Thread: I need honing help!

Hey there!

My name is James, i just signed up to this forum because i thought it would be a lot better to share my growing passion for classic shaving with a lot more people!

So this is not my first time shaving with a straight razor (i've had one before) but when it needed honing, i would go to this guy in Montreal who would do it for me. He's known for his honing and the cutlery he sold. He had his own workshop at home and was actually recommended when i went to this store called Vasco's located Downtown Montreal (which is a rip-off by the way).

Anyway, now i've moved to Ottawa and i've decided that i want to learn how to hone for myself. I've been looking around online, and there are a lot of video's explaining which type of stone to get. Many people say one solid grit is enough, some use 3-4 various grits. Some people prefer Norton water stones, some prefer naniwa super stones.

Because of so many different preferences, i've been getting pretty confused as to which one i should get. It doesn't seem so hard to hone (since many video's show you how to), however, the procedure seems to be a little complicated (how many different stones i should get/use, if i should strop after, etc..).

To give you a little background as to what i have at the moment:

• Dovo "Bismarck" Straight Razor 6/8" - DOVO "Bismarck" Straight Razor 6/8", Imitation Pearl Handle | Shaving
• 3" Red Latigo Strop with D ring
• Thiers Issard green chromium oxide paste (which is applied on one of the two fabricated sides of the strop)

So, for the QUESTIONS:

1. What type of stone should i get/use?
2. How many rounds should i be doing on it?
3. Is stropping needed after the honing process?
4. Is there anything else that i need to buy?

Any additional info that would help me out would be greatly appreciated!!


Looking forward to your replies, and happy shaving!

Thanks,
James

Welcome james,
I suggest getting familiar with the library, especially these pages:

Buying a Beginners set, on a Budget
Buying a beginner's set on a budget - Straight Razor Place Library

Beginners Guide to Honing:
Beginner's Guide to Honing - Straight Razor Place Library

Secondly, watch everything you can find on YouTube especially by Lynn Abrams and GSSixGun in reference to honing or maintaining a razor.

I'm rather new to this too, but here are my thoughts on your questions,
1. That is the million dollar question, options are almost limitless. I personally started with a Norton 4/8k stone, Norton flattening and a couple pasted strops. But depending on your goals (maintain shave ready edges, restore antique store finds ...etc) you may make different choices.
2. Depends on the stone. Personally, I found my honing improved greatly when I stopped counting and started using the feel of the razor on the stone and frequent testing.
3. Yes, you will want to strop after honing. I find it improves the comfort even off a pasted strop.
4. You can maintain a razor on a norton 4/8k, one of a number of finishing stones, and/or pasted strops. It boils down to preference, but the options and combinations are pretty numerous.

Hi . Here are some links you may find helpful:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...rt-honing.html
Category:Honing - Straight Razor Place Library
What hone(s), paste(s), or spray(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Library

There are quite a few members in your area. There is also meets out there with some regularity. I suggest you contact some of the members near you to discuss meeting in person either one on one or as a group. A good one to start with is Cangoooner, you can learn more in a one hour meet than 20 hours of videos. However you should still do the reading and watch the videos.

im in the process of learning the art myself. let me tell you it's not as easy as it looks! (at least for me) if you can meet with someone and get some tips/lessons you will be way ahead of the game. Like gssixgun says "honings easy until it's not".

Originally Posted by nopicklezplz

Hey there!

My name is James, i just signed up to this forum because i thought it would be a lot better to share my growing passion for classic shaving with a lot more people!

Hi, and welcome - you have chosen well!

Originally Posted by nopicklezplz

• Dovo "Bismarck" Straight Razor 6/8" - DOVO "Bismarck" Straight Razor 6/8", Imitation Pearl Handle | Shaving
• 3" Red Latigo Strop with D ring
• Thiers Issard green chromium oxide paste (which is applied on one of the two fabricated sides of the strop)

That's a good start. The paste is optional, and remember you really don't need much on the strop for it to work. A little goes a long way.

Originally Posted by nopicklezplz

So, for the QUESTIONS:

1. What type of stone should i get/use?
2. How many rounds should i be doing on it?
3. Is stropping needed after the honing process?
4. Is there anything else that i need to buy?

IMHO:
1. Keep it simple to start with, but I'd suggest starting with synthetic stones. They are relatively reasonably priced and (most importantly) you'll know exactly what you're getting. Natural stones can be a bit more unpredictable for obvious reasons. The ones you mentioned (Norton, Naniwa) are excellent starting points. I can't speak highly enough about the Nortons, and the 4k/8k has been the foundation of all my honing since I started. That having been said, the Naniwas are also excellent. Pick one type and run with it. For a TON of info and experience with the Norton 4k/8k, go here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...on-2012-a.html

You can also get a finishing stone (Naniwa 12k or natural finishers seem to be most popular) but that's not absolutely necessary. See the thread above for proof of that.

2. That's kind of like asking how long is a piece of string. The answer will depend on many, many variables (type of stone, type of steel in the razor, type of grind on the blade, whether you are using slurry or not, what kinds of strokes are you using, how much pressure...) but ultimately the answer is that it takes as many strokes as are needed. There are tests to help you on the way to figuring this out, and with time you will just know when it's ready. The links others have provided will help with the process and tests.

3. Is it *absolutely* necessary? No. Will it make your shave better? Yes. So I'd highly suggest getting into the habit of stropping after honing. It will give you a more gentle and enjoyable edge without some of the harshness that can come if you shave right from the stones. BUT, make sure you're stropping properly. It's easy to roll an edge if you're not paying attention, but since you're going to be stropping between shaves, it's a skill you'll need anyway. Loads of stropping info here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...st-2012-a.html

4. You didn't mention what you're doing for lather, so you may already have this covered, but you'll need a brush and some decent shaving soap or cream. Other than that and beyond the basics you've mentioned (shave-ready razor and strop) everything else pretty much falls into the want rather than need category.

Good luck

There must be over a million ways to hone, but I consider the Norton 4k/8k combo and the Naniwa 12k the best way to start. If your razor has already been professionally sharpened (bevel set), then the 12k about once a week will maintain the edge for months. The 8k can repair most damage done by bad stropping. The 4k can repair minor damage caused by dropping or lightly hitting the sink.

The following are my average laps for Dovo blades:
Bevel reset:
1k 40 forward circles per side with light pressure
1k 25 X travels with light pressure

For light bevel damage or after a bevel reset:
4k 10 X travels with no pressure
4k 40 forward circles per side with no pressure
4k 40 forward circles per side with light pressure
For stropping damage or after a 4k repair
8k 10 X travels with no pressure
For maintenance or after an 8k repair
12k 10 X travels with no pressure

As always YMMV, but it is a rough starting point for you.

I'd get a Shapton 16k. I can only speak for my own experience but it's what I use most times I pull out a hone.

Generally, for me, when I feel my razors need a touch up ten laps is enough to bring it back.

Normally I strop after honing with my normal stropping regimen (30/70) linen/leather.

I've never used a paste so I won't comment on that.

Really, it's possible you could just get the Shapton and use nothing else for a long time, at least that's my experience. I started keeping a honing diary a while ago to track exactly what I did with my 6 straights and a DE or two I keep in rotation. Normally I shave with a straight Mon - Fri, skip shaving Sat, and shave with a straight maybe 40% of Sundays. I use each straight razor once in the week. I've found honing (i.e. just the ten laps on the Shapton 16k) is needed only about every FOUR MONTHS for me.

The reason there are so many different recommendation, is because it depends on what you want to do, anything from maintenance, to full restoration, and your budget.

If you just want to maintain your existing razor, a high grit finishing hone, like the 16k recommended or a 12k Super Stone, along with your pasted and leather strop can keep you shaving forever.

Learning to strop effectively is the most important skill to learn for maintenance, and yes, strop before every shave, 50-100 laps on leather. Stropping is your final polish, and the importance of proper stropping cannot be over rated.

Be careful with a pasted strop, you can easily do more damage than good. Typically with new straight shavers, razors are damaged while learning to strop, too much pressure, flipping while the razor is in motion or lifting the spine can ruin an edge. In such cases, usually a high grit finishing hone can repair these problems.

How many laps depend on the extent of the damage? The only other thing you will need is some lighted magnification and a local mentor to teach you, hands on, how to strop and maintain your razor. Hands on will dramatically cut your learning curve and improve your shaves.

You can learn to fly by reading a book or on the internet, but you will learn a lot more by having a seasoned pilot sitting next to you when you make your first landing approach.

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I'd get a Shapton 16k. I can only speak for my own experience but it's what I use most times I pull out a hone.

Generally, for me, when I feel my razors need a touch up ten laps is enough to bring it back.

Normally I strop after honing with my normal stropping regimen (30/70) linen/leather.

I've never used a paste so I won't comment on that.

Really, it's possible you could just get the Shapton and use nothing else for a long time, at least that's my experience. I started keeping a honing diary a while ago to track exactly what I did with my 6 straights and a DE or two I keep in rotation. Normally I shave with a straight Mon - Fri, skip shaving Sat, and shave with a straight maybe 40% of Sundays. I use each straight razor once in the week. I've found honing (i.e. just the ten laps on the Shapton 16k) is needed only about every FOUR MONTHS for me.

+ one on the Shapton Stones