Growing with the hobby.

Good day ladies and gentlemen.

It has now been a month since i've started down the road that our shared hobby takes us to and, while it is not dull yet, I know that my razor will be in danger of dulling soon. My question then is this, what is the best way to "refresh" a razor? Do I need to get a "swaty style" razor hone or just a strop and a specific paste? Do I need to go the whole nine and get a Norton combo and a polishing stone (kitiyama, chinese 12K, or something similar)? What is the smartest decision (short term and long term)? As always, your information and input are greatly appreciated. Thank you all.

From Africa to you.

Also, I feel commited to say that I have Lynn's DVD so the method isnt so much in question so much as the items needed.

Oh boy... I am a little biased here, but I think hones would be your best long term bet.

Even with the full gamut of strop pastes, your razors will need to hit the hones eventually. But I think hones are cool so...

I think that one appropriate finishing stone should be enough, unless at some point you want to rework the bevel or have to hone out damage to the blade

Which finishing stone would you recomend? And as far as the term "refreshing" the blade goes, will any of the 12k grit stones work just fine or are some more preferred than others?

You'll have a dozen different options at least for a finishing hone. I have recently been using a yellow Belgian coticule and it seems to work great for me now. I wasn't ever able to get a good shave off of a Norton 8k, but others really enjoy it. There are the 8k or 16k Shapton ceramic on glass, some prefer a Thuringian natural hone, or a Japanese natural. For all the variables, I feel like you would have to just try one and see if you like it. In your location though that might not be as easily done as here in the States it would be

The best bang for your buck might be the Chinese 12k although I have found it to be a slow cutter

hopefully someone else can give you some better guidance than I can

good luck!

I would have to agree with hoglahoo on this one. I have been a straight razor user for some 30 years, and you might as well get your feet wet so to speak and refresh your own razor. At the same time, you may find the chinese 12K more economical if you can get it in your locale. It cuts somewhat slower but can be more forgiving for someone new to honing.

G'day Salt. I just tried a yellow coticule for the first time & loved it. Not quite as smooth as the Chinese 12K but natural stones will vary. Long term or short term neither will wear out real quick in your lifetime...
Another vote here for the Chinese12K as a pretty smart decision especially if cost is a factor.

Vale Lacerte

I have a Swaty and I love using it. I seem to get quicker and more consistent results from it than a pasted strop. But that's just me...

Thank you all for your input. I guess my question is whether or not any "polishing stone" in the 12K range will be effective at "refreshing" the edge on my razor without having to rehone.

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Originally Posted by Salt

Thank you all for your input. I guess my question is whether or not any "polishing stone" in the 12K range will be effective at "refreshing" the edge on my razor without having to rehone.

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Oh yeah, for sure! I use/have used a Spyderco UF, a japanese natural, a few little Carborundum barber hones, a Swaty etc etc. They are all 12K or more, and it works just fine.

BTW, refreshing IS honing really. I think I know what you mean though.

Once again, this community is great! I greatly appreciate all of your contributions and advice. I've decided that I'm going to by a couple (hey there's always room for comparision) of barber hones from ebay and as I get comfortable/uncomfortable with my ability to use those, then I will acquire one of the 12k stones out there on the market. Inevitably in the future, I will venture down the renovation road and will be excited for all of your input. Thank you all.

From Africa.