Thread: Turning a Lemon into Lemonade...

So, I have decided to use my GB-Crappingham razor to teach myself honing. Can I use this stone and just strop the heck out of it or do I need a finer grit to really hone a blade?

Vintage Blades LLC::Sharpening Stones::Waterstones::Norton Waterstone 220/1000 Combo

You can try, but I doubt it will work. You probably need a minimum of 8K to get a good shave.

why not go for the Norton 4/8k combo? You can bevel set on the 4k side and polish with the 8k.

Originally Posted by Mephisto

why not go for the Norton 4/8k combo? You can bevel set on the 4k side and polish with the 8k.

This is why I'm asking, because I have no idea... I figured I'd start with the cheapest one to teach myself how to use it.

You could if you want to, You CAN shave off of a 1k edge, but you're very likely going to want a finer grit stone. You won't be able to
strop a nice edge onto the blade no matter how hard you try unless you start using pastes etc, and that's a whole different ballgame.

If you'r going to only buy 1 stone, buy either a Norton 4/8k or a Naniwa 3/8k. Both are nice stones and will give you comfortable shaves
for years to come....

Until you start wanting more hones....then some more....then there's a whole bunch of naturals out there to try....

Enjoy the ride!

Originally Posted by vaanesthesia

So, I have decided to use my GB-Crappingham razor to teach myself honing. Can I use this stone and just strop the heck out of it or do I need a finer grit to really hone a blade?

With this razor it honestly doesn't matter the edge will fall apart as it starts to get close, I guess you could practice the strokes involved but you won't actually know if you are doing them correctly


Norton 4/8
Naniwa 3/8

are both good combo stones and priced rather nice too

I think I'd go with the Norton 4/8. It's the most documented on this site, so you'll have lots of information to help you out as you learn.

Second....i'd try to pick up a razor at an antique store or something. As with Glen's comments....that GB is going to be no fun. Find something that will take an edge, and you'll be much better off.

Yeah, I agree about the Norton 4/8, but that's all I've ever used, that and my Shapton 16k. I used 1600 wet and dry sandpaper wrapped around the Norton to set a bevel before. I'd also get a cheap razor that you can actually hone to practice on, too. If the razor you have is as bad as indicated by Glen, I agree 'practising' will have little use, really. If you can't test what you have done via a test shave then how would you know you're doing it right? You MAY end up teaching yourself BAD habits! :-)