Thread: Newbie with a hone

Hey guys,

I just ordered a norton 4k/8k and yellow coticule...

If my current razor is shave ready (it was bought here and honed by a member) and was used four times so far...

When will I need to go back to the hones? Will I only have to use the yellow with water? If so when will that be? Or will I have to go back to the 4k/8k soon?

Your comments and advices are always welcome!
thanks guys

Nice setup!

You'll have to go to the hones when your razor is starting to pull during the shave, the yellow with water should be abel to refresh your razor for quite a while, the Norton will come in handy when the bevel needs to be resett.

Read Glen's (gssixgun) here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...tay-sharp.html

that's what I still don't really get..If a yellow coticule helps to refresh the edge then why couldn't I use it indefinately. When will I know that I need to reset the bevel?

I understand that if you hone an old razor than you'd need to set the bevel first, but what if I'm using a freshly honed razor

The bevel will need to be reset when you chip the edge or damage the edge in other ways.

When I refresh the edge/ do a touch up on a razor I always use the least aggressive method first ie coticule with water, if that won't yield the desired results I drop down to the Norton and use a conservative pyramid and then back up to the coticule with water.

If the razor already has a keen edge, then all you will ever need to do is refresh it by making a few passes on the coticule. However, if you drop the razor, ding it on the sink, roll the edge, etc., then you will likely have to go back to the norton 4k/8k.

So why do so many people buy Norton 4k/8k then?

ebay razors often need the bevel reset and the norton is cheap and effective at that

Also some guys use the 8k to refresh an edge. or even a small pyramid with bothe the 4 and 8k.

There also seems to come a time, for me at least when the edge just doesn't come back with the finishing stone. then the 4/8k comes out

I think I should be set for a while after this.

I'll have three razors, 2 strops, a barber hone, Norton 4k/8k and a yellow coticule.

I'd still wouldn't mind a new Dovo or TI. So far all my razors are vintage blades so it'd be nice to see how a new blade would compare.