Got off work early today, got home and was going to work on a couple razors. I noticed 4 Wapi's I've had laying around for a few months. So I decided to hone it up and shave with it. Wow. these razors are nice! Honed up real easy, stropped very nicely and gave me an almost perfect BBS shave. I'm impressed! I did draw blood with it..... right on my chin.... oops. Time to lose those heavy metal scales. I think I hacked myself from the scales making this razor very off balance........ So I'm thinking cocobolo, or maybe leopard wood scales will soon be in the making.
I've noticed a lot of the folks who sell Wapis over at SRP have rescaled them. Part of it is just for the aesthetics, but I'm sure part of it is the weight/balance issue too.
I have rescaled three of my Wapis so far. One got Pakkawood, one bone, and one custom made clear acrylic scales. Three more are (hopefully) in the mail, just to have a back up. We don't know how long they will be available. At first I tried hard to manage the weight of the original scales, but after a few days I realized, I had to learn how to re-scale. It's fun, actually. Great shavers! I like them, and you can't beat the price!
I have 3 wapi razors and shave with them just fine. Of course I take extra caution around my lips and chin regardless of what kind of razor I'm using. I have them mostly for collection though so I rarely touch them. Glen F
Yes, all I did was use the original scales as a template. Then rummage through girl friends bead collection for the washers.
A Wapi is shorthand for a Wapienica straight razor. Wapis are razors from Poland sold on eBay by this gentlemen. They are incredibly inexpensive ($15), easy to sharpen, and by all accounts are amazing shavers. I own two and also think very highly of them. The only knock on them is that they come with stainless steel scales, which make them very awkward to shave with. Therefore, most people have them rescaled, immediately improving their balance and sex appeal. My rescaled Wapi can be seen here.
