Thread: Suggestion for a simple maintenance set of tool?

Hi everyone and thanks for having such a friendly / useful community!

I would like to know recommendation on a set of tool that could be used to keep shave ready a professionally honed razor (from Lynn). The razor is a new full hollow stainless steel and would probably be used once each two days then covered by oil to minimise edge corrosion. Ideally I would like to keep the razor shave ready for about 6 month to a year before sending it back for re-honing. If possible I’d like a simple solution. As a starting point, I already have a Latigo strop on my way.


By simple I would mean a compromise between low item count, ease of getting a proper edge, forgiveness as to not hurt the razor (even if it take a bit more time). I also have only one razor to maintain so I’d appreciate to keep the constant cost/time low (ie tool preparation).


After reading the wiki & a few forum post (and from what I understand) I’d use
1) The strop
2) Chromium Oxide on one of the interior faces of the strop (either back of leather or interior canvas)
3) A stone somewhere in 8K-12K (I believe Naniwa have less preparation / mess?)

Are those enough for maintenance? Is there any suggestion for another set of tool? What would be an example routine / frequency of use of each tool? I know I’ll have to make my own mind as to when to do each step, but I’d be great if I had an approximate frequency to start with.


Thanks you in advance.

You should be safe with either a barber hone (specifically designed for your exact situation)
Or a high grit finisher, 8k or higher or a natural hone of similiar finishing ability.
Coticule would serve your needs and give you the added benefit of being versatile at lower grits too.

With your strop, you're set for the daily maintenance.

For your touch-ups, I would suggest a barber hone or the Naniwa 12k. Barber hone's will be easy on your wallet, but truthfully, I don't care for them. While the Naniwa will put a bit of dent in your back pocket, the quality of the finish will be superb. I love and use mine regularly.

Coticules will give you a lower grit versatility, but they take a bit of fiddling and getting used to, due to their nature as natural stones.

By the sounds of it, you're looking for low tools and little mess. If that is the case, I'd head the Naniwa 12K route, and once a year send your razor out for a proper honing.

My two cents.

Thank you very much
Barber Hone really confuse me. Can you just buy one or you have to seek for one ? I look totally in the dark as to what to get and where. It looks like a certain Tilly is a good source but I can't find him.

For the stone, is 12K the best option ? I keep reading that if one have no good result with 8K it's worthless to go further. Am I confusing things ?

Finally at what frequency one is expected to use a finishing stone like the 12K ?
If I go for the 12K how necessary is the lapping stone ?
Then how necessary is to lap the lapping stone ?
This just seem to be endless...

I've also just started straight shaving for about 8 months now, I know exactly how you feel, I was in the same shoes,
after I got my 1st razor I was reading all about this honing, touching up, barber stones, natural stone, synthetic, chrom oxide, diamond paste,.5, 1.0,etc. wowww, I felt learning these was like taking a class in univ.

but the only thing that I was really concern was not to ruin my razors when they need a touch up.
then a friend of mine taught me to keep it simple, now when I feel the razor start tugging/pulling, i do stropping . if it dont work, I can either do a few laps on chrom/ escher(barber hone)/ 8k or higher . You'll have to experience yourself to know. and you're beard will notice when the razor start less sharp.
btw, barber hones are not expensive n having one is enough. yes you need to flatten the 8k, 12k n you need to lap them everytime you use 'em to keep it flat & clean off the metal burr that stay on the stone.
and remember the less stroke is better/safer like Lynn had said on the dvd. (excuse me my poor english)