Thread: Hone

So I think I'm going to be ordering some stuff soon to get started straight shaving. I'm putting together my equipment list first and then I'll order most of the stuff that I need.

I'd like to approach this venture from two sides. I'd like to learn to shave with a SE, and to that end I plan on ordering a couple of shave ready razors (everyone has already been more than helpful in this area), a four sided / pasted paddle, and a seconds strop from tony.

The other side I'd like to learn is the sharpening, maintenance side. I think it will be a nice hobby to restore and use razors. To this end, I'm hoping to get some advice. I have gotten some tips on what to look for in fixer upper razors, but I'm wondering what hone to get, and where to get a good price on it. After some research it looks like the pasted paddle and strop will maintain my shave ready razors for some time but as I understand I'll need separate equipment to do the sharpening on the not so good razors. After some reading I see that red99 is recommended often for hones, but it looks like, that it might be smart for me to pick up one of these Norton 4k/8k hones. My understanding is that I can use this to fix the blades then move to my pasted strop to make them shave ready. If I'm way off please let me know. If not, where can I get one of these hones for a reasonable price and any recommendations on required reading before getting started?

Thanks,

John

best price i've found on a norton 4k/8k was here http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?sku=WS. its 65$.

you are getting the pasted paddle so thats great. i think i need to get myself one of those.

also you might consider getting a finishing stone... such as a "swaty" or a belgium corticule or a escher stone (i think tony had 2 for sale just recently) or even a 12000grit chinese/japanese wetstone.

~J

Thanks for the reply. The price of the stone is a little steep for me right now. I wonder if anyone on the forum has a used stone thats about the same as the Norton (or a Norton) that is used but still in good shape that they want to sell. Is it worth putting an ad in the forum, or is this item of the type that people don't let go of?

Thanks again,

John

Place a want to buy ad in the buy/sell/trade forum here and also on www.shavemyface.com and www.badgerandblade.com.
Sometimes people will also sell there hones on those forums. Keep your eye peeled if you have the time.

Hope this helps,

You can always take a stab at barber hones that are posted on ebay. The grits vary and the seller will probably not know (except redtrader99) if it is a medium or a fine.

I like double grit hones like this one ebay # 320010947042
That way you get two hones for the price of one. One side is typically a medium grit and the other side a fine. I can not say for sure on this particular brand, since I have not used this one.

Glen

Thanks guys. I ended up ordering the Norton.

You won't regret this purchase.

Actually, maybe you will. With a Norton in hand you are now able to begin bringing vintage razors back from the edge. Your next purchase will be another Norton, a 220/1K for those razors in really bad shape. Then will be a collection of coticules and eschers to put that finishing touch on the blade before going to several grades of pasted strop. Then, you'll start jonesing after Bill's Burr King that will let you take bar stock and create a razor from scratch.

It is a sickness.....God have mercy on these lost souls

Ed

Yeah I already have all sorts of aquisition disorders and so won't be surprised by another one. I've been wondering, how can I tell on ebay whether a razor is one worth restoring and if I can do it with the equipment I have on the way?

I'm expecting:

Norton 4k/8k
Pasted Paddle with 3, 1, .5, .25 micron pastes
Seconds Strop

So I'd like to start getting some razors to practice on and get back into shape, but being new I don't know what to look at. I was considering asking a regular ebayer if they wouldn't mind doing the work for me for an added fee. I figure their experience can get me some good razors even though I could have payed a little less myself.

What do you think?

It really depends on how much work you want to do. Given the equipment you have on the way, very few razors off of e-bay are within your reach. At a minimum, you will need some metal polish (I suggest simichrome, but others prefer Maas or Flitz) to take off the accumulated tarnish of the years. Most e-bay razors will have at least some rust/pitting. These will require some heavier duty abrasive beyond metal polish. These razors would also tend to be easier to bring back to shaving sharpness by starting on a coarser hone than the 4K and for this I'd suggest the Norton 1K. This is also the best stone (unless it's really bad) for taking out small nicks or dings in the edge or for restoring/creating a bevel on the blade.

My bottom line suggestion, wait until Bill (Urleebird) releases the update of his restoration CD, buy it, read it through at least twice, and then make a list of all the additional goodies you want to buy.

Then the fun begins...not to mention another acquisition disorder LOL

Ed

Thanks for that. So I guess I want to wait a bit before fully getting into restoration. In the meantime I have some razors coming to practice on that I've told can be brought to life using the Norton I ordered.

Is there a general source (someone on the forum preferably) who sells razors that are in decent shape but unhoned and can be brought back with the equipment I will have?