Introductions....!

Hi all,
I've been reading up for a few weeks and I must say that I'm not a big forum user but I've never seen such a helpful & encouraging group. Anyway, I recently found a John Clarke & Son razor in my loft and fully intend to use it when I get it sorted out.

My background of hunting means I've spent a few years honing knives so I do have some insight into giving this a go but I'm not naiive enough to realise that I could ruin the razor.

What I'd realy like to know is, is there a cheap option for a hone? Does anybody have a trick up their sleeve or a cheap supplier for some wonderful piece of chinese junk that does the job or do you really have to pay those prices? How about cardboard (It's very good as an abrasive strop for a hunting/kitchen knife)?

What I do have somewhere is a very nice piece of welsh slate that I use to polish my knives, atleast on the rare occasion that I have time.

Thanks in advance, Leigh

Hi Leigh, welcome to the forums!

First, as many here will tell you, honing knives and razor's are not the same thing. You really need to have something to compare it to, like buying a cheap, honed razor from the classifieds here, or from one of the recommended websites.

As far as cheap stones, is there such a thing? If there is, I haven't seen it yet. There are stones to be had in the classifieds from time to time, but they are what they are and command an appropriate price.

As for your razor, I would clean it up, and get the scales tightened up and send it to one of the hone masters here or in the classifieds also. Get the edge done professionally and you will have a much better shaver out of it.

Setting the bevel correctly, then honing through a progression of stones (i.e. 1k - 10k+) gives the best results IMO.

Best of luck mate!!

M

Hi Leigh, and welcome!

Well, compared to vintage Thuringian, Japanese natural, and Charnley Forest hones, a Norton 4k/8k, a 1k bevel setter, and a Chinese 12k hone are the cheap option. Or, if you're lucky on your first purchase of one, a Belgian Coticule can do it all, from setting the bevel to polishing the final edge. But not all coticules can do the one-stone magic.

We have a fair number of users in the UK. You can see a map of where people are, and who they are, under the Community drop-down. Your best road is to meet someone who's already honing, if you can.

I also take care of hunting knives and other edges, and you're right--the razors are a different game.

Best wishes!

All the above are good advice. The last thing you should be doing is learning to shave and hone at the same time. You will never know what the problem is, bad technique or bad edge. And, knife sharpening and razor honing aren't the same because of the differences in edge. At the least you should get a Norton 4K/8K stone and use that to refresh your edge when required (yes, after a certain point in time your edge WILL require refreshing). There are great, and more expensive stones out there. Check our great vendors in the Vendors Corner forum below. Once you have mastered your shaving skills, and are comfortable refreshing your edge, you can get a stone to set the edge. By the way, all I have is the Norton 4K/8K plus a pasted strop. That's all I've needed for the past 3 years. :beer1:

Welcome to the board..

Welcome to SRP! As shooter said, we start where a knife leaves off. The cheapest option has already been stated so I wont further repeat myself. My best advice is to send your new find to someone with a consistent reputation and see if you can mimic their results on another razor. Have fun!