Thread: Cheapest way to keep your razor sharp

I can get that one for $20.. Would you consider it a fine or coarse hone? I probably wouldn't use the strop side too much. I can get it locally for $20 without shipping so I sounds like a good deal I think.

Originally Posted by Utopian

On the other hand, Pike was the precursor of Norton and I have never seen a bad Pike hone. If you really like the one you linked, it's likely to be just fine.

The primary reason I went ahead and recommended it as being OK. 20$ is fair if it is in great condition and you are buying local w/o shipping charges.

Although there are coarse, fine and 2 sided combination Barber's hone you can pretty much shave off of any of them as for grit # nobody really knows and the best idea you might get is it "feels like" xxxx grit. i have used a pike hone like that and it was ok... my guess is when straight razors were in their prime lots of people regularly shaved with razors that we would not consider shave ready and the barber's hone puts a good edge on a razor but you might find you want a better one down the road.

there are some members here who use the barber's hones for all their normal honing needs and are happy with them... give it a shot.


one word of caution though they are time consuming to lap on sandpaper or a coarse dmt... the good point you do not have to lap them as often and you would lots of other hones

I completely agree with everything above. For $20 and no shipping, and given the fact that the hone itself looks pristine with no chips, go for it! The strop will be a bonus and if its crap, don't use it.
That might be all you need. As Syslight pointed out, you can get by with a single barber hone. That's how they did it a hundred years ago. I have a rotation of razors in my locker at the gym and I have maintained them with nothing but a Carborundum 102 for the past three years. They are not as sharp as what I have at home, but they do the job--old style!

And a round of reputation points for everybody! they are on me!

Three and a half years ago I thought a barber hone or two would be a simple inexpensive way to keep my razors going. It took me three years to learn how to use them. My Norton turned out to be the cheapest way to keep my razor keen at first. Now, an argument could be made for something else.

X

A small coticule needn't be too expensive. If bought say 1/4" thick they'll last a lifetime. You don't have to worry about aging like with barber hones.

Thanks for the interest guys. Unfortunately I missed out on the deal, the guy sold it to someone else

I'll have to find another alternative...

Lee valley has the norton 4000/8000 for 79 and the truing stone for another $25.

Is that a good price? What else would I need after that to keep it sharp for the rest of my natural life:P

chinese 12k stone: 8" x 2" x 1" new for $20

stropping won't keep the razor sharp forever. Barber hones? I suppose, just be careful what you buy. Few $20 barber hones will beat the chinese 12k

I'll echo though that the cheapest way to keep your razor sharp is find someone who will sharpen it for free, or obtain a sharpening hone for free, or just don't use the razor. Outside of that, if you want to keep it sharp for more than a few hundred shaves for $20 or less, I think the chinese 12k is the only reliable option