Thread: "Practice" Razors , Hones, Strops etc:

I am seeing these threads more and more, "I bought a practice razor, I need a newbie hone / strop"

Something to think about here, there really are no such animals.....

Talking about razors to start with, there seems to be this idea that when starting to hone you should go to ebay and buy a cheap razor and "practice" on that....
You are going to find a few different things out there....
If you buy a bad, new razor, ie: Zeepk/Krieger etc: you can't practice, it will not take an edge....

You find a name brand with bad hone wear, and play the frustration game because these things are the hardest ones to hone out of all of them...

You find a great razor, of a brand you have never heard of, but this is a quality vintage razor, and the worst thing you could do happens, and you happily "PRACTICE" hone away at an irreplaceable piece of history...

The easiest razor to learn to hone on, is the one that was already made shave ready by a reputable Honemiester, and is beginning to need a touch up... You get a newly honed second razor and learn the basics of honing on the one that just needs a light touch up, and you have a freshly honed second one to compare it to and to shave with.... This helps you to learn the honing stroke and how everything actually works, without having to set a bevel...


Hones: this is my favorite one there is no such thing as a beginner hone, really there isn't, the most recommended one is the Norton 4/8 not because it is the "Best" but because almost all of the old timers here, have used one, and can help you though the beginning honing struggles...
Those cheap stones out there might very well work, but please don't ask what yer doing wrong when you use them, because none of us have the fainest idea of what they are, or how they cut...

Strops: this is a little better as they are either quality leather or they are junk, and many of the reputable vendors do sell less expensive starter strops, that later on turn into perfectly serviceable pasted strops.... Basically buy a name brand one, that is inside yer budget.....

If in doubt ask!!!!!!! most of the senior members love to help out, and yes we all have different opinions, but at least we have experienced different opinions

And this is why I always push barber hones! You cant screw it up. Learn to maintain the razor first and then once this is learned you are ready for the next step.

This post is spot on.

Originally Posted by Bladerunner

This post is spot on.

Indeed!

Great post Glen. It's funny but with all of the exotic and fancy hones I have accumulated I find myself going back to the old workhorse Norton 4 & 8s time and time again. Just something about the way they cut.