Thread: Hone instead of pasted strop?

Are there any good stones that are 12k and up that are good for a budget? I don't have much money to play with which is why I decided to start straight shaving, that and the razor burn and bumps.

Hones are the classic way to do your razor of course classic isn't always the best. I find it's a matter of knowing whats best for different razors and differing conditions so with a variety of hones and pasted strops you can maintain just about anything out there.

Lynn's right, with all the stuff out there these days it's just a dizzying array which makes it that more difficult to pick out what's best. For many years all I had too was the Norton 4K/8K and it's still a good bread and butter hone.

Of course that's why we all come here every day so as to pick each others brains. Between all of us we're bound to figure it out.

TSasser, I paid 35 bucks shipped for my chinese 12k from woodcraft. It took some time/elbow grease to lap it but it is a great stone. Can't beat it for the price and it puts a wonderful edge on my dovo.

I go from the 12k to 100-150 laps on newsprint, and it melts through hair. Anybody else find newspaper to be a sufficient substitute for pastes?