Thread: WhenWhen Would I Need to Go Below 12K? Below 8K?

Originally Posted by Bill S

Within your parameters you probably won't need lower than the 8K Naniwa too often. None the less, I think it would be wise to consider a 3K or 5K as well so that you can do a basic pyramid. The coarser stones are less expensive than the finer stones so having one shouldn't sprain the budget too badly. If you want bang for the buck I think 3/5K, 8K and 12K Naniwa plus your CrOx should cover anything you are likely to face, assuming that you are starting with keen edges.

It gets a bit more complicated and expensive once you start chasing the best finishing stones.

I took your advice. I ended up buying a 1k, 5k, and 8k from SRD. I have a couple of antique store bargains (one a Shure Edge, another a Wester Bros. Anchor Brand) that I am using to learn how to hone and restore. (I've already learned the whole sanding / Dremel process). So I will use the bargains for learning the honing skills, and come touch up time on my shave ready stuff, I should be ready to go.

Originally Posted by Pabster

A barber sharpening stone in addition to the pasted strops just may keep the straight blade sharp and performing well for years.

It would be great to hear from someone who has experience with this.

Pabster

Again, I can't speak to "years" but I've been very happy with the cheap 2-sided barber hone I picked up on ebay for $20-$30.

The fine side is probably in the 12k neighborhood like most barber hones. I can't say for sure about the coarse side, but if I had to guess, I'd say it's somewhere around 8-10k.

I've found that I can do a few passes (2-3, never more than 5) on the course side, and then 5 on the finishing side, and my henckels feels just as perfect as when gugi mailed it to me, even if I've messed up stropping and half way rolled the edge.

I suspect that as long as the edge never get's chipped, and is used often enough that it doesn't get oxidized, you probably could keep a razor gong for ever.

I have a lot of hones, but I have a set of 7 razors in my gym locker that have been maintained with nothing but a barber hone for four years. I have deliberately avoided using any of my fancy doodad 20th/21st century picked it up on ebay bought it on a website barber wouldn't know what the hell it is everybody on SRPs gotta have one whadya mean it's gotta be lapped every time you paid how much for it hones.

If you start with a sharp razor, a barber hone is all you need, ever.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I have deliberately avoided using any of my fancy doodad 20th/21st century picked it up on ebay bought it on a website barber wouldn't know what the hell it is everybody on SRPs gotta have one whadya mean it's gotta be lapped every time you paid how much for it hones.

So priceless.

LOL.

Well, looks like you bought the lower grit hones. Honestly though, its probably cheaper and less frustrating to send the blade to a honing machine (honemeister). You really don't need anything other than a finishing stone to keep any razor in perfect shape. Once my razors are honed, I never drop below 12k.

As for time, it depends on how sharp you want your razor to be and how good your maintenance is. I suppose its possible to go a full year without needing to touch up on a 12k. But I'd touch it up every time you feel a difference in the shave.

Originally Posted by Leighton

But I'd touch it up every time you feel a difference in the shave.

Agreed. The easiest way to keep a razor sharp is to minimally touch it up on the hone as soon as you feel any reduction in the quality of the shave.

Originally Posted by Pabster

A barber sharpening stone in addition to the pasted strops just may keep the straight blade sharp and performing well for years.

It would be great to hear from someone who has experience with this.

Pabster

I bought a Dovo SS #41, a Swaty "three-line" barber hone and an Illinois 814 strop in 1980 and that's all I used for 28 years, until I landed on SRP. BTW, I got great shaves.

If you start with a razor with a keen edge, you will never need anything else. If you start restoring old razors, that's another story entirely.