Thread: Waterstone for beginners

Hey,
I'm interested in picking up straight razors, I would like to know if I should get a waterstone right away. I live abroad, and there is no honing place here. What am I looking for when buying a waterstone? How often should I need to use it?

Thanks!

I'd start with the stickies in the newbies section and just keep reading, your questions and all the ones you don't know to ask yet will be answered.

Good luck and good reading.

I agree that you should read the stickies. However, to try to answer your question, Get a shave ready razor from someone on this site. Get a strop. Do not worry about the stone yet. depending on your beard and technique the razor should last 3 months or more before you need to have it rehoned. Also many of the honemiesters will offer one rehone within a reasonable period of time.

So again I would recommend getting the razor and a strop. Then waiting on the stone until you know more. Keep in mind I am still a newbie so take my advice with a grain of salt.

Originally Posted by Chander

I agree that you should read the stickies. However, to try to answer your question, Get a shave ready razor from someone on this site. Get a strop. Do not worry about the stone yet. depending on your beard and technique the razor should last 3 months or more before you need to have it rehoned. Also many of the honemiesters will offer one rehone within a reasonable period of time.

So again I would recommend getting the razor and a strop. Then waiting on the stone until you know more. Keep in mind I am still a newbie so take my advice with a grain of salt.

This is a good idea, depending on how long you will be abroad. If you do decide to get a stone, the DMT D8EE diamond hone is touted to be able to replace the Norton 4/8k (easily the most popular standard hone) and does not require lapping like a waterstone would. It seems like it would be the easiest to maintain and would cover your needs sufficiently, until you get HAD, then you will suddenly have 10 stones.

Here is a comparison:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=29575

Great advice above....start with a shave-ready razor and break yourself into honing slowly....there are many choices as far as stones go and the learning curve is usually pretty steep. Concentrate on your shaves for now and enjoy yourself!

All right, sweet everyone!

That makes the investment a lot cheaper - It'll also give me time to maybe find someone who can hone it.

Thanks a lot!

Originally Posted by umbepo

I live abroad, and there is no honing place here.

You may want to ask around, there are a lot of members from all over the world.

I started off on a Coticule yellow stone. And that's what I'm still using. Also...I don't know what you mean by "abroad" but there's loads of people that don't live in the states. (I for one...am one.)

Yeah, everyone in the world lives "abroad"

Haha ok, abroad I mean in Monterrey, Mexico. There's a dude who comes around streets with his pedal-powered stone knife-sharpener, but I don't think he does or should do straight razors.

If anyone knows of a place where I can get it honed, please let me know. Thanks!