Thread: Frequency of honing?

Originally Posted by RedGladiator

My local barber said he would give me his straight razor, his strop and stone. He said the blade is 50 over 50 years old but in good condition. I'm not holding my breath on the quality of these and will probably stilll buy new ones.

You might be surprised how nice that Barber's equipment is. A strop (and razor) can easily be recondition. The barbers hone could be all the refinishing stone that you need... I would be real friendly with that barber!

Originally Posted by ChopperDave

I would be real friendly with that barber!

He's giving me this stuff for free, really hoping they are in good condition. He has been cutting my hair for 20+ years, top bloke. He uses a shavette for work and a DE for home.

On another note, should I consider 1.0 or 2.0 micron sprays? (I haven't ordered yet but will be ordering the modular paddle that comes with 0.5 macron spray included.)

Originally Posted by RedGladiator

On another note, should I consider 1.0 or 2.0 micron sprays? (I haven't ordered yet but will be ordering the modular paddle that comes with 0.5 macron spray included.)

Stay away from sprays for a while. Learn to shave, then learn to touch up a razor. Most of us will play with sprays and then stick with the stones...leaving the sprays in our past. Many new guys will rave about sprays and pastes, only to learn that stones are the way.

Given the question, I'll say the same thing I've said many times before.

I maintained a set of 7 razors with just a barber hone for nearly 10 years. No pastes, nothing fancy, just the razors, a strop, and the hone were stored and used from an old humid gym locker. They still shaved great.

I finally looked at them under a microscope and found small microchips but they still shaved just fine. After moving out of state I no longer store or use them in the same manner and primarily use them as my travel set. I have no doubt that I could have shaved with this set for the rest of my life by maintaining them with that single barber hone.

Of course, then I would not get to play with a few hundred other hones!

Originally Posted by Utopian

Given the question, I'll say the same thing I've said many times before.

I maintained a set of 7 razors with just a barber hone for nearly 10 years. No pastes, nothing fancy, just the razors, a strop, and the hone were stored and used from an old humid gym locker. They still shaved great.

I finally looked at them under a microscope and found small microchips but they still shaved just fine. After moving out of state I no longer store or use them in the same manner and primarily use them as my travel set. I have no doubt that I could have shaved with this set for the rest of my life by maintaining them with that single barber hone.

Of course, then I would not get to play with a few hundred other hones!

Would you still need a flattening stone? I'm so confused about flattening stones

Originally Posted by RedGladiator

Can't I use these to extend time between hones? A bottle cost $20 and honing costs me $45.

A barber hone will almost indefinitely extend your needing a hone, especially as your skills grow.

Originally Posted by RedGladiator

Would you still need a flattening stone? I'm so confused about flattening stones

Flattening plates like a DMT or Atoma keep stones flat as they wear a bit, barber hones are very hard and wear little.

RedGladiator,

As others have said, go easy on the diamond sprays - they are very aggresive.

To give an example, I use 0.5 micron diamond spray (StraightRazorDesigns) on a hard leather paddle strop - this will easily cut high carbide tool steel knife blades - imagine what the very, very fine edge on a razor would fare like - go easy !!

There are many choices for a finishing/refreshing hone - my favourite is the 12k Naniwa Superstone. If you pair this with a Norton 4/8 k combo stone, you will be well set. A DMT8C (325 'grit') is a very nice thing to have for stone flattening, though silicon carbide paper on a flat surface will do a good job.

Halfords do a very good range of silicon carbide papers (up to 2500 'grit').

Honing does take time to learn, and as has been said, the time you really need these skills you don't have them !

Once learned, honing (for me) is most satisfying. You may even develop HAD (Hone Acquisition Disorder)

Have fun

Best regards

Russ

Originally Posted by RedGladiator

Would you still need a flattening stone? I'm so confused about flattening stones

You shouldnt need to flatten a barbers hone. Unless you damage the edge a finishing /barber hone is all you should need to refresh the edge. The bevel should still be set you are just re refining it.

Originally Posted by shooter74743

Stay away from sprays for a while. Learn to shave, then learn to touch up a razor. Most of us will play with sprays and then stick with the stones...leaving the sprays in our past. Many new guys will rave about sprays and pastes, only to learn that stones are the way.

Can't I use these to extend time between hones? A bottle cost $20 and honing costs me $45.