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I've been straight razor shaving for 8-10 months and am thinking of buying a naniwa 12000 to refresh the edge on my razor, is this a good step into honing? Or am I trying to run before walk etc. considering I have no experience as regards sharpening of any sort. I have watched and read the stuff Lynn Abrams has done and it looks pretty straight forward
Read this,,,, your 12K will be fine,,,,,
Straight Razor Place - Beginners Tips: November 2014
Used my naniwa 12k superstone last week for the first time after watching the same videos. I was not as coordinated as Lynn but did not desyroy anything and eventually got my razor sharp again. The huge satisfaction that goes with this is hard to explain. I would really recommend that you give it a try. Learning a new skill is part of the fun of straights.
Its just like driving. You learn with a beater.
Practice with something besides your primary razor first.
The 12k doesn't remove a lot of material so it is difficult to do irreversible damage with it.
The 12k would make a great touch up hone or is just as easily used for maintenance honing. You can use it just like a barbers hone just splash and go and is a good size for easy learning. Good luck
The Naniwa is a good choice and the Specialty Stone is pretty good value. You will be maintenance honing at that level - that is not removing a great deal of metal. If you don't know, or cannot find out the previous honing history, one thing to decide is whether to use tape or not. I don't mean as a way of ensuring less hone wear on the spine - but if your razor was previously honed with tape, then you will be maintaining the same angle. If you don't use tape then it will take quite some time to get to the correct bevel again.
So, you ask, what if the razor was previously honed without tape and you then use it? You will have slightly increased the angle which means that you will be creating a different and smaller bevel that should still be meeting at the edge - so, to my mind, using tape is the better option than not using it.
Hi Bootstrap,
Good luck in your endeavours, this one might help you a bit as well deciding where to go:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...5000-crox.html
I agree that you should get something that you do not mind doing damage to and practicing on that.
Thanks for the advice as you predicted I hadn't thought of that! However I know who last honed it so I will be able to ask them the details thanks again.
You are thinking right my friend, learn to shave first, learn to touch up a blade second, then look into honing. Thank you for learning to walk before you try to run. The Naniwa SS 12K is a great way for you to start out refreshing a blade. As mentioned above, you really can't go wrong with it at all. Lap the 12K and start out with 10-12 x strokes, strop and shave. If it's not quite where you want the edge, repeat. It's just that simple.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bootstrapbill
That's pretty much exactly what I did.
And shooter is pretty spot on, go light and redo if the edge still needs it.