Quote:
Originally Posted by cyrano138
A Norton 4k/8k waterstone is generally agreed to be the best for razors (barber hone afficionados notwithstanding). I use the single grit 8x3" hones, but a 2" wide one will do the job just as well, and will cost quite a bit less. Not to discourage you at all, but please, please, buy a POS ebay special and practice honing with it before ruining a new Dovo. There's definitely a technique involved, and you don't want to ruin a good razor. Most folks recommend ordering a honing job as a way to give you a basis for comparison. If you never have one properly sharpened, you won't know what a properly sharpened one feels like, and what it's capable of. As a consequence, you'll get used to crappy shaves. I feel pretty confident in my ability to hone, but I didn't really have a clue until I got a couple from Lynn. A properly honed one will give you a nice basis for comparison when you hone your own, as you have a standard to measure up to. There is no better shave than a straight, but it takes technique, patience, and practice to wring all that performance out of one. I'm still working on it, but it gets incrementally better every day.
Joe
P.S. As far as pasted strops; they're great, but IMO they're only for smoothing up a properly honed edge, and for extending the period between stone honings. They're NOT for sharpening a dull razor. That being said, get one from Tony. (I have the 4 sided, but wish now I'd gotten the 2-sided, as that's all I ever use anyway...very soon. lol) His stuff is the sh*t, and he's a regular contributor here, so he can answer questions, and is available for advice and direction. His products are second to none, too. Oh, and never paste a hanging strop. lol