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Evening everyone (well it is here),
I want to be able to get used/secondhand/vintage! razors shave ready for myself. I intend to buy only razors with an edge that isn't damaged and just needs an edge put on it.
My question is - Can I get an undamaged blade shave ready with just a Norton 4000/8000 combination wetstone and my leather strop?
I'm not talking about getting a prize winning edge, but just a rasor that can effect a decent shave.
Thanks M
Yes you can get a very acceptable edge with just the Norton combo. And without going nuts on various finishing hones, you can also get some chromium oxide paste on a flat leather or wood surface and you're golden.
Jordan
Thats good to know. That is exactly what I was planing to do. I dont want to be a sharp Meister. I just want my razor to be worthy of shaving my face. And, to let me be able to snag that deal of a razor when I see it in the flea market.
The norton stone does not come flat from the factory and must be to hone razors properly. You can do this with a flat surface (try a marble tile) and some wet/dry sandpaper.
Exactly, I'm not mean, It's just I can't spend a lot of money on razors.Quote:
Originally Posted by geoffreyt
My wife would use the sharpest on me:eek: if I did.
Fpr the minimum in honing equipment and for an undamaged edge I'd say get a coticule bout. That's what I started out on and it cost me somewhere aroun €20. So that's not too bad.
I think what you want to do is completely doable but you might want to add a 1000 grit stone to set a bevel! It will make your life so much better than trying to set a bevel on a 4000 grit stone!Quote:
Originally Posted by littlesilverbladefromwale
What grain size is a coticule?Quote:
Originally Posted by LX_Emergency
cheers M
Heres the stuff I started with for my bare bones setup:
Sun tiger slipstones
One in the 4000 grit and one in the 8000 grit made up me first set of stones, I still use them.
I added to this:
Wet dry sandpaper (1000 grit)
I chose the 1000 grit as it seemed a good compromise between speed and accuracy for getting any really rough spots on a flea market find. It is applied wet to a flat surface, like a piece of glass on a counter or a polished marble slab and used just like any other hone. Just be sure it sticks well. I use this to lap my hones too.
Since starting out I have added a few finishing options, from barbers hones to leather flat beds for paste honing. I still, however, usually do my first shaves with a newly sharpened razor straight off the 8000. All my finishing options are just for ease of fine tuning that basic edge to perfection.
My basic kit at todays prices will run you less than 30 pounds from the links I found. Not to say there aren't some compromises to going this cheap.
The stones are quite small, less than half the size of the norton.
They cut more slowly as well.
Using paper instead of a hone is a little more tricky, you must prevent curling or humping of the paper to get the proper effect.
With a little care it is possible to get great shavers this way though.
If you are only intent on maintaining razors with decent edges, the coticule would be a good choice, and cheaper than the norton.
If you want to do more, you can always buy a norton later on.
And another norton after that
And a flattening stone
and a DMT plate
And another coticule
....
But for just maintaining an edge, a coticule in combination with a strop will get you started.
Even better: Buy a combination strop from Tony Miller: 1 plain leather, and the other pasted with .5 micron chromium oxide.
That combination will have you set for life.
After I finish up with the Norton I use Dovo red wax on one side of sheet of Balsa on the other its green rubbing compound. I use my thumb and the mowing test it passes both.Quote:
Originally Posted by jnich67
Tim
+1 on that.Quote:
Originally Posted by LX_Emergency
I did very same when I first started out. The coticule is so versatile.
You can hone with a slurry, with it dry and with water. It's can be quite an aggressive little hone with slurry.
You could get a cheap bout or go a little extra for a 6x2".
Quote:
Originally Posted by shotwell1234
Can you explain this a bit further? I just bought a norton 4k/8k with the same idea as the guy that started this thread. Do i have to sand down my norton before use? with marble and sandpaper?
Give this a read.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/showt...t=hone+lapping
Any stone unless guaranteed flat should be lapped before use. Sandpaper on a flat surface is one way. There are detailed instructions around here somewhere.
I'm not a 100% sure. But most people place the coticule between 6k when using a lot of slurry and 8-10k when using little/no slurry just water.Quote:
Originally Posted by littlesilverbladefromwale
There's a lot of good advice here, but don't go hog wild. Every one here is correct in their own way, they all will work but you only need one.
The coticule has different grades If I remember right, so if you decide that route, ask around and make sure you get the right grade.
I use the nortons, and although they will provide a good edge, it is still a bit coarse for my tastes.
+10 on getting a TM paddle with paste. This will take your edges to a new level, and are worth every penny.
I have several hundred dollars invested in hones at present, and still want more.
But if I had to start over, on a tight budget, I would buy 2 stones. one for setting bevels maybe a Norton 1k/4k and a good versatile finisher like the coticule.
I would later add a 4 sided strop with 0.5 CrO and 0.25 Diamond paste.
Does the .25 do much more than the .5 CrO? I have the CrO but not the .25.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike_ratliff
FWIW...
You might have a look at this kit by Norton. It has the stones everyone told me I would have to have to get shave ready results from even the ugly antique store finds. It comes with a 220/1000, a 4000/8000, and a flattening stone (solving your flattening/lapping problems described above). The stones are the recommended 8"x3"x1" dimensions and come in cases that double as stands.
There is no super fine 12,000 grit fishing stone here. That being said, I am assured by people I trust here that the Norton 8000 will produce a perfectly acceptable shaving sharp blade and from what I have seen I believe them. Thats not to say the 5 billion dollar Belgian Coticule doesn't improve the finish on a blade or anything... I am sure it does but its well out of my price range I am afraid.
The DVD that comes in the kit it geared towards wood workers who want to sharpen their tools, but its interesting even if its not totally applicable to what you will be using the stones for.
Shop around... I bought mine for $109 with free shipping from a site that subsequently raised the price to $135 the day after I bought it but great deals are out there. I don't think you can beat this deal for 'bang-for-the-buck' performance.
I'd like to thank you all gentlemen. Some great answers.
I like the 1000gr sandpaper idea, I used something like that on a Norweigen Hunting knife once, I managed to get a good edge on it, if a little untidy as I had no guide.