Thread: Hones for a Newbie?

Hey guys,

Just posted my first in the Introduction subforum. Anyway, as I said over there, I just got my first straight in the mail today, which is supposedly shave-ready. I'll be testing it out tonight. Anyway, at some point, whether it's shave-ready or not, I know it'll need to be honed. My question is should I send it to Lynn, who I understand is the forum's recognized honemeister, or should I invest in a hone or two? I've got a paddle strop and paste that came with my razor set which I bought from classicshaving.com - will a pasted strop be sufficient for touching up the blade if I don't need to set bevels and things like that, or should I get a 10 or 12k hone? If so, can anyone make a recommendation? I'd like to learn honing at some point so I don't have to continually ship my razor to Lynn, but I'm not sure where to start.

Anyway I'm glad to have joined the straight razor community, and I'm thoroughly excited for my first shave tonight!

-Scott

For the first 6 months, I wouldn't worry about honing at all. You've already got alot on your plate figuring out technique, stropping, lather, etc. After that time period, you should have a better idea through reading the forum for a few months what type of hones you want.

In the interim, be sure to get a pasted strop. This will keep your edge shave ready for some several months.

Welcome scott

heres just one of my ideas of how to proceed.
in about a month you get a pasted strop and maybe a barber hone, then after a while that wont be enough so you send it out to be honed.
later you get a 12k Naniwa(just my wote) and try maintaining it yourself, before just possibly sending it out just one more time

If you then wish to start restoring and honing actually dull razors you can fill up to a complete set of hones

Well thats one suggestion from me. Good luck your decition and your progress

Edit: Oh yeah it may take a year or more before you get to the end of something like what i suggested

As I've said, I've got a paddle strop and paste. Is that sufficient?

Originally Posted by mscard

As I've said, I've got a paddle strop and paste. Is that sufficient?

A pasted strop is all you need for the first three months. After that, Janivar is right on the money....a couple strokes on a 12k will bring a shave ready edge right back to the day you bought it. Then you're back to the pasted strop for the next few months.

you will always need an unpasted strop for dayly maintenance.
so as long as your paddle is your only strop you shouldnt apply paste

Originally Posted by mscard

Hey guys,

Just posted my first in the Introduction subforum. Anyway, as I said over there, I just got my first straight in the mail today, which is supposedly shave-ready. I'll be testing it out tonight. Anyway, at some point, whether it's shave-ready or not, I know it'll need to be honed. My question is should I send it to Lynn, who I understand is the forum's recognized honemeister, or should I invest in a hone or two? I've got a paddle strop and paste that came with my razor set which I bought from classicshaving.com - will a pasted strop be sufficient for touching up the blade if I don't need to set bevels and things like that, or should I get a 10 or 12k hone? If so, can anyone make a recommendation? I'd like to learn honing at some point so I don't have to continually ship my razor to Lynn, but I'm not sure where to start.

Anyway I'm glad to have joined the straight razor community, and I'm thoroughly excited for my first shave tonight!

-Scott

Welcome.....

Your pasted paddle strop should be sufficient for refreshing the edge
when the strop does not. What is the paddle strop loaded with?

It does make sense to send your razor out to a pro eventually.

It may be in six months or a year but you will want to revisit
the professional honed edge at least once more before you
start out on your own hone.

The price of a decent "refresh hone" covers a couple
round trips to a hone master and an inexpensive second
razor from the classified.

Anyhow with a strop and a pasted paddle strop to refresh the edge
you have months to decide on a hone.

I think maybe I'm not being clear. What I have is solely a paddle strop. It's two sided, so I could paste one side and use the other side for daily refreshing. I do not currently have a regular hanging strop. So my thought was to paste one side of my two sided paddle and leave the other untreated. Will that be alright, you think?

Originally Posted by mscard

I think maybe I'm not being clear. What I have is solely a paddle strop. It's two sided, so I could paste one side and use the other side for daily refreshing. I do not currently have a regular hanging strop. So my thought was to paste one side of my two sided paddle and leave the other untreated. Will that be alright, you think?

Yes. That will be alright.

===
One side clean and one side pasted is a common solution
for both paddle and hanging strops (also keep canvas clean
if you have a canvas+leather strop).

The classic paste is the green Chrome Oxide (CrOx).
At about 0.5 microns it is fine as heck and when
supported by a solid base will both sharpen and polish.
It does not take a lot... It is easy to add but near
impossible to remove so just a little at a time. Green
is also easy to see so you will not confuse sides.

If you use a diamond product take a marker and add
a dot or tally mark for each quarter micron. Clean leather
no dots. CeOx at 0.25 or diamond at 0.25 would
be one dot. CrOx, CeOx or Diamond at 0.5 micron two
dots.... etc.

If you increase the grit size you can add more dots.
Also put 'dots' on the container so you can match them.

Later if you get a hanging strop you can put
the next grit up on what used to be clean leather.....
but you may never need or want a hanging strop as
paddle strops are a good thing.

Thanks a lot, nifty! Cleared everything right up.