really bummed about having jumped on this bandwagon. Of course, the upside is that mine has few, if any, of the quality problems that Joel mentions. The scales are even, it opens smoothly with no issues and just the right amount of friction, there is no scratching on the blade, it closes properly and onto the third pin. It seems like maybe he has problems working with horn?

I have no idea about shaving with it, of course. Have not gone there yet, or had it honed. I will definitly have someone else hone it.... Although the needing to be honed after every use is telling me I may not be using it much for a while, since I'm not sure when I will have the honing skill for that.

-Mo

If you can Mo send it off to Joel for Honing (if he has time) , not only will you get it back very sharp but will give Joel a chance to check out that there are good versions out there and his is a real POS , really unacceptable the things I saw on the pics.

Im not familiar yet with straights what they should do and should not do, for example my first shave with the Dovo I didnt wipe it dry after my use and the next day it had developed a bit of rust already ?????? My fault ? I have no Idea I never wipe my DE's so I thought straights must be no difference even though Lynn shows you should wipe the razor and oil it a bit. I used a tiny drop of lime shave oil since I wont be using the dovo everyday

anyways back to the thread....

**joel** · 12-12-2006, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by SSLStudio

If you can Mo send it off to Joel for Honing (if he has time) , not only will you get it back very sharp but will give Joel a chance to check out that there are good versions out there and his is a real POS , really unacceptable the things I saw on the pics.

Im not familiar yet with straights what they should do and should not do, for example my first shave with the Dovo I didnt wipe it dry after my use and the next day it had developed a bit of rust already ?????? My fault ? I have no Idea I never wipe my DE's so I thought straights must be no difference even though Lynn shows you should wipe the razor and oil it a bit. I used a tiny drop of lime shave oil since I wont be using the dovo everyday

anyways back to the thread....

Don't put lime oil on your razor.

**moses** · 12-12-2006, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by joel

Don't put lime oil on your razor.

Mineral oil, perhaps?

-Mo

There are some more rust preventive things used for guns, for for something that I apply to my face, that seems not ideal....

**joel** · 12-12-2006, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by moses

Mineral oil, perhaps?

-Mo

There are some more rust preventive things used for guns, for for something that I apply to my face, that seems not ideal....

There are a ton of products you can/could safely put on your razor to prevent corrosion.... I RARELY use any of them, and I have never had a razor rust or become corroded (I have a few oldies that came to me with a little rust on the pivot, or that are a little corroded - but none of which my doing). Simply carefully drying the razor after each shave is all that is necessary. If/when I do use a product on one of my razors, I always use tuff cloth. It is safe to use on a razor, it bonds to the metal (so you don't have to keep applying it after every shave) and it works splendid. Again though... if you just dry your razor - it makes it quite moot.

**19george** · 12-12-2006, 09:06 PM

Ha.

Thanks for putting up this review after I bought it.

Actually mine isn't nearly as bad as yours is Joel. The scales are a tiny bit uneven but thats about it.

At least you convinced me not to buy Wackers again!

**Steelforge** · 12-12-2006, 10:29 PM

Hi Joel. I have one of these razors too and whilst mine does not have the same quality issues as yours, it was nowhere near being shave ready despite me paying for the honing service. Mine pulled so badly I thought I was doing something wrong, but I had some other shave ready razors to compare it against so I knew it was the razor and not me.

I thought about whether to send it back and complain, but to be honest I really like my Wacker. It's well made and doesn't have the same scratching yours does, also the scales are perfect and it opens and closes fine. I gave mine several honing pyramids, each time being careful not to overdo it. But as you say the steel is extremely hard, I ended up doing 40 or 50 passes on the 4K and then some more normal pyramids. I got it to a point where it shaves pretty well, but I felt it has more potential so I sent it off to Lynn to see what he can do with it.

I would probably buy from the same vendor again, but I would factor into the overall cost of having Lynn hone it properly - or do it myself if it was a more a more normal grind. I have a Henckels Friodur from the same vendor which is perfect quality wise, and shaves great after I honed it myself.

When it comes back from Lynn I expect this to be a great shaver, and part of my regular rotation.

**Gaelicboy** · 12-13-2006, 05:01 AM

Well at least I'm not the only one that finds the razors not sharp after the honing service.

I actually have a 1/4 hollow Rosewood that is excellent quality, and came shave sharp after opting for the honing service. Must be one of the "hits." It is actually one of my better shavers. Chalk it up to SR inexperience or whatever, but it works well for me. But I have other issues along with the honing.

after being pleased with the 1/4 hollow, I actually ordered a 1/2 hollow spanish point Wacker and figured I would also get a Friodur 7/8. I was sent the incorrect razors (a 1/4 hollow spike point Wacker and a 8/8 square point Friodur). I called and told John the problem and sent the razors back, with him saying he'd reimburse for the return shipping. Cool. I sent the razors off the next morning. Well, a week and a half later the razors arrive (again), with the Wacker being correct, but he has sent a 8/8 Friodur again. There was a note saying "I honed these for you, sorry for the mix-up." I contacted him about the 8/8 friodur, and the only reply was "I must have grabbed an 8/8." Nothing more.

In short, the wacker is no where near sharp, and the Friodur needed a butt-load of passes on all sides of a 4-sided paddle (my Norton honing skillz are not yet to par). While it was a very nice gesture, I am fairly disappointed that one would mention honing, but not actually hone.

I was very hesitant to say anything on SRP, because he is a respected vendor, and, here, Joel has sang his praises about service, etc. (I'm too lazy to look up the thread right now). I am not saying anything except my experience with Shavingshop. I am sure, and hope, that others have had great experiences.

O.K. sorry for the rant, and for semi-hijacking the thread. Just one more datapoint for consideration.

**Suzuki** · 12-13-2006, 08:25 AM

I have a 7/8 Bartman that I got a good deal on second hand. Instead of $150, I paid closer to $100 - $110 (bought it along with some other razors.

For the price I paid for it (pre-honed), I'm happy with it despite some of the concerns that Joel mentioned (poor gold wash, substandard work on the jimps, etc). The scales were also very ho-hum (rosewood scales), a little chunky and the razor was very (i.e., dangerously) loose (despite the fact that it had only been very lightly used).

I like the razor well enough that I'm in the process of having it rescaled, which I'm fine with given the price I paid. (To be fair, I could have just tightened the pin, but I used this as an excuse to get some custom scales).

The razor shaves well and I like the heavy blade (despite the fact that it is a pain to hone). However, I do think I would have been pissed if I'd paid full retail for this and had the same problems.

While I am prepared to accept some variability in quality for a handmade item, it seems like these are really hit and miss - which is not acceptable for something that's being touted as a high-quility razor made by a master craftsman. I'm not going to rush out to buy another Wacker (or at least not until I could hold it in my hands first). Not a bad razor, but not a great razor either.

**joel** · 12-13-2006, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by Gaelicboy

Well at least I'm not the only one that finds the razors not sharp after the honing service.

I actually have a 1/4 hollow Rosewood that is excellent quality, and came shave sharp after opting for the honing service. Must be one of the "hits." It is actually one of my better shavers. Chalk it up to SR inexperience or whatever, but it works well for me. But I have other issues along with the honing.

after being pleased with the 1/4 hollow, I actually ordered a 1/2 hollow spanish point Wacker and figured I would also get a Friodur 7/8. I was sent the incorrect razors (a 1/4 hollow spike point Wacker and a 8/8 square point Friodur). I called and told John the problem and sent the razors back, with him saying he'd reimburse for the return shipping. Cool. I sent the razors off the next morning. Well, a week and a half later the razors arrive (again), with the Wacker being correct, but he has sent a 8/8 Friodur again. There was a note saying "I honed these for you, sorry for the mix-up." I contacted him about the 8/8 friodur, and the only reply was "I must have grabbed an 8/8." Nothing more.

In short, the wacker is no where near sharp, and the Friodur needed a butt-load of passes on all sides of a 4-sided paddle (my Norton honing skillz are not yet to par). While it was a very nice gesture, I am fairly disappointed that one would mention honing, but not actually hone.

I was very hesitant to say anything on SRP, because he is a respected vendor, and, here, Joel has sang his praises about service, etc. (I'm too lazy to look up the thread right now). I am not saying anything except my experience with Shavingshop. I am sure, and hope, that others have had great experiences.

O.K. sorry for the rant, and for semi-hijacking the thread. Just one more datapoint for consideration.

I was sent the wrong razor at first as well - and it too was not shaving sharp (despite the honing service). The more and more I hear of you guys saying you got a wacker without nearly as many problems - the more it ticks me off I got such a turd, and was being "way too picky" when bringing up my concerns. Man did I take one on the chin.

**Suzuki** · 12-13-2006, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by joel

I was sent the wrong razor at first as well - and it too was not shaving sharp (despite the honing service). The more and more I hear of you guys saying you got a wacker without nearly as many problems - the more it ticks me off I got such a turd, and was being "way too picky" when bringing up my concerns. Man did I take one on the chin.

Now see how much luck you have flogging this razor!

**moses** · 12-13-2006, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by joel

I was sent the wrong razor at first as well - and it too was not shaving sharp (despite the honing service). The more and more I hear of you guys saying you got a wacker without nearly as many problems - the more it ticks me off I got such a turd, and was being "way too picky" when bringing up my concerns. Man did I take one on the chin.

I would be rather livid. I don't know about steel, and honing, but everything else on mine seems fine. There is no such thing as "way too picky" on a simple little gadget that costs $200. In the case of your razor, that'd be like Simpsons saying you were "way too picky" for not liking that you Chubby was split.

-Mo

**SSLStudio** · 12-13-2006, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Suzuki

Now see how much luck you have flogging this razor!

better to cut your losses and make it into a custom straight yourself find some craftsman and get decent scales.

anyways im perplexed the seller doesnt refund Joel, stories like these just make me AVOID shops like that and the story about again sending the wrong razor to Gaelicboy is unacceptable by any trade standard.

**joel** · 12-13-2006, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by SSLStudio

better to cut your losses and make it into a custom straight yourself find some craftsman and get decent scales.

anyways im perplexed the seller doesnt refund Joel, stories like these just make me AVOID shops like that and the story about again sending the wrong razor to Gaelicboy is unacceptable by any trade standard.

Only problem is - if I spend even more money on it to get decent scales - it'll still have a scratched up - beat up looking blade. That'd be like putting 20" chrome rims on a pinto

**roughrider** · 12-13-2006, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by joel

That'd be like putting 20" chrome rims on a pinto

Hey, you've been to Oakland. You see all sorts of POS cars with huge chrome rims and loud stereo systems. The rims are worth more than the car.

**AandW** · 12-13-2006, 04:46 PM

Joel,

I am really sorry that you received such a POS. However, I am also in the camp of having received a potentially mighty fine razor with the exception of one thing. It did not shave worth a damn despite having paid for the honing service. Yup, no quality issues here; just a razor that would not shave the hairs on my arm. Very dissappointed.

I will buy from this vendor again because he does have some very nice razors. However, Lynn will get my honing business.