Thread: Need help with hones

Actually, I wonder if that hone, along with a Spydero UF, might not be so bad. I have only used the Uf and it works fine. The advantage of such a set would be no need to lap it.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Actually, I wonder if that hone, along with a Spydero UF, might not be so bad. I have only used the Uf and it works fine. The advantage of such a set would be no need to lap it.

You can get your coiticules straight from the quarry's shop: Ardennes Coticule - natural sharpening stones from Vielsalm Belgium. - Online shop

The quarry's owner is very knowledgeable and will answer your questions. Higly recommended.

If you ask in the paint shop for the powder they use to make pea green colored paint, the color comes from Chromium oxide. Cr Ox. This powder if you sprinkle it on a piece of smooth leather is about the finest synthetic hone available.

First, see if you can find the powder pigment that they use to make green paint.
Second, the hone you have found would be just great as long as you have the CR OX covered leather hone to finish with.

Hope this helps.

One more thing. In Croatia, your older men, your Grandads etc., must have used something to shave when they were young. ASK AND THEY MAY WELL TELL ABOUT SECRET CROATIAN THINGS THAT ARE BETTER THAN ANYTHING WE CAN TELL YOU ABOUT. Honest, the old guys are a real source of information and what they know is worth finding out about. When you know, tell us ,because we are all still looking for perfection.

Good local hunting.

Originally Posted by English

One more thing. In Croatia, your older men, your Grandads etc., must have used something to shave when they were young. ASK AND THEY MAY WELL TELL ABOUT SECRET CROATIAN THINGS THAT ARE BETTER THAN ANYTHING WE CAN TELL YOU ABOUT. Honest, the old guys are a real source of information and what they know is worth finding out about. When you know, tell us ,because we are all still looking for perfection.

Good local hunting.

GREAT ADVICE!!! English, best thing Ive heard in a long time! Thanks!

Thanks for the tip about Chromium Oxide... One little question about it... If I sprinkle Cr Ox on piece of smooth leather, do I make passes like when I'm honing or like when I'm stroping?
I will ask my elders about Croatian customs in razor honing and if I find out anything interesting be sure that I'll share it with you guys...
As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure that I've heard something about honing things on porcelain plates...

Well, I think that I will need some lower grit stones because the blade is in pretty bad condition... There are many nicks that have to be honed out and the bevel must be shaped again also...

If you can mail order stuff from US or europe then I think you might be able to find cheaper stones than the yellow coticule. Depends on the condition of your straight right now though, is it shave ready? Was it shave ready and has dulled?

That chinese 12k stone that retails for like $30 or $40 in the US might be an option. Or perhaps a smaller cheaper "non select" stone from that coticlue mine would fit your needs.

If the straight is really dull or bad condition you will need more than just the finishing/retouching hones we're talking about.

another option: norton waterstone combination 4k/8k is two hones in one for less than $100. it should set your bevel and put a decent finish on a razor

Robert,

You make the passes like you are stropping. You will find that the process turns the V edge very shiny and it just works and works well. You musn't do too many strops or you will actally dull the blade.
Five to ten return strops are usually optimum.

I think the porcelain plate method is to use the rough bit of porcelain on the reverse of the plate. It's the rough edge on the circle that the plate sits. In the same way that newspaper will smooth an edge, the porcelain plate trick will put a sharpness on a blade. Some guys will laugh at at this but I'm sure it works to sharpen a knife and I see no reason why it wouldn't work on a razor just so long as you go easy and gentle.

I have seen knife sharpeners in the shops that are just two circles of ceramic that you pull a blade through.
They work well on kitchen knives. The porcelain is a much finer grit without question and should work but I think you will still need a finer grit to get a smooth shave.

Well, I'll try my best to collect all the hones I can get my hands on... But, first things first, the razor must be cleaned and restored and then comes the honing part... I think that there will be no honing until next week... So, I have few more days to collect the wisdom of my elders... I'll post if I come across anything interesting...