Honing and stropping decision on a tight budget

Hello all, I am new to this forum and using a straight razor. So far I’m a month in and love it and will never go back to disposables again. Getting to my question... I have been a chef all my life and have a Naniwa chosera 1000 grit stone and a Shapton glass 4000 grit. Never go higher than 4000 with my chef knives. Just a few swipes after on the 14000 strop at the end. When I got my razor I honed it on the 4000 then went from there to the strop with 14000 grit paste. Then to felt, then denim, then a raw leather belt that’s 1.5 inches wide. Is jumping from 4000 to 14000 ok or would 4000 to 8000 to 14000 be better? It works great but my question is what should I buy next in order of importance? A nice 3 inch strop that’s around 100 bucks or an 8000 grit stone that’s around the same price and continue using the thin belt that I already have and get the better strop later? What’s more important when buying one or the other maybe months apart? I know it may be a silly question but I’m a newbie. I appreciate any help and thank you all in advance.

Jeff

You can get a very nice strop for less than $100. I would start there and get an 8k stone next. Good luck.

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Originally Posted by Mrchick

You can get a very nice strop for less than $100. I would start there and get an 8k stone next. Good luck.

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This is what I would do as well.

Also investigate barber hones, they are in the +8k range and can usually bought very reasonably. Swaty, Aparte and Panama are a few of the good ones and there are many others

Definitely strop first. Straight Razor Design have a nice selection (with replaceable components), from what I've heard high quality and within your budget.

Thank you guys so very much! Thank you for the help!

Might be a weird question, but after honing and stropping your razor using that progression, how does it shave?
Have you had a shave ready razor before this one?

Welcome to SRP Jeff.

A barber hone and strop is all you will need.

If you haven't already, check out the library Shave Library

Also, if you have gotten by on a 1-1/2" wide strop, you might consider a 2"-wide or 2-1/2"-wide strop to save a little. I find 3"-wide to be a bit too much real estate.

OK guys, I am going to walk on thin ice giving an opinion that goes against the ones above by respected senior members. I would buy an 8K or barber hone first. First a question: what is a 14000 strop? Does it have a 14K paste on it? Bench strop or hanging strop?
First, I think the jump up the grit ladder from 4 K to 14K is too high. I don't think that even the best quality leather strop can produce a shave-ready edge on a razor that came off a 4K. Not even after 1000 roundtrips. 2nd: you don't really need a leather strop IMHO (yes, I know, this is blasphemy to many members). For a long time I have shaved as an experiment using a linen strop only. Went really well.
So I would recommend an 8K first.

My 2 cts, YMMV.

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Originally Posted by TristanLudlow

Might be a weird question, but after honing and stropping your razor using that progression, how does it shave?
Have you had a shave ready razor before this one?

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Yes, I was wondering that also. I mean what exactly are you trying to achieve that you are not already getting?

Bob

So from my perspective the most important aspect of this is about getting the best shave possible. I would also like to point out that you are already stropping on denim and raw leather, and that is what you will get from a strop. If disposable income is short in supply, don't duplicate anything. Make sure your hones are flat. My mother always said necessity is the mother of invention. As long as no razors get harmed in the process it's all good.

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Originally Posted by Kees

OK guys, I am going to walk on thin ice giving an opinion that goes against the ones above by respected senior members. I would buy an 8K or barber hone first. First a question: what is a 14000 strop? Does it have a 14K paste on it? Bench strop or hanging strop?
First, I think the jump up the grit ladder from 4 K to 14K is too high. I don't think that even the best quality leather strop can produce a shave-ready edge on a razor that came off a 4K. Not even after 1000 roundtrips. 2nd: you don't really need a leather strop IMHO (yes, I know, this is blasphemy to many members). For a long time I have shaved as an experiment using a linen strop only. Went really well.
So I would recommend an 8K first.

My 2 cts, YMMV.

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Great points. I was wondering the same thing and I was also on the verge of saying he needs an 8K hone next since he was already using a felt, denim and raw leather belt. Maybe one of the others can expand on why they responded differently as I would really like to know. Maybe I can learn something. :beer2:


Mike

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Originally Posted by mglindo

Great points. I was wondering the same thing and I was also on the verge of saying he needs an 8K hone next since he was already using a felt, denim and raw leather belt. Maybe one of the others can expand on why they responded differently as I would really like to know. Maybe I can learn something. :beer2:


Mike

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From my perspective I believe although denim and a 1.5" leather strop will work why make life difficult when learning to strop. Rolling the edge on the 1.5" leather is a high possibility. A good leather strop does not have to cost much either. Coupled with a barber hone and your good to go indefinitely.

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Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

Rolling the edge on the 1.5" leather is a high possibility. A good leather strop does not have to cost much either.

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So why get a leather strop if you hazard rolling the edge?

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Originally Posted by Kees

OK guys, I am going to walk on thin ice giving an opinion that goes against the ones above by respected senior members. I would buy an 8K or barber hone first. First a question: what is a 14000 strop? Does it have a 14K paste on it? Bench strop or hanging strop?
First, I think the jump up the grit ladder from 4 K to 14K is too high. I don't think that even the best quality leather strop can produce a shave-ready edge on a razor that came off a 4K. Not even after 1000 roundtrips. 2nd: you don't really need a leather strop IMHO (yes, I know, this is blasphemy to many members). For a long time I have shaved as an experiment using a linen strop only. Went really well.
So I would recommend an 8K first.

My 2 cts, YMMV.

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This is an interesting post. If the "14000" strop dropped out of the equation, then I was thinking that the Shapton 4k would be too big of a jump to the 1-1/2" wide leather belt, the latter of which, from the tone of the OP, seems to be working. Recently, I heard a "honemeister" razor restorer say that Shapton 4k to Shapton 8k was his bread and butter; so yeah, it wouldn't hurt to have one of these for razors, if one has the 4k already. Perhaps the "14000" strop is serving the same function in the short run.

If the OP is comfortable with a 1-1/2" belt for stropping, and familiar with the Shapton 4k, then I would be inclined to add that maybe an Shapton 8k would be the way to go. For stropping, especially if the OP is familiar with felt and denim, he could pick up some vegetable-tanned leather belting from McMaster-Carr and experiment with this as to stropping to the finish in the short-term. Sanded to 180x, vegetable-tanned leather can also be pasted as needed. Works better on a paddle or on the bench than hanging from my experience as it is a bit stretchy when pulled taut from a hook.

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Originally Posted by Kees

So why get a leather strop if you hazard rolling the edge?

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Sorry I should have said get a 2.5 - 3" leather strop.
The chances of Jeff rolling a straight edge with his existing 1.5" strop is higher than if he was to get a wider one.

Aloha!

Lots of good advice by the sage members here, as usual. My 2 cents worth;

An 8k certainly would not hurt you going into your collection of stones. Neither would a 10k Naniwa, but that's putting the cart before the wallet.

I spent decades and I mean multiple decades with nothing more than a decent strop and a barber hone. Once your bevel is set and you have a good blade to shave with, a decent barber hone with a decent strop is all you really need. I sent out my new and found blades to honemeisters for many decades for bevel setting and first hone. Then I'd keep them up-to-snuff with my barber hone and a strop. I was busy building my company and didn't want to mess with the joy of honing. Finally decided to start setting my own bevels and bought a complete set of stones (and I love it), but that's not a mandatory purchase.

You can get a very decent strop (like a hand made Parker Red Latigo) for around $69 delivered via Amazon Prime. I have this same strop and it rivals my more $$ strops in quality. In fact, I like it so much that I use it 90 percent of the time. Can't beat the price VS quality. Lots of other options available too including offerings by SRP. But for the sake of saving money, if you are getting by with your current leather belt strop, then you are good. Having a 3" wide is a nice convenience IMO, although not necessary.

So I suppose if I were happy with my current strop and base stones, I would look for an 8k stone and call it good.

Have fun!

-Zip

I may just lose any SRP cred I may have by suggesting this, but If you want a budget entreé into honing, use lapping film! $30 for a full setup. Considering your current equipment, I'd use this progression:

1k Naniwa
4K Shapton
5 micron film
3microm film
1 micron film.
Strop on leather.

You could even skip the 5 micron film and be fine.

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Originally Posted by Andy77

I may just lose any SRP cred I may have by suggesting this, but If you want a budget entreé into honing, use lapping film! $30 for a full setup. Considering your current equipment, I'd use this progression:

1k Naniwa
4K Shapton
5 micron film
3microm film
1 micron film.
Strop on leather.

You could even skip the 5 micron film and be fine.

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When I first joined the forum in 2008, film was a very viable alternative as was 1k automotive wet/dry sandpaper

Sounds like we are having a shaveaholic in the bud in our midst. :)

I’m a little late to the party here I guess. I forge my own kamisori and when the time comes to put an edge on I set the bevel lightly with a 400 atoma then King 1000, Shapton pro 2000, king 6000, shapton pro 12000 and finish on a J-Nat after that I go to natural veg tan strops with 3, 1 and finally .5 micron paste to really polish the edge... but, but to finish it off and my final step is a microfibre cloth strop I’ve made. After that it’s a hanging hair test and test run. Best shave results I’ve ever had.

My favorite pure leather strop is still the old "Prima Rindleder", which I believe is pretty cheap.

Hey , nice to have you, you can get a nice 3" SRD strop for ~$80 and a brand new 4k/8k Morton for $70( watch Amazon closely)
https://straightrazordesigns.com/col...leather-handle

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Originally Posted by whoever

Hey , nice to have you, you can get a nice 3" SRD strop for ~$80 and a brand new 4k/8k Morton for $70( watch Amazon closely)

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SRD has been having a lot of sales lately (40% off). A lot of their good stuff is sold out, including most of their strops and strop components. You can still get a 2" latigo, but that is about it.

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Originally Posted by RayClem

SRD has been having a lot of sales lately (40% off). A lot of their good stuff is sold out, including most of their strops and strop components. You can still get a 2" latigo, but that is about it.

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AHhhhh, I CAN"T POST A URL Attachment 297750

They had 3” black latigo strops with d loop handles yesterday still in stock. Can’t beat the quality for the price at 40% off

Ya better pick one up, just for travel

I have Norton 1000 and a 4k/8k. Thinking about a 10k, 12k and 16k of some brand. Any of these 3 I'm considering might I skip?

Also, this 5 micron etc. film, where might I find it?

Lastly, wet automotive sandpaper on .25" glass? What grit?

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Originally Posted by Obadiahhj

I have Norton 1000 and a 4k/8k. Thinking about a 10k, 12k and 16k of some brand. Any of these 3 I'm considering might I skip?

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I recommend going with only the Naniwa 12k and master that hone before deciding where to go next. You can easily jump from the Norton 8k to the 12k without issues.

And look here for great strops: The Well Shaved Gentleman The Heirloom Razor Strop Company. Better IMO than anything SRD has.

You need at least a 6-8k stone to get a straight edge. Compare a 4 and 8k edge under magnification, the straightness of the edge is dramatic. That is what is dragging on your skin.

The Naniwa 12k Super Stone is the Honda Accord of stones, strop on pure Chrome Oxide for a very nice shaving edge.

For film, skip the wet and dry and go to lapping film from Thor Labs, buy Aluminum Oxide, there are many threads on using lapping film and can produce a smoking edge.

Pick up 3x12 in glass tiles from Lowes for about $5 and lap flat with 320 grit wet and dry on a steel cookie sheet, it goes quickly.

.03um film is too keen for most folks and razors, not all razor can hold an edge that thin. The stria is super uniform under magnification more so than any stone.

A bullet proof budget set up is, King 1k, Norton4/8k or Naniwa 3/8 combo stone and finish on Chrome Oxide strop, a very shaveable edge. From there, a 12k or 20k, film, or high grit natural, if you want more.