Thread: Bare minimum honing equipment needed?

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.

Originally Posted by shotwell1234

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.

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.

Originally Posted by geoffreyt

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.

Exactly, I'm not mean, It's just I can't spend a lot of money on razors.
My wife would use the sharpest on me 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.

Originally Posted by LX_Emergency

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.

What grain size is a coticule?
cheers M