Thread: Touch up hone for beginners.

Posted here because I'm a newbie to the straight and would like newbie answers. I'm looking for a touch up stone. My strop is getting marred a bit so I know i've knicked it some. I also have an old Genco which shaves but it's rough going. I'm comparing to a pro sharpened Dovo from SRD. It's not that the Genco is slower it's flat out harsh. Pulls hair and scratches. Shaved once with it then back to the Dovo as an A and B comparison. First time the Dovo went over without any harshness. I guess I figured out what was most comfortable with the Genco and when I went to the Dovo it came along with.

Anyway, I need a basic touch up hone. Something not to pricey. I'd love an escher or coticule but I'm waiting tables while in college. Money is an issue.

Thanks!

The obvious suggestion is a Norton 4K / 8K stone. That, possibly with a CrOxide pasted strop, will produce a shave-ready edge.

Another possibility is an old barber hone (much cheaper, but many different brands and grits, so it's a bit of a crap shoot).

Neither of those will set bevels (at least, not quickly), but they'll be OK for touching-up a razor that's lost some of its keenness.

Your Genco may, or may not, need its bevel reset (that is, a complete honing job). Did it _ever_ shave really well?

. Charles

PS -- There are lots of stones on the market in the 8K - 12K grit range . . .

Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

The obvious suggestion is a Norton 4K / 8K stone. That, possibly with a CrOxide pasted strop, will produce a shave-ready edge.

Another possibility is an old barber hone (much cheaper, but many different brands and grits, so it's a bit of a crap shoot).

Neither of those will set bevels (at least, not quickly), but they'll be OK for touching-up a razor that's lost some of its keenness.

Your Genco may, or may not, need its bevel reset (that is, a complete honing job). Did it _ever_ shave really well?

. Charles

PS -- There are lots of stones on the market in the 8K - 12K grit range . . .

not looking for bevel setting. just something to touch up known good razors.

don't know how well the Genco was sharpened. I bought from an antique dealer and when i picked it up i noticed the blade had grey and blue milky stuff on it. the edge looked good so i started thinking the guy was a honer. when i polished it up it managed to cut me through my shirt without actually cutting my shirt. figured that was pretty sharp. tried shaving with it but it tugged and pulled. figured it wasn't sharp enough and called it a day. afterall, every vid on youtube i've seen shows a nice smooth buttery shave. got this dovo for christmas and it did the same when i did have the angle right. so i went back to the genco and it shaved. now when i A/B i noticed the genco is not quite as smooth a cutter.

i have a 2 day stubble going. going to try both and see what happens. either way i'd like to be ready for when i do need touchups.

Sounds like the razor needs to be honed. Likely needs more than just a touch up. Probably needs bevel work. Edges on antique blades are often sharp enough to cut, but not to shave with. You will have to DIY or contact somebody here. DIY will be harder and won't give quick results.

I've never tried one myself , but the Chinese 12k hone AKA the PHIG , and C-Nat might be what you want . They retail for around $30 . I hear it's a slow cutting hone , so I think it would be perfect for a noob . If I had known about them back when I was a noob , I would have gotten one .

I blew a few bucks a month or so ago and bought a Norton 4k/8k and a chines 12k water stone.

I also bought a used, very minty-looking, Swaty barber's hone off eBay for too much money. These ordinarily go for about $30 or a little more. I really wanted this one. I cleaned it up on a $5 piece of granite tile from Home Depot and some 200 and 400 grit carbide wet sand paper. It puts a very nice edge on an already sharp blade.

I had several razors done by Wid, and Lynn, and bought another one "shave ready" and several more after that.
I've actually used the Norton/chinese stones to good effect on older blades and feel I can get the knack of doing this for myself to MY "shave readiness" level as time goes by.

Personally, for starters, I'd look for the Swaty (or some other) barber's hone.

Welcome, and have fun.