Thread: Bare Essential Hones

Originally Posted by Toucan

Two questions;
What's the difference between touching up, refreshing, maintaining, and finishing the blade?
Also, if I opt for the Naniwa 12K for touching up/refreshing/etc., will I ever need another hone or strop paste in my lifetime - using a single razor?

Very little difference
Probably not

Shaving is one thing, this "Hobby/Sport" you read about on here is another..

I "Shaved" using two razors and a Arkansas stone for over 20 years

IMO, a DMT 325, Norton 1k, 4/8 and a Naniwa 12k. As used properly, shall conquer any blade. Where you go from there, who knows? JMO

Originally Posted by Toucan

Two questions;
What's the difference between touching up, refreshing, maintaining, and finishing the blade?
Also, if I opt for the Naniwa 12K for touching up/refreshing/etc., will I ever need another hone or strop paste in my lifetime - using a single razor?

The definitive answer to that is maybe. If you never let your razor get too far gone, if you never ding it, you might get by just fine with the 12k. Only one razor ? At least two is a better way to go. Give one a rest every other day/shave and have at least one ready if the other one is down for whatever reason.

I like a DMT D8C lapping plate (325), a norton 4/8 combo, and the naniwa 12k for a nice set up. If you want to go whole hog add the chosera 1k and you'll be ready for about anything that comes down the pike.

Touching up, refreshing, maintaining are more or less synonymous in my mind. Strop paste is another method of doing the aforementioned maintaining. I prefer hones but to each his own.