Thread: sharpening stones are expensive?

Hi.

I am new to straight razors, I am still waiting for my first one to arrive.

I have read a lot stating that vitualy all, factory new razors need to be honed and stropped before use.

I have a basic leather strop on order, but the sharpening stone is proving to be more expensive the cheapest on ebay for an 1000/6000 stone is £25+.

more money than i can afford at the moment.

so i am missing an vital component of my kit.

is their a cheaper alternative.

thanks

John.

Howard sells different kinds of stones.
If your razors are not damaged, you can get by with a bout of yellow coticule.
http://www.theperfectedge.com/belgian.shtml

yellow coticule is a very good finishing stone ( the choice of many experts).
bouts are irregularly shaped but that is no impediment to honing.

Even a small one would enable you to maintain your razors.
There might be other options but I have never tried them so I cannot comment on their quality.

You could also try one of wocjtec's hones (open_razor on ebay iirc.) they certainly work to hone his razors as I ordered one of each of his items and managed to get the razor shaving using nothing else.

John, you are missing two vital components. If the razor you are waiting for is that EIZO, you can count on getting another one really soon.

You can get cheaper barber hone from Tilly here:
http://www.redtrader99.com/hones.html

but, having in mind that a sharpening stone is a lifelong investment, spending 70$ for the Norton 4/8K combo stone is not much...


have fun,
Nenad

Hi.

member sharp&shiny is giving me an "Stainless black micarta Dovo" for free to get me started.


regards.

John.

DOVO Micarta is excellent razor, actually one of my favorites...

I can suggest that you get a Shavette type razor, with DE blades that snap in half. That way you'll know if the straight razor is for you, and you will be able to make more educated decision...

DOVO Micarta is stainless steel, by definition harder than the regular carbon steel. That razor gave me trouble sharpening it, but it will stay sharp longer.

Nenad

Originally Posted by Tinderbox (UK)

he cheapest on ebay for an 1000/6000 stone is £25+.

Just to reenforce- you don;t want this grit, you want a 4000/8000.
6000 grint won;t give you a shave ready edge.